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esher
11 Posts |
 Posted - 11/26/2005 : 22:42:45
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Hey everyone (and particularly those who have successfully fought their TMS),
I've been suffering from TMS in one form or another for about 7 years, although I did not discover the TMS diagnosis until 3 weeks ago. I have of course visited the usual crew of chiropractors, orthopedists, acupuncturists, physical therapists over the years and all they ever found was some mild disc herniation where everyone gets it (L4-L5). I have a question on what you do when you "fall off the wagon". Since reading Dr. Sarno's books 3 weeks ago, I started to feel better. Better, that is, until two days ago. Let me preface this by stating that it was Thanksgiving and I was helping to prepare dinner, get ready for guests, and take care of two children. In the back of my mind was a looming work deadline that would just keep approaching over the long weekend. So obviously all the ingredients were there for a flare-up, and that's what happened. The immediate trigger was when I was outside with my 3-year old and he fell off his tricycle. I ran over to help him and bent down and felt a warning twinge, the kind I have always associated with an approaching attack in the past.
Here's my question (or questions). Once I felt the onset, it took on a life of its own. The fear came back, the kind of fear where I feel incredibly "unstable and on the edge", you know, like if I moved too far or too fast in some way I would be totally prostrated. And of course that's what happened, multiple times that day and the next. I'd bend, for example, to the right and have a crippling nerve pain just before most of the back went into spasm. I really tried to take time out to deal with what might be bothering me in private, I tried mentally shouting at my unconscious mind, and I read and re-read the MindBody Prescription and nothing much seemed to help. All that self-reflection seemed to do for me was to bring on bouts of severe anxiety, which made me even more tense. I'm not sure what exactly was causing the anxiety (beyond the usual life pressures) but certainly the fear of being crippled and useless to everyone loomed large.
In any event, it's a little better tonight, but I don't know if it's just running its course, or if there were other things I should have done, or if I just have to expect episodes exactly like this on the road to recovery. Does anyone have any advice or experience to share? At the moment I'm just a bundle of nerves, and I'm worried.
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marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2005 : 07:22:15
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The fear is normal, in time you will overcome the fear little by little. First things first. As a new TMS'er, you should first try to be sure you are totally on board with the concepts, and really you must believe it is TMS and not a structural problem. In the beginning, I couldn't walk without pain. I did some power walking despite the pain, and trudged through the pain. I took a few Tylenol or Motrin to take the edge off. It is ok to do this. You will have to deal with some initial "set backs" and reminder type episodes, where you will have flare ups but they get fewer and farther between.
Keep up the reading and believing in the program, because it works.
Good luck. |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2005 : 14:34:02
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Yes, it just takes time. Don't beat yourself up worrying that you're not doing the right thing - it sounds like you are doing the right thing.
Reading The Mindbody Prescription one can get the impression that the cure should happen right away, but it can take time.
It's particularly hard in the beginning when one's confidence is low and the doubts are high. If you find yourself having doubts - or in the case you mentioned, the fear set in, just remind yourself of the successes you've had, and use those thoughts to reinforce your belief and counter the TMS.
As time goes on, the successes get greater, which fuels your confidence more, meaning that you have more mental strength to combat any setbacks, so, as Mary says, they get fewer - also less severe.
Hilary N |
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esher
11 Posts |
Posted - 11/27/2005 : 20:56:45
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Thanks for the kind words. I know I'm probably expecting too much too fast, and I have been trying to think of the successes I've had lately (able to sit in various cars or chairs for longer periods of time, etc.) but boy, it's not easy, as I'm sure you all know.
What I've found helpful on this board is some of the success stories. If anyone else feels like sharing them, how long did it take you to progress? Did you have setbacks and doubts too? Did you do anything special when you had a major flare-up? Or, like Mary, did you just kind of soldier on?
Thanks for all the guidance... it really helps.
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2005 : 15:42:34
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quote:
I know I'm probably expecting too much too fast
I can relate to that!
quote:
I have been trying to think of the successes I've had lately (able to sit in various cars or chairs for longer periods of time, etc.) but boy, it's not easy, as I'm sure you all know.
Yes I can relate to that, too.
I haven't had any major setbacks yet, but I'm a very cautious person and a wimp when it comes to pain, so I did things slowly - I took 6 months to completely stop using voice recognition on the computer and going back to the keyboard/mouse. I wasn't in major pain at the time of starting the TMS - I only got pain if I used a computer keyboard/mouse for too long (more than maybe 30 mins a day). But I wanted to be free of the fear of pain and fear of using a computer keyboard/mouse. I think it's been a couple of months now since I completely stopped using voice recognition at work.
Doubts: yes, plenty in the beginning in spite of a strong belief (or strong wish?) in this process. For a couple of months I didn't see much progress (I still got pains when using the keyboard) and during that time it was very hard. I would never have made it if it hadn't been for the encouragement of a couple of people who had recovered from their pain through reading the book.
So I'd like to offer you my encouragement in turn!
Hilary N |
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TMS first aid: please advise
