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hsb
149 Posts |
 Posted - 04/06/2006 : 14:06:19
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Hi. I am posting again because I am sort of at a crossroads now. I was gone for a week on vacation and I was going to not run to see if it made a difference with the neck pain (DDD). I couldn't stick to that so I ran about 4 times while away. Now I am back home and in front of the computer and looking up all the websites about how running is so bad for herniated discs in the neck and protherapy treatments, pain clinics. I have been through 2 rounds of PT to no avail. I am so torn by the DDD diagnosis and how running is so bad for it. I have the empirical evidence (MRI) and the real evidence that the running definitely is making my neck feel bad and perhaps worse. But I haven't stopped running. I run through the pain and I still fighting whether continuing to run will make things worse or perhaps never let the pain go away.
I know I have written before about this. This is MY struggle. Bottom line - I do not want to quit running. I did for an entire year last year and that issue is now resolved. I still believe but not quite enough I guess that this is TMS showing itself in another body part. By having the thoughts of that by continuing to run, and thinking that the pain will never go away unless I give up running is allowing me not to heal. Hope I explained myself.
HSB |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2006 : 14:11:53
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You still believe the pain is structural and that running makes it worse. You continue to associate structural diagnoses (DDD) with the pain.
Just because running makes the pain worse does not mean the problem is structural. You must understand and accept the concept of conditioning. The pain occurs where and when you expect it.
It seems that something is preventing you from accepting the TMS diagnosis. You have not yet reached step 1 of recovery. Until you truly repudiate the structural diagnosis, you can't expect relief from TMS symptoms.
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2006 : 06:24:02
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| I have several herniated disc's I stopped running for 15 yrs for fear of doing more damage and more pain.After I fully accepted the tms diagnosis,and was diagnosed by Dr.Sopher I had pain problems on and off at different times and was able to talk it off.I always reminded my brain that my back is normal and that running is a normal thing to do and that it is harmless.The 15 yrs of depressing inactivity did not stop the pain and I even tried different types of recommended exercises that would not stress my back. Biking (sitting up straight,w-shock absorbing devices,etc.) walking fast,pullups,exercise devices,etc.Did not matter it just allowed my unsconscious brain to control more of my life and the pain and fear was there anyway.All it did was feed the fire. Just stay with it and you will succeed with time and knowlege. Keep reading and enjoy running/living! PaulT. |
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hsb
149 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2006 : 05:50:23
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Paul:
I think the difference between myself and the other people who write on this board is that I have not stopped running through my neck pain. Most people have the fear of starting an exercise program. I am running 28 miles per week with the chronic neck pain that was diagnosed as DDD.
You wrote that you stopped running for 15 years and never got any better. Part of that is what I am torn by -- should I stop running for weeks and see if the running is exacerbating my neck pain.
So my fear is not in the running but what if I stop running.
I realize this is kind of a circular argument and it is easy for people to say to me: stop running for a month and see if you feel any better; try some treatment at that time, etc. etc. etc.
So I continue to run with the bad neck pain. This is not an easy inner struggle.
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bend-over-backwards
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2006 : 09:57:21
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Pault you wrote
I have several herniated disc's I stopped running for 15 yrs for fear of doing more damage and more pain.
Your msg implies that you are running again and have no pain, etc.
Is that true?
Thanks,
b-o-b
All is not as it seems . . . |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 04:55:14
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| BOB : Yes it is true,as I have no pain.I had plenty when I was told to stop running , because I would do more damage to my back.I will sometimes get pain at night but just talk it off.There were times in the past when running I would get severe pain that would scare me and make me wonder,but I would be defiant and run more and harder to teach my unconscious brain who is reall in charge.TMS is always knocking at the door in one form or another so I have to be ready for it. Pault |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 05:06:08
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| HSB : I think if you stop running it won't help and if it did it would be a tms way of controling your mind.The problem with your neck is your very clever unconscious brain,that does not want to give up that excellant distraction,that works so well.Just keep at it and eventually you will win the pain battle Have you seen a TMS Doctor? When I was told by Dr.Sopher that my back is nornal and that the pain is real but harmless,it saved me a great deal of time and added a lot of confidence . pault. |
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hsb
149 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 05:40:27
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Thanks Paul. I didn't see a TMS doctor this time but I have in the past. All i saw was an ortho. and got the MRI which showed the DDD. I did some PT and of course she said I should stop running as it isn't good for Degen. Disc Disease. That plays into my subconscious because it incites the battle of - do I stop or don't I stop running. Most of the people on this board have stopped all their activity and their fear and conditioning is fear of starting to exercise. My fear and conditioning is that the running I am doing is making the DDD worse and fear that it won't ever get better if I still run. It is a huge tug of war in my mind. Baseball 65 I think would say this is like OCD -- my mind pulling me in both directions. If I run I don't get better and it makes it worse. If I stop then I am giving in and it won't help anyway.
This is the tape loop that I have.
HSB |
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hsb
149 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 10:05:40
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the $64K question -- Could someone please help me - how do you tell if something is TMS or if it is the DDD as my doctor diagnosed?
I am ready to quit running now - the neck pain is pretty tough. I wonder if I have to rest some in order to perhaps discern the answer to this question. i wonder if i am continuing to run and saying it is TMS to allow me to run. This obviously isn't working because I hurt pretty badly.
Maybe i am focusing too much on whether or not to stop running. But that is where my inner struggle lies.
Thanks
HSB |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 11:34:59
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quote:
Originally posted by hsb
...how do you tell if something is TMS or if it is the DDD as my doctor diagnosed?
Re-read Healing Back Pain by Dr. Sarno until you truly absorb it. It is explained very clearly in his book why "DDD" is unlikely to cause pain.
Also you may want to stop assigning cute abbreviations to your diagnoses. |
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salamander
85 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2006 : 19:02:15
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hsb,
Along with a back MRI that showed degenerated disks, I also had an MRI of my neck which showed "moderate to severe degenerative disk desease, with moderate to severe spinal stenosis."
That diagnosis scared the crap out me. I truly believe that the only problem I had was TMS. I now have absolutely no back or neck pain and no reservations about running.
You really need to believe in what Sarno is telling you. The tone of your posts suggest that you are still obsessed with your...DDD.
Regards,
Doug |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 05:09:49
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| hsb , why should you have so much trouble stopping running ? (aside from the pain) Sounds like the running and not being able to stop for a few days is a problem, in it's self! Why is it such a struggle to stop for a few days? Paul. |
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drziggles
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 08:58:08
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I'll tell you, I can count on two hands the number of cervical spine MRIs I've seen in my life of people over the age of 30 who DIDN'T have degenerative disk disease of some sort or another. This is a normal part of aging, and if you believe Sarno's TMS concept, not a signficant cause of pain. Get an MRI, and you will almost certainly find an abnormality. You have to decide if the problem you have is TMS. You will find many on this forum, myself included, who agree with Sarno. The rest of the world at large: not so much. However, ask yourself how many of them get better?
Of course, you should consult your doctor before making any medical decisions. Good luck to you. |
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hsb
149 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2006 : 09:02:51
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Thank you Dr. Ziggles. I was thinking last night if i believe 95% that what I have is TMS, i am putting more effort into the 5% - i.e. going to doctors, PT, chiros, trying to find a cure for my pain than i am in the 95% -- the tms work. It is definitely easier to go to doctors and seek a cure that way. So I need to be concentrating on the 95% than the 5%. Hope that makes sense.
Thanks
HSB |
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Degen. Disc Disease
