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marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
 Posted - 10/20/2005 : 03:09:13
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Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone out there can help with this question. You'd probably be pretty pain free with your TMS to be able to help me.
Here it is:
Since starting the TMS work in March of this year, I have been doing much better. Running again, doing all physical things I used to. I am noticing though, that even though I have not been through one of the debilitating periods of pain like I used to be, I still have trigger-episodes of stiffness and discomfort. Here's an example: I had to go to a wake Tuesday night of someone I don't know well, but who committed suicide and to be honest, the funeral home did a lousy job on the person and she looked just horrible. The image bothered me. I guess it bothered me more than I realized because I woke up yesterday morning with neck stiffness. So I said to myself, Ah! This is TMS kicking in. I took a couple of Tylenol to take the edge off the pain and went to work, determined not to be chained by this (was the Tylenol a no-no?). I did some self-talk as well. My question is, how can I have made so much progress and then have these setbacks when something upsetting happens? Will I always have this pattern of conditioned response to upsetting events? How can I get to the root of it all and STAY pain free without episodes of pain coming back? For all the progress I've made I still find it befuddling how little things can trigger the TMS to come back. Life is full of disappointments and upsets, we all must face that. But must I have a TMS episode every time? What can we do when this pattern still occurs? |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2005 : 08:02:12
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quote:
My question is, how can I have made so much progress and then have these setbacks when something upsetting happens?
You need to adjust your attitude.
Stop thinking in terms of "progress" and "setbacks." You are absolutely on the right track. You're no longer imposing physical limitations on yourself, and when you do get pain your first thought is "TMS" and not something physical.
Your response was perfect: there is no problem taking a Tylenol now and then when you need it, and you immediately shifted your thoughts to the psychological realm.
quote:
How can I get to the root of it all and STAY pain free without episodes of pain coming back?
You can't. This is the perfectionist in you, wanting to be free of psychogenic pain forever, refusing to accept TMS for what it is.
I believe those who are 100% free of pain and never have a recurrence are few and far between. You need to accept that you might have brief recurrences for the rest of your life. You must always handle it in exactly the same way. As time goes on, the recurrences will happen less often, will be less severe, and shorter in duration.
All you can do is exactly what you're doing. The reconditioning process takes time. Take a long-term view and don't be discouraged. You've made a lot of progress since March. Many people take much longer to get to the point that you have. |
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johnnyg
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2005 : 08:47:52
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Hi:
I also started TMS therapy in March of this year and your story sounds very similar to mine. It is frustrating to get so close and then have the setbacks. I don't disagree with any of the above answers, but I hold out hope of perfect or near perfect recovery because I am trying to reverse 15 years of learned pain behavior, which I realize will take more than even 7 months of TMS therapy. I still am plagued with low back stiffness here and there after pain free moments. I think the reason is that my initial automatic and instantaneous reaction is to say (subconsciously) 'oh crap, a little spasm just occurred'. It takes a second for me to get my bearings and say to myself that it means nothing and there is nothing wrong with me. So I think it is neccessary to get to the point where your subconscious catches up with your conscious mind and there is no disconnect between the two in the response. When that day comes, you have beaten TMS for good because your subconscious mind is FULLY on board. When the two minds are in sync there is no need for the spasm as a distraction,
I guess in short, the problem is that you, like me, are still in battle with your brain, but we are winning and I believe you and I will get to far better place than we are now, even if we doin ok (and we are). I have to remind myself that the recovery I have made so far is astounding and that each little setback becomes easier to deal with. |
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celestica
Canada
38 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2005 : 10:09:31
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Hi Mary,
I hope this is helpful to you. I agree with Dave that any thoughts of setbacks is not helpful. Either, interestingly, is thinking of progress and "I'm doing so well"...
I had a "setback" of back pain after being 100% painfree for three years and the more frustrated/angry/disappointed I got the more the pain stuck around to taunt me. What finally made it go away was ignoring the TMShelp site, and just accepting that my body was doing it. I told myself, "I have this funny body and sometimes when I get upset emotionally it chooses to hurt. It's O.K. and I'm still a great person, not a failed recovery story." Intense back pain of 2 weeks disappeared.
The meditation helped me to cultivate an accepting attitude to myself.
Amelia |
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Maintenance plan for staying pain free?
