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cnaber
4 Posts |
 Posted - 01/31/2006 : 16:06:58
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Hi--
My history-- I had my 1st episode of sciatica in 98, again in 2002, and then one or 2 shorter episodes in 03, 04, and/or 05. I discovered Sarno's book in 2002 and ever since then I really get the connection between anger, anxiety, and my symptoms. No one has ever found anything "wrong" with my back (or any other part of my body), yet I have had multiple stress related illnesses since the 90s.
I had been symptom free for almost a year now, doing well, etc. Whenever I felt anything coming on I would look at the underlying emotions, etc and could diffuse it. Sounds great? It has been--except for one major issue. I can't exercise. Literally every time I try to exercise, I get a major flare up and it takes weeks to months to recover. I have tried pilates, tai chi, walking, going to the gym, and everything leads to a flare up. I have tried pushing thru, telling myself that the sciatica is just emotional and will resolve, but it doesn't seem to get better until I stop exercising.
Last week I went to the gym. I had totally "forgotten" that exercise had triggered symptoms in the past and was really looking forward to lifting weights, taking a class etc. By the end of the 1st workout my sciatica was flaring up, but I assumed it was just unused muscles and would calm itself soon enough. I began to focus on the stresses and repressed anger/anxiety I had been dealing with. I worked out 2 or 3 times more and the sciatica just got worse and worse.
Now I don't want to exercise because I am really sick of flare ups and seem better able to get over them when I am sedentary. Yet, I would like to be able to exercise within reason without fear of a flare up. Logically I know that exercise shouldn't trigger a flare up, but my pattern says otherwise. I haven't exercised since Friday and am doing a little better today. I want to go to the gym but am also afraid of triggering a flare up. Any suggestions?
Christine |
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Michele
249 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2006 : 16:20:10
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This website might help you:
http://www.runningpain.com
Monte was helped by using Dr. Sarno's techniques, and he suffered with sciatica pain for years and years.
Good luck! |
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FlyByNight
Canada
209 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2006 : 17:17:43
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Christine ..
I live exactly the same thing, but the flare ups are happening in my upper neck actually. I 100% understand your frustration because we TMS people do like to exercise ....
Just try to let your frustration go and do not repress it, it is very important in the recovery process from what i understand .
Pat |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2006 : 17:39:48
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To gain confidence try returning to your exercise routine s l o w l y .
The reaction you are getting is a conditioned response. Exercise -> Pain. This is just a bad habit that your brain has come to expect. It uses this tactic to breed fear in your mind.
You may have to resort to, for example...
(1) Walk 1/8 mile daily for week 1.
(2) Walk 1/4 mile daily for week 2.
(3) Walk 1/2 mile daily for week 3.
(4) Walk 1 mile daily for week 4.
...I'm using this just for illustration. Come up with your own plan, and write it down and do that. The ramp should be so slight that your brain will not be able to recognize your progress. It can take a long time to unlearn this conditioned response, but you can do it and beat TMS at its own game.
Take care, -Stryder |
Edited by - Stryder on 01/31/2006 17:55:31 |
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electraglideman
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2006 : 10:29:45
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cnaber,
The above advise, given by others, is good advise.
Keep this in mind when your at the gym. Your problem is in your head (your unconscious). When your at the gym, your thinking about your sciatica. Your just waiting for it to flair up.
Try this. Start off slow, as stated above, using the treadmill or elliptical machine. As you exercising, say to yourself over and over, " MY UNCONSCIOUS IS IN A BLINDING RAGE AND ITS NOT MY FAULT"
Keep your mind occupied with this the whole time your at the gym.
Over a period of time, I think this will help you over come your problem.
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Neil
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2006 : 13:08:54
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I'm in a similar situation. I'm not an expert on this stuff yet, but this is what I think is going on with me.
It seems to only bother you when you try to excercise and then it takes forever to clear up. But what causes it to clear up? The lack of exercise causes the fear to subside. The longer you are away from the conditioned reaction of pain to exercise, your fear subsides and oxygen returns to the area of the pain, diversion no longer necessary.
After a huge breakthrough in November, I'm exercising through pain 3 days a week now. It only hurts when I exercise. There is nothing structurally wrong. I quit my physical therapist, told him about TMS, and ditched my orthodics. But the pain is lingering.
This is what I've learned. The suppressed rage and anxiety caused by the terrible things that have happened to us stay suppressed when TMS creates a diversion.
When we accept the diagnosis, it seems that we see a short term resolution. Then the suppressed anxiety caused BY OUR FEAR OF EXCERCISE sticks around much longer, even if we are able to work out most of our emotional issues. Suppressed emotions cause oxygen deprevation, conditioned responses cause oxygen deprevation. The longer it takes to clear up, the more fear, the more fear, the more suppression, the more suppression, the more oxygen dep.
Keep doing the work. Know that Sarno knows what he is talking about. When 7 different doctors can't tell you what's wrong and then you listen to an audio book and you immediately start to get better, you realize that Sarno is right about the cause of the symptoms and the treatment.
Good luck Christine, Stick with the advice to start exercising gradually and you will have the best shot of overcoming your fear.
Neil
If it is chronic, I will not believe it. |
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exercise triggering sciatica--frustrated
