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wolf29
USA
108 Posts |
 Posted - 06/28/2005 : 09:29:05
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Hello everyone. I'm still struggling with some lower back pain at certain times. Mainly when I do certain weight lifting exercise. AS bodybuilding is one of my passions I wonder if I hurt because I expect to?
My issue is with exercises such as squats and deadlifts which involve the lower back. I don't have any pain while doing any of my exercises but always wonder if it will hurt later or the next day. For example, last night I deadlifted and even went really light to "play it safe." Now I sit here today with discomfort in my lower back. Just when I sit which has always been my past TMS like symptom.
So I wanted to know if you all thought I am setting myself up to hurt because of certain exercises I like to do but "fear" because they have hurt in the past. The TMS student side of me says just keep at it regardless of the pain, but sometimes there is that doubt as to whether I should or not. It's really ticks me off when I can throw around hundreds of pounds in other exercises and I fear lifting a few off the ground 
Other than when I do these exercises I don't recall my back bothering me to any degree worth mentioning. That's why a part of me feels it's the exercise doing damage not TMS. Then again I start to think I hurt because I expect to with certain exercises. And round and round I go. LOL
Over 2 years ago I was diagnosed with 2 herniated discs in my lower back. Since then I've been in pain on and off but discovered Sarno when I went away on vacation and all my pain went away. It was like I never had back issues or herniated discs. That led me to believe it wasn't physical. So why can't I get past doing these exercises with what I have learned so far about TMS? Very frustrating.
I want to continue doing the exercises I really like and feel I need to in order to keep the shape I'm in, but how do I get my mind to just knock it off already? I know from reading one of the ways is to keep at it even when it hurts, but I guess I'm looking for reassurance. Why just these couple of exercises and not any other physical activity? Perhaps because they involve the back the most? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks for listening.
Jay |
Edited by - wolf29 on 06/28/2005 09:31:46 |
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wolf29
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 09:38:52
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| Just wanted to add, that if I was to go home and do the same exercise I did last night, I believe I would be able to do it pain free. So why can't I sit without pain? Why do I fear the next day after doing these exercises? |
Edited by - wolf29 on 06/28/2005 09:39:47 |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 11:33:52
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Jay,
I don't know how you retrain your mind but I wish I had the answer. For the longest time, I had myself conditioned to get dizzy when doing certain things (bending over to get clothes out of the dryer, walking the dog around the block, etc.) and now that has somehow disappeared. I don't know how I did it. I guess I just stopped thinking about it and expecting it and now it's gone. Expecting it to happen...that was the key for me. Now, I don't think about any of that anymore. I've been so preoccupied with my daughter's bat mitzvah and now I've been preoccupied with this stomach flu/nausea I have. What dizzinesss?
Just try to go about your day and do things without thinking so much (easier said than done). Try to refocus your mind on something else because it works. Your brain cannot be having two thoughts at the same time. Get busy thinking about something else. I think what happens is we stop thinking and expecting the pain/dizziness/or whatever to happen and it stops. Occupy your mind with anything other than thoughts about your pain.
Good luck and I wish you well.
Laura
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 12:31:59
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Hi wolf29
Remember one thing...TMS always goes after whatever it thinks we'll believe.The two excercises you mentioned are both heavily reliant on the 'slow twitch' muscles a.k.a. the most TMS prone muscles in the body.
Funny that you bring these up....way before I had full blown TMS or even knew what Sciatica OR real back pain was,I remember working out at the gym and feeling a shot run up my leg during a squat...that's all...one quick shot.Later,at home with my wife and child(repressed anger) it became really annoying and woke me up in my sleep.It stuck around on and off for a few days,I associated it with the squats and quit doing them.(conditioning works fasssssssst)
Nowadays,I catch for my son who is a pitcher.I am in the full scrunched crouch for hours and hours every week without a twinge.It's like doing squats for your whole workout(inside..up,over down...outside....up,down,..inside,outside,up,down,up,down)
I'm 15 years older and waaaay out of fighting shape,but because I went through the reconditioning part of the program,I don't associate it with pain,and none comes.
Those are the strongest muscles in the body as you well know.If you're having TMS it will always go after whatever will distract you most.
Nowadays I only get a periodic 'Hello' shot of sciatica when I take on a new responsibility that makes the 6 year old in me feel overwhelmed,Like a big job,or a volunteer commitment I'm intimidated by.
peace
Baseball65 |
Edited by - Baseball65 on 06/28/2005 12:34:07 |
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wolf29
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 13:55:46
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Thank you both for the responses. Funny you mention about not thinking about it Laura. For the last 2 hours I've been involved in trying to solve a complex problem at work with a co-worker. After we figured it out I realized I didn't have any pain what so ever nor did I think about it. All that time I was sitting as well.
Now that I've thought about it I can feel twinges in my back again. Amazing stuff I must say. Not to mention frustrating. I will work on forgetting about it and go about my business. As Sarno said in one of his books, it's usually the last thing we think about (the pain) before bed and the first thing we think about upon waking. I need to break that habit.
I also know I can't give in to the pain. The logical side of me aks how could I even do the exercises in question pain free if it was a structual problem, yet I feel pain afterwards or the next day. Because I expect it would be my answer.
I've made progress but still need a lot of work to train my "set in its ways" mind.
Thanks folks  |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 13:58:42
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Jay,
Want to hear something really funny? After I posted to you, I've gotten dizzy several times. Is that ridiculous or what? Oh, my gosh! I'm just laughing out loud. The lengths my brain will go to, I swear!
Laura
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wolf29
USA
108 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2005 : 14:35:10
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Laura,
That's amazing that just talking about it brought back your dizziness. I've had that happen with other things over time as well. Like having a conversation about upset stomachs or something with someone and all of a sudden I'm not feeling too well. Silly but very annoying. LOL
I need to re-read Sarno's books because since I do believe in his diagnosis, seeing it in print helps my mind believe it, if you know what I mean.
I recently purchased Sarno's book on CD and it's great to just pop that in when you need to brush up in the topic.
Jay
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Am I conditioning myself?
