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DiskPain
25 Posts |
 Posted - 12/17/2004 : 06:38:47
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| I have read through many posts in the last couple of months and am beginning to realize a pattern. No one is completely better. Either this means that Sarno's method is a very difficult to grasp placebo or you must truly attend his seminars to get better. All I hear is that people have read his books and feel a bit better (possible placebo) and then have recurring pain. The excuse with this method seems to be that if you are not better, you need to spend more time doing the work. Well, where is the person who has a herniated disk, does the work for a couple of weeks or months, and has now been completely pain free for a long period of time. Where are the people. This board seems to have so much pain and excuses for the pain, but no success stories. Correct me if I am wrong on this, but if we heard more success stories, then maybe it would help others. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 06:54:05
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Those who are completely better have less need for a support group. How did you find this board? You were looking for relief. Those who have recovered do not spend their time looking for TMS websites; they do not spend their time thinking about TMS at all.
There have been posts here from time to time from people who are fully recovered. But exactly what does "fully recovered" mean? In my opinion everyone will have psychogenic symptoms from time to time. The brain will always use physical symptoms as a distraction. Name me somebody who has never had a tension headache, or a nervous stomach.
To me, "fully recovered" means the fear is gone. There may be some residual pain, there may be more acute pain from time to time. But the residual pain is weak and easily ignored, and the acute attacks last only a day or two.
I had been plagued with TMS attacks on a regular basis. I experienced the worst pain of my life in the form of severe back spasms at least once per year. I had chronic low back pain that would not go away. I lived in fear of those terrible spasms returning. I visited chiropractors, physical therapists, sports medicine doctors, the works.
I cannot say that I am "fully recovered" if you classify that as being 100% pain free all of the time. Personally I think that is an unrealistic goal. I have some very minor low back pain from time to time. During stressful times, I might get a more painful flare-up that lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days. But compared to the way I was before, this is a godsend.
For me, the severe spasms are gone and have never returned. The chronic pain is there from time to time but at such a low level that I don't pay it any attention. Most importantly, the fear is gone. I do not limit my physical activities, I do not give any thought to "herniated discs" or other physiological explanations for the pain. I treat the pain as a signal to turn my thoughts towards my emotions. I do not seek to claim that I am "fully recovered" from TMS; such a statement is meaningless. For those who are susceptible to TMS, it requires a lifelong change in the way we think about the symptoms. |
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mark_aber
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 07:49:30
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diskPain,
i will try to keep this as brief as possible, but my main point is that Dr. Sarno's approach works and his theory is absolutely correct. i am living proof.
in 1998 i came down with intense low back and leg pain. the pain was so intense that i was literally bed ridden for four months and was TOTALLY DISABLED. two MRIs revealed a large disc hernaition at L5 with severe nerve impingement at S1 as well as a very large bulge at L4/L5. i tried every physical modality you can name, and not a single thing worked. it was a complete nightmare.
in january of 1999 i had surgery to repair the ruptured disc. according to my doctor, the procedure went perfectly...he removed the disc material that was pinching the nerve. he also told me that other than that one abnormality, i had the spine of a 20 year old (i was 34 at the time).
fast forward 8 months...the surgery did absolutely nothing for the pain, which was now worse than ever. a THIRD MRI revealed that the disc had healed perfectly and that the nerve was now free and healthy. not only that, but the other disc that was bulging had somehow shrunk back to it's normal shape, yet my back and leg pain were so bad i could literally taste the pain. i will always remember that whenever i sneezed, the pain was so incredible that it would cause me to see stars and i would come close to passing out.
one day i happened upon Sarno's Healing Back Pain in my local bookstore. they knew me well at the bookstore because i was the guy who came in at least once a week and hung around the Back Care books and laid on the floor to read them because i couldn't stand or sit.
well the book completely opened my eyes. to make a long story a little shorter, i related to most everyting that was in the book, and after 3 months of very, very hard work i was completely free of pain...100%. that was nearly FOUR years ago, and aside from the occassioanl bit of stiffness when i get stressed out, i have back NO PAIN whatsoever.
i've read this board many many times but have never posted before. the fact is that there are many many people who have used Sarno's approach to rid themselved of pain COMPLETELY. i know of two other people who were in similar straits as myself and have also rid themselves of pain using Sarno, and they don't even know this board exists.
my impression is that you don't really buy any of Sarno's theories and you probably never will. obviously this is your choice. all i can tell you is that it works, but unless one truly understands the causes and process of TMS, and WORKS REALLY HARD at it, one will be doomed to the pain they are stuck in.
these are the facts. take them or leave them.
Mark Abernathy |
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Carolyn
184 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 08:38:11
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I have to agree with Dave that you may not hear the success stories because once people are better, they are not visiting the board. I was a regular poster here about 6 months ago and this board really changed my life. The reason I never came back and posted that I was so much better is because it is not like it happens all at once. Several times, I almost came back to post that I was 'cured' but then I would have a setback and I would be a little afraid of 'jinxing' my success by bragging about it. So I would keep giving it more time to see if it was going to last. Here's my story - hopefully someone can use it to help get them through the tough times.
My initial complaint was pelvic pain that I still believe came originally from a physical problem but that TMS latched on to and kept it going long after the original problem had been resolved. Over the course of 5 years, I suffered debilitating pain that spread into my hip and lower back, making it difficult to walk at times. I had surgery on 7 different occassions to address the pelvic issue then was told that the back pain was caused from nerve damage from the surgeries or adhesions or pelvic floor muscle tension or a herniated disk or an unstable SI joint and many other theories... Each time I would latch onto the diagnosis and head to the internet determined to solve this new problem. I tried everything short of back surgery- chiropractors, physical therapy, pain medications, muscle relaxants, biofeedback for pelvic floor retraining, botox injections, accupuncture, meditation.
The pain had completely taken over my life and other symptoms arose as well until I felt completely overwhelmed by the loss of my health. I started having anxiety attacks, 2 episodes of acute transient hyperthyroidism- which were clinically real but are still unexplained, heart palpitations, upper back spasms, chronic knee and wrist pain, random muscle twitches and compulsive emotional overeating. I sunk into a state of depression- not suicidal but rather wishing I would die in an accident and end my suffering.
Ultimately I ended up having to quit my job- I had been a very successful scientist having earned a PhD from an ivy league school- very much a TMS personality. But I was no longer able to cope with work, caring for my children and my increasing disability. Quitting my job increased my anxiety and sense of helplessness and the pain got worse.
I was aware that stess was a component of my illness and knew my symptoms tended to come and go and change with no apparent cause, so when I stumbled on this board and Sarno's theory, it really struck a chord with me. I read one of the books and like so many people had immediate relief but it was short lived. But it was enough to make me think there must be something to TMS theory. I made a complete break from physical treatments against my doctors advice. I went off all muscle relaxants and pain meds, quit physical therapy and stopped all contact with my doctors. Instead, I started up an excercise routine and started writing in a journal. From the first night I started journaling, I started having vivid nightmares and would be sitting up in bed at night yelling at my husband. I would wake up with anxiety and found myself compulsively eating.
Over the course of several months, all of my symptoms began to fade away, then I would have completely pain free days followed by another flare-up. Eventually I came to see the anxiety, the nightmares and even the pain as a good thing, as a sign that my subconscious was working through something that I needed to get out of my system. I think the key here was not to just tell myself that it was a good thing but to really finally find myself feeling glad to have an old symptom pop up, like 'phew - I needed to have that toxic energy come up to the surface and get worked out and get it out of me'. Once that happened there was no more fear, and although symptoms would arise, they would be short lived which served to further reduce my fear.
It was no longer like the pain was something that came into my life and I felt powerless to contol how long it stayed or how bad it got. Instead when I felt pain I would be glad to see it, focus on it, relax with it and really feel how it felt in my body and my mind. It also helped me to use the technique of 'simply noticing' what was going on in my head when the pain would arise, looking at it without judging -just with curiosity. It felt like a more passive process to me, not something I was making happen but rather something that I was allowing to happen. Various thoughts, enotions and insights would pop up at unexpected times and I got in the habit of focussing on them whenever they came up rather than pushing them to the back of my mind to be 'dealt with later'. Through jounaling I learned things about myself and how I had been living my life in a way that didn't necessarily reflect my own values but rather in a way I thought society thought I should- i.e. that career sucess is the most important thing in life and other things that seemed rather simple but still profound.
I looked back and I began journaling in April of this past year- about 8 months ago. I journaled extensively for about 3 months and it has been sporadic since then, just when I get that feeling that something is bothering me that I can't put my finger on- then I will journal for a few days. I don't usually figure out what is bothering me but it doesn't seem to matter becasue the feeling goes away all the same.
I no longer consider that I have any disability at all. I have not tried to go back to work but that is more because I have decided to focus on my children and all the other joys in life for a while. Much of the time, I am completely pain free but I do still have episodes where for no apparent reason, that old familiar pelvic pain will come back or my back will spasm or tighten up or my wrist will start to ache. Often the symptoms all come together but I KNOW it is TMS and I KNOW it will go away.
I sort of think of it as there being just so much tension your body can hide inside. When stressful things happen, you store it and through various ways you discharge it. When the balance gets thrown off towards more storage and not enough discharge, TMS is the result. I think that the symptoms of TMS are so stressful in themselves that they add to the problem. Once you stop fearing the pain, it becomes less stressful so you are not adding to the pool as fast and all the things you do like journaling, meditating, excercising help to reduce that pool of stress. Maybe those of us with TMS are living too close to the threshold so that minor life events can push us over and then the whole cycle starts again.
Although I haven't had the self-diciplice to try it yet, I have wondered wether making a real effort at stress reduction over an extended period of time- as suggested in Herbert Benson's the Relaxation Response- might deplete that pool enough so that you are further form the edge and if maybe that is the key for 100% recovery. Meanwhile, I am 95% better and I have my life back and I am so grateful!!! This board was so helpful to me and I hope that my story might be helpful to someone else. People ARE getting better using Sarno's understanding of TMS but it is not a quick fix, there are lots of ups and downs and you have to keep at it.
Carolyn
Carolyn |
Edited by - Carolyn on 12/17/2004 08:50:22 |
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 10:30:51
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| Dave expressed my sentiments exactly. The fear is the main power player in tms. When you figure out the cause of your symptoms, you are able to manage them in a very contained manner. I, too, consider myself a sucess story. Yes, I have mild symptoms from time to time. It is the way my brain has learned to deal with stress and anger. It has been doing this for about 30 years and I don't expect to retrain it in a period of months. I am building up steam as the months pass and I feel better than I have felt in years. The best thing is the fear is gone. That allows me to deal with the symptoms quickly and simply. Just like a tight pair of shoes hurt my feet, stress might hurt my back or stomach or head. I can take off the shoes and my feet quit hurting. I can deal with the stress and my body quits hurting. Sarno has given us the tools to better health. All we have to do is use them and remain consistent. |
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EileenTM
92 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 10:46:31
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| My husband had debilitating sciatic pain that was not relieved by any type of medication. At times he could not walk or sit. He has a pretty high pain threshold and at times he was almost in tears. Once he read MBP and "got it" his pain was 95% gone within a week. He is a "book cure." It does try to come back when he is under stress, but he "talks to it" and it goes away. After all we are human and are going to have some small amounts of pain from time to time. With Sarno's method, we are spared the overwhelming, disabling pain that tms can cause. |
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 11:39:49
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Hi D-pain..
I am 110% better....I have no/zero/nada/zilch pain and have all sorts of physical diagnosis,including herniated disc,plus a long list I won't bore you with.
I add the 10% because,before the 2 years of constant pain that brought me to sarno,a "shoulder" incident that had gone away after a year or so,I had what Sarno calls phisicophopia..that is,I still believed all that stuff about the right way to lift things,how "warm up" my arm to reduce injury,etc.
I play Baseball(hardball,full contact..played an NCAA division III school a few months back and I'm 39),lift weights,paint(ladders,crawling around in all sorts of weird positions) and can do the "freak show" as well ae I ever could,bar nothing.
I am completely better from Back/neck physical pain.I still delve deeper to find if some of my other issues are TMS related,like the periodic ear infections I get....but if you told me I would be studying my ear infections as my biggest health concern back when I was in constant pain,I would have jumped for joy.
...and I still do the work to,not only stay healthy,but to become a better human being...self awareness is crucial in all endeavors.
I am 110% well....
peace
Baseball65 |
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Logan
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 11:54:10
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DiskPain,
People do get 100% better using Sarno's methods. I can tell you that, becaue I'm one of them. After suffering from increasingly intense neck and upper body pain for four years, I found Dr. Sarno's books at my local library. I read them. I did the psychological work he recommends. I got almost completely better almost immediately. What kept me from getting 100% better right away was doubt. Once I overcame that doubt and its attendant fear, and once I worked out my own personal system of journaling and emotional awareness, I was completely healed. I am completely healed.
Actually, I am 110% better than I was when I initially sought relief from my pain. I say 110% because I am now, not only free from the pain in my neck and upper body, but I am also free from what I thought were "bad knees" that used to bother me intermittently.
I am a success story. I keep posting and reading here in order to help others and because it's interesting to me, how people come here from so many different places, geographically and personally. I don't have to do it in order to stay well, though. I want to emphasize that to you. I am not suffering in any way and the main reason I "hang out" here is that I like the community. (Thanks Dave, for maintaining it).
I am healthier now than I have ever been - physically and emotionally. I do have aches and pains occassionally but they are of the normal, human variety. These are, let me emphasize this too, the same kinds of sensations EVERYONE has, just the body doing what it does. Some of us here on the board discuss these "twinges," and the use of TMS theory/exercises to rid ourselves of them quickly but this should not be taken to mean that we are suffering in chronic pain or are not well.
Many of us who are now pain-free are not only well, but better off than most "normal" people who may not realize the power their minds have over their bodies even in cases of "real" virus-caused sickness. For example, I have used Sarno's theories and methods to pump up my immune system, to avoid colds in the first place or to get better from them more quickly.
Sarno's theory and his recommended practices will help you heal, unless you insist that they won't. He often says, or so I am told since I never have met him personally, that people seem to want to make their recovery more complicated than it is. This is true, I did it at first but it's really was as simple as letting myself be aware of my emotions and finding ways to express them in a healthy manner. It can be that simple for you.
And to close, I want to apologize for my apparently flippant response to your previous post. I didn't mean to sound facetious when I said that a good first step for you would be to lose the "diskpain" moniker. Really, why not pick something more positive? It could only help.
Good luck on your journey,
Logan |
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Fredarm57
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 12:41:16
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I have been lurking on this board from time to time, but just had to respond to this post. I first started having back pain in May, 1990, which progressed to neck and shoulder and knee pain. I tried all the usual conventional and alternate treatments with no result except to find out that it was muscle-related as no disc or arthritis problems were found. I was given Dr. Sarno's original book "Mind Over Back Pain" in November, 1990 and it made immediate sense to me. Unfortunately that book merely described the pain syndrome and did not suggest any treatment strategies. I called Dr. Sarno and made an appointment to see him in early 1991 (I live near Boston, Massachusetts, about a four hour drive or train ride from New York City). I had an initial consultation with him in which he diagnosed me with TMS, and I attended his two lectures. I made some progress, but kept having relapses. I went back to one of his Wednesday night follow-up sessions, but could not attend regularly due to the distance involved.
Dr. Sarno suggested that I may need psychotherapy and I asked him for a referral to a psychotherapist in the Boston area. He referred me to Dr. Ron Siegel, who had suffered from back pain until he read Dr. Sarno's book, and with whom Dr. Sarno had corresponded (an excerpt from one of Dr. Siegel's letters to Dr. Sarno is printed in Dr. Sarno's second book "Healing Back Pain"). I saw Dr. Siegel for about two years (1991-93) working on various family and job-related issues which had caused me much subconscious anger. During that time, I became virtually pain-free.
I remained more or less pain free (as Dr. Sarno says, everyone is entitled to a little pain) until early in 2000, when I had a major relapse of back and knee pain due to job stresses. I went back to Dr. Siegel for a few sessions and at that time he told me he was working on a book (which was later released as "Back Sense"). He shared several draft chapters of his book with me and I believe that they were very helpful in enabling me to overcome my latest episode of TMS in a matter of months rather than years. The chapters on the chronic back pain cycle and restoring activity to restore your life were particularly helpful. He stresses that it is necessary to shift your goal from eliminating pain to expanding activity and that as long as you are trying to get rid of pain, you stay preoccupied with it. As you resume activity in a regular fashion, you begin to notice that the pain fluctuations don't always relate to the level of activity and you begin to rebuild confidence that your body can function normally. As your fear diminishes, your muscle tension diminishes. The chronic pain cycle becomes replaced by a cycle of increasing confidence and activity, and diminished pain. Dr. Siegel's book has some very useful advice and charts for resuming activity.
By the time Dr. Siegel's book came out in print, I was pretty much back to normal. I bought it more out of curiosity as to how the final product came out, rather than to help me get over TMS. Four years later, I have a little pain from time to time, but can pretty much do what I want to, including skiing. The underlying message of both Dr. Siegel's book, and my own experience, is that you have to find out what works for you. There is no "magic" formula. Dr. Siegel started out with Dr. Sarno's TMS theory, but then added and expanded upon it based upon our his personal experiences. There are several books out now that are variations on the TMS theme (Fred Amir's "Rapid Recovery" book and Marc Sopher's "To Be or Not to Be Pain Free" come to mind, as does Dr. Schecter's workbook). You may have to experiment a bit to find out what makes sense you, and if you're really having trouble with it, don't be afraid to try psychotherapy. It works! |
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Jim D.
USA
63 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 13:05:47
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To Fredarm57,
Thanks for the information on Dr. Siegel. I too live in the Boston area and would be interested in seeing him. Do you know if he is still seeing patients? |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2004 : 23:35:57
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DiskPain, I don't know what board you're reading but many people on this board have had overwhelming physical pain relief. But I think the bigger relief would be the mental relief and emotional well- being that can be developed by embracing Sarno's TMS theory. This is about fixing the mind first and then the body will follow. TMS is about psychology not physiology.
After discovering Sanro almost ten years ago, I went from chronic back and hip pain to 90-100% pain free and full activity. I won't recite my successes and physical breakthroughs, but you are welcome to look them up in the archives. I can walk for miles, sit for hours, drive cross country and back, sleep with no pain. My right hip is a bit tight but I'm sort of a tight-ass anyway. I have never encounterd any athletic person, whether yoga teachers or world class tennis players who do not have a spot where they "hold" their pain. It just comes with the territory of being physicaly active and trying to excell.
Yes, I have some pain but that is because I play 4-6 hours of tennis a day and compete at a national tournament level. Who ever said that we are NOT to have pain? I don't remember signing that contract. Pain is why God gave us hot-tubs and massage.
Thank you all for the wonderful posts. They are a wonderful Christmas/Chanuka present. |
Edited by - tennis tom on 12/18/2004 00:05:00 |
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JoeC
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2004 : 00:59:07
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I am completley cured. Total success story.
But Tennis Tom's point is well taken. Curing TMS is not exactly the same thing as curing an infection in one's finger. When you shine the light on your unconscious, TMS, like a ghost, dissapears. But the unconcsious is still there, and from time to time, some people need to get out the old flashlight again. But for me, and I thnk most here, the war is over, and has been won, and this is more like an occasional mopping up.
Joe |
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Irish Jimmy
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2004 : 12:12:46
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DiskPain, I am not completely better. Still working on some things. But, I'm not afraid of activities anymore, and I consider this a HUGH success. I believe there are people who become completely cured, some have just posted on this thread. I am a "book cure" or almost cured, I've never seen a TMS Doc, or a therapist. I read and read, journaled and journaled, and got back to being physically active. The fear of hurting is MUCH LESS. Name a joint in the body, I've had long lasting pain at one time or another. Along with acne, stomach problems, and dizziness.
I been to all type of Docs, who scared the **** out of me. But, the "toughguy" in me, battled on, did what I wanted to do. The symptom shifts kept up a pretty good distraction, till I found Sarno.
I hope all these posts help you, and others. I feel Sarno's Theory works. I'm sending him a Christmas Card. To all on the board, Merry Christmas, happy holidays and Good Luck. "Irish" Jim |
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2004 : 08:35:28
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I would only hope that looking back to where I was a year ago, to where I am here today would be nothing other than another success story on this TMS board. After going through many of life’s hardships and developing a chronic condition such as TMS, it has only strengthened me. May I call it a refining process, and through the pain, suffering, and many lonely desert experiences, has only prepared me the more, to be able to go on and live life with a fresh start again.
(May I say it is as If I was released from the prison of my body and mind)
I am glad that going through this battle of TMS has actually woken me up to looking at many areas of my life. This pain cycle can be broken and Dr Sarno has provided many of the tools to understand why this takes place and also solutions to break its vicious cycle.
So now I can say I am thankful it came in this way. Whenever I am plagued with a pain or a physical condition that has no rational explanation for it, I can understand what is going on and not have the fear anymore that I will get worse or be crippled again.
Than I am left to deal with these inward emotions before they become chronic, taking control of my life again.
These are some excerpts of what I found to be helpful in applying the mind body prescription model.
From the Old board
Exercise as placebo>faith? 5/24
http://tmshelp.com/bin/tmsboard.pl?action=view&id=10955&page=1
Journalling and the recovery process
Posted by kenny V 5/5/2004 9:11 am EST
http://tmshelp.com/bin/tmsboard.pl?action=view&id=10494&page=2
Recently posted on the new forum
From 9/04
http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=227&SearchTerms=praise,and,update
From 12/04
http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=452
I would hope this is helpful looking back to where I was a year ago, and what has helped me along the journey with much success.
Last I would like to say this is hard work, conquering TMS requires making changes to your personality, or should I say considering a different outlook of our daily life circumstances in a different perspective.
Ya see what has helped me the most was from the beginning was to believe there is HOPE FOR RECOVERY
And to continually look at success stories and what has made them so successful, never prescribing to pessimistic view anymore.
I had already done that for more than half my life already.
quote:
Tom what did you do?
This was supposed to be a short visit, what happened? I guess it is my nature to help when someone asks.
But there is also some business that I need to settle before I move on….
I must say thank you all; I have finished the business that I needed to do……..
. (To go back and make peace with my past)
I hope that I have given back to you, what you all gave to me.
And that I have been an encouragement to all of you on this road to recovery.
Thank you once again for letting me share.
Sincerely
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2004 : 10:12:47
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Excellent Post KennyV, well said. Thanks for sharing your recovery journey with the newbies who understandably see more pain and suffering on the board.
Dave is right, those who are better don't need to spend time at the TMS board. They are getting on with their lives and DOING, hopefuly, fun things, rather than PAIN'ing and FEAR'ing. I am spending increasingly more time at the JEEP message board learning about my freedom machine, the new Jeep Unlimited Rubicon I intend to buy soon. 
I just had a thought, maybe Dave can permanently post a thread chronicleing TMS success stories. I don't know much about Message Boards, (I got this computer to access this board) - are they called "stickies"?.
I'll look up some of those post you cited to remind me of the good old days.
Hope you, your son and your loved ones have a merry Christmas and a healthy New Year  .
love,
tt |
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Fredarm57
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 08:58:25
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| Jim D: Sorry I am late in responding to your query about Dr. Siegel. With the holidays coming up, I haven't been checking the board. As far as I know he is still seeing patients. His number is 781-259-3434 (at least it was a couple of years ago). |
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JerseyJay
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2004 : 09:30:26
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Happy Holidays everyone.
First post here as I have just been lurking. This post caught my eye and wanted to add my 2 cents.
Over a year ago I was diagnosed with 2 herniated discs in my lower lumbar area. This was depressing news to me as I am a physically active person. My main hobby is bodybuilding. I was told I should be careful with weight training and not to do certain exercises ever again. That hindered my physical progress tremendously but I came up with "back freindly" workout routines. After resting up for a month, doing rehab, stretching every day and so on I did not feel better. The body has a way of healing itself pretty well yet I was getting worse. And this after a month of giving up all my physical activities.
Fast forward to this past November, after a year with constant pain, and my family and I went on vacation. One of the best vacations ever. I noticed that as soon as we were on vacation all my pain disappeared. I was able to pick up my daughter, bend, run, lift things, slouch, you name it. I just didn't know how that could be. Then as soon as we got home, my back pain returned. I thought there must be something else to this pain of mine.
I started researching back pain again on the net and came across Dr. Sarno's writings. I've tried everything else so why not read his book. It was an interesting read to say the least. This was a month ago. Since then I have been feeling much better. Last night I tried a big test in returning to some weight lifting exercises I could not do nor would even attempt before. I did deadlifts last night pain free. For anyone that knows deadlifts it involves the entire body to pull that weight up including much of the back. I was over joyed to be able to do it pain free. I had faced one of my fears.
But things have taken a slight turn. As I woke up today I felt some back pain. I truly feel it's my mind worrying about the exercise and "what if" I get hurt again doing it. So since I am obsessing over it, the pain has come back. Plus with everyone telling me to be careful that I might hurt myself, just added to me dwelling on it.
I realize I have to keep trying this particular exercise and others I couldn't, or wouldn't, do before in order to face my fear of them. I obviously did it last pain free so why should today be an issue.
So Diskpain, although I am not 100% over my back pain I do feel it's TMS and it's my mind doing it to myself. The battle within myself and the fear of getting hurt again is a battle that your conscious mind has to win. As I sit here writing this I can feel the pain subside so it's all based on what you believe and what you buy into.
Thanks for listening. I hope I can contribute to this forum.
Peace
Jay |
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