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| ABrooks |
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 09:07:45
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share my success with others even though I'm not 100% better - yet.
I’ve had chronic pain for over 6 years now and have "baffled" many doctors and specialists and I’ve received several diagnoses such as fibromyalgia, tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar fascitis, Achilles tendinitis, TMJ, etc. as well as anxiety, OCD and acid reflux - as most of you know, all common symptoms and diagnoses of TMS. The pain and tension in my feet and legs was so bad at one point several years ago I was in a wheelchair for nearly 2 months. More recently, while I wasn't nearly that bad, I was confined to wearing certain sneakers and prescribed orthotics every waking moment of my day. Most activities posed at least some challenge, but most limiting was that I couldn't stand or walk for prolonged periods of time (more than 20 min.) or else I'd get horrible foot pain and muscle tension in my legs. Even sitting for prolonged period of time (an hour or more) stiffened me up and caused foot pain!!! This prevented me from working full-time (for a couple years) and traveling - I stayed home and missed several fun vacations. The TMJ would stop me dead in the middle of conversations with friends because my jaw would get so extremely tight I couldn't move it. In the past I also battled with interstitial cystitis, tension headaches, neck, back and arm pain (tendinitis in my arms - couldn't work due to it), etc.
I was introduced to the work of Dr. John E. Sarno when I saw a hypnotherapist about 8 weeks ago in hopes of getting some relief for my chronic pain. She encouraged me to read Dr. Sarno’s book, The Divided Mind and I was instantly shocked by how much his patients sounded like me! The testimonies, personality traits and physical conditions that were described in The Divided Mind and The Mindbody Prescription, as well as on internet forums like this one, fit me to a "T", so I took a leap of faith and started treating myself as though I had this syndrome. For the past 7-8 weeks since accepting that I have this syndrome and that there isn't anything "seriously" wrong and denying my various diagnoses, etc., I've improved by about 70%, which for those of you who have been in crippling pain know, is HUGE! In fact I've noticed that for the most part I see improvements every day! I expect to continue to do even better now since I received an official diagnosis and treatment plan 2 weeks ago from one of Dr. Sarno's disciples, Dr. Eugenio Martinez, with New England Baptist Hospital in Boston.
I've completely stopped wearing my "prescribed" orthotics, which I used to wear all day long, as I was told I’d have to do for rest of my life. Even as for sneakers, I was told I had to wear them all day long and I did, every waking moment of my day due to the pain and now I only wear them at the gym and otherwise I wear flip flops and “normal” shoes. I'm also currently doing hour long cardio workouts, whereas before I couldn't do probably more than 15 – 20 min. and most excitingly for me, I ran my first 1/2 mile last night. I'm also weaning off of my last medication, Lyrica. In the past I was taking a muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory and anxiety medication daily. There are also other improvements and discoveries, and I hope to have many more.
Thank you ALL for sharing your stories and replying to my questions. You have probably been the biggest help of all in my recovery.
If you're interested in learning more please feel free to contact me.
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| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ABrooks |
Posted - 03/19/2013 : 10:33:53
Thanks NM sunflower! I guess this answers your question that no, I don't actually really come on here often and follow some threads. At times I find it very helpful and other times I feel like too much of it can be... too much! Hope you are continuing to progress! I'm doing great other than that I'm still battling with the GERD and have decided it's time to fully try and treat this as TMS. Take care.
quote:
Originally posted by NMSunflower
I am new to this site and to the TMS theory as well. I am doing the 30 day workbook and reading lots. I too have progressed in the short time I have been working on this and was glad to find this site since I live in the middle of nowhere and can't even consider going to see a TMS practitioner. I read your post on the other thread and the resulting posts from people that just want to argue with each other has nearly completely turned me off this site. I don't know if you have been following it...I have only read a few of them but I do hope you are feeling better since posting that call for help and thought it best to say it in this forum since no one seemed to be looking here! 
Best of luck to you as this is an ongoing and going and going endeavor for sure!!
NM Sunflower
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| NMSunflower |
Posted - 08/23/2011 : 10:36:18
I am new to this site and to the TMS theory as well. I am doing the 30 day workbook and reading lots. I too have progressed in the short time I have been working on this and was glad to find this site since I live in the middle of nowhere and can't even consider going to see a TMS practitioner. I read your post on the other thread and the resulting posts from people that just want to argue with each other has nearly completely turned me off this site. I don't know if you have been following it...I have only read a few of them but I do hope you are feeling better since posting that call for help and thought it best to say it in this forum since no one seemed to be looking here!
Best of luck to you as this is an ongoing and going and going endeavor for sure!!
NM Sunflower |
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