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jroque
Portugal
5 Posts |
 Posted - 09/23/2005 : 09:52:16
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Greetings to you all.
I'm new to this forum, just found it a few days ago. I'm still in the process of accepting TMS, and it would help me a lot to hear some opinions about my condition. I'm a software developer and my problems started 3 months ago, just after I've decided to switch jobs (strange coincidence). 2 weeks before starting the new job, while in holidays, I've experienced some minor discomfort on my right wrist, while typing. The next day, the feeling was gone. On the next weekend I went to a wedding and talk to a guy which was diagnosed tendinitis on one arm. He was recovering from an arm operation to correct the problem, which has prevent him from working 2 years before, 'cause of its problem. After I've talked to him I began to worry, and somewhere around the afternoon I began to experience the same feeling as days before. Since then my disconfort has become pain. I've started the new job, switch mouse handling and much of typing to the left hand. I saw a orthopedist, which diagnoses tendinitis on right arm and give me voltaren (anti-inflamatory) for the pain. The pain somehow reduced, but the strange feeling was always there. Two weeks after, I began to experience pain on my left arm. I saw the doctor again which, this time diagnose shingles (herpes simplex) since I developed strange skin eruptions. He said to me that shingles was caused by stress. Anyway, the pain on both arms didn't stop and it was the same kind of pain in both of them, becoming worst when I typed or made mouse movements. Anyway, I start searching the rsi subject which lead me to Drº Sarno. I've read Drº Sarno book and all that makes sense to me. I think I fit in the TMS profile, my clinical history includes depression, ansiety attacks and more recently gastritis. The funny thing is that I've always got something... (ex. when my depression goes away, gastritis start, and more recently after I've been medicated to gastritis, the tendinitis start to appear). Last week I've decided to give Drº Sarno's theory a try. I began to do unrestricted typing, but after a few days my hands hurt like never before. I also began to have sharp pain attacks once in a while, which completely make me lost my focus. Don´t know what to do... should I keep forcing, inspite the increasing pain? |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2005 : 10:47:21
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Bom dia, jroque.
Yes, I think you have TMS (getting one thing after another is typical with TMS) and NO - don't do unrestricted typing yet. Don't force it. It can take time to get better, and it takes time to re-educate your mindbody. Take it gradually. Don't panic and be patient.
I'm also a software developer. See my story:
http://tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1322&
Another useful site:
http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu
Also the podolsky one posted in the above topic.
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jroque
Portugal
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 05:31:53
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Thank you for your answer, Hilary.
I would do my best to be patient.
Best regards,
Paulo |
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leegold
USA
66 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 18:59:20
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dr sarno says never force returning to activity. if u start too soon you will only be in pain and get discouraqged.
on the bright side, tendonitis is tms, and 1/2 of all skin issues are also tms. shingles i dont know
get a copy of dr sarnos book- it will help a lot!
best
Lee
"A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones" |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2005 : 16:10:42
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Do keep us posted on how you get on.
quote:
I would do my best to be patient.
I can sympathise with your situation. I know it’s hard to control how much typing you can do if you’re in a full time job. I would suggest voice recognition software as a temporary thing, but I don’t know if it’s available in Portuguese yet. Also, it can take a bit of time getting used to it (I would say a couple of months using it full-time before feeling completely at ease with it, but you wouldn’t want to use it full-time because you should probably continue doing some typing), and I don’t know if it’s worth spending that time – you might have recovered from your RSI by then!
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Edited by - HilaryN on 09/27/2005 16:12:28 |
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jroque
Portugal
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2005 : 10:56:04
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Well, voice recognition software is not an option, right now.
Due to my current new job situation, I'm trying to keep a low profile...
Currently I'm trying to focus on possible emotion causes for my condition, but I've found that a litle difficult. I recurrently hear about journaling on this forum. How do you do that ? Do you write about current/past known issues and think about them ? |
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n/a
560 Posts |
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h2oskier25
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2005 : 08:10:22
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Bom Dia Jorge,
I can totally relate to the "low profile" bit. I, too, just started a new (software developer) job. I have suffered from RSI for 8 years, but had it "whipped" at my last job. There's NO WAY I could use voice rec Software. cubicles don't lend themselves, and besides, I find a good way to "disrespect" my pain is not to tell anybody at work. That way, my subconcious doesn't get the privelege of anybody's empathy.
Nate McNamara (www.conquerrsi.com) had a brief bout with RSI when he started back to work, but eventually won out, so I just keep thinking about that, and am re-reading Fred Amir's book (Rapid Recovery from back and neck pain).
Still, I worry about losing my job every day, and this doesn't help.
Hang in there, and force yourself to relax your neck and shoulders as often as you think about it.
My best wishes for you, and HillaryN, too.
Hillary, I especially relate to you because we're the same age, and have been fighting so long. BUT WE WILL BOTH WIN.
Beth |
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jroque
Portugal
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2005 : 11:04:59
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for the input. The fear of loosing the job, really doesn't help. You never know if you're going to be OK on the next morning.
How do you manage to do your work ? You type a little, rest a little ?
Sometimes I found realy hard to do my job. I'm into a minimal-effort aproach. I think and rethink every piece of code, before realy coding it.
I must say I'm feeling much more optimistic, since I've found out this forum, and I agree with you. We will prevail over our pain.
Best wishes. |
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h2oskier25
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2005 : 12:38:01
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Jorge,
Yes, I type slower than I am capable of. Also, stop, think, cut and paste what you can.
Visit the restroom frequently to circulate hands (shoulder rolls, big circles with my arms). Since TMS is all about blood flow, I want to return blood to areas, but this is only a temporary fix until my brain stops bothering me with all the blood flow restrictions.
I use a foot pedal so I don't have to log-in every time my computer locks me out. It can be programmed to do mouse clicks to, which really bothers me a lot. If you're interested, its made by savant and I bought mine from safe computing (Internet).
This is my fourth week on the job, how about you?
Beth |
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jroque
Portugal
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2005 : 03:02:39
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I'm on this job for about 2,5 months, now. The first month was really bad, 'cause I knew nothing about TMS, and worry all day long about injuring myself. Then, since I've start searching the subject and found out about TMS, Drº Sarno, etc., I began to worry less. Then I've read The MindBody Prescription and Fred's Nine Step Recovery Plan, and for the past 2 weeks, I notest some improvements, at least I'm more optimistic. I hope the pain would play along and start to see some improvements on that side either.
Best regards, |
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h2oskier25
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2005 : 14:38:03
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I am trying something new which I have read on this site, and that is to laugh at the pain (NOT yourself). I ridicule it and try hard to laugh out loud at it. Obviously, have to sneak off to the Bathroom or outside to try it.
I've also heard yelling at your brain is effective.
Have a good weekend.
Beth |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2005 : 15:12:29
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Greetings, Beth. Nice to hear from you. It's interesting that your pain has flared up on starting a new job. But at least you've had the experience of it getting better before, so I'm sure that will help you.
Paulo,
I don't know if you're familiar with many keyboard shortcuts - it may help to use the mouse less. Even with Visual Studio, which may seem mouse-orientated, there are ways of doing things by keyboard.
I can't give advice on journalling as it's not my strong point. I did buy Dr. Schechter's workbook, and found some suggestions in there useful, but haven't actually done the journalling yet. I think I should give it a go - even if I don't manage it every day (that's the bit I find hard!), it could be useful.
Anyway, it looks like you're already on the road to recovery. All the best,
Hilary |
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Is it TMS ?
