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chicago
85 Posts |
 Posted - 06/05/2006 : 19:20:09
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Haven't posted in awhile. I'm going through a period where I either feel good (pain free) or I'm in pain. Well today I went to see my doctor who I haven't seen in at least six months. The last time I saw him he told me that the pain I'm experiencing is 100% stress related (burning pain-legs/feet) and my prognosis is excellent. Today he told me that I basically will continue to have pain because of my anxiety and my pre-occupation with pain symtoms. I know what he means, that if I continue to stress out I'll have pain and if I am able to deal with my stress/anxiety I will not experience pain.
However I have choosen to dwell on what he said in a negative way and have had burning pain all day. I guess I'm angry at what he said even though its true. Does anyone have any thoughts on how I should take his message? I sometimes read too much into what doctors say or place too much importance in what they say. I think if you have TMS you can have a personality that's vwery impressionable. |
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chicago
85 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2006 : 20:42:02
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| Just one more thought. I'm so pissed at my doctor, but I don't think I have a reason to. I'm not seeing things too clearly or should I be angry? I've been in pain ever since my apt. today. Although I do feel a lttle better being able to post my feelings. Any thoughts from someone who may read this and look at my posting a little more objectively. Thanks! |
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Michele
249 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 07:42:53
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| One thought that came to mind. You say you are pissed at your doctor but not sure why. Maybe you are pissed at yourself for putting yourself through such misery? Through lots of therapy, I've learned to turn things around and point the finger at myself and try to dig deeper into what is causing the feeling. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 08:11:14
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quote:
Originally posted by chicago
Today he told me that I basically will continue to have pain because of my anxiety and my pre-occupation with pain symtoms. I know what he means, that if I continue to stress out I'll have pain and if I am able to deal with my stress/anxiety I will not experience pain.
Good for you that you found a doctor who accepts psychogenic pain.
Why are you angry? Dig deeper. The anger is probably hiding some other feelings. That is, the anger is a TMS equivalent: it is distracting you from something your unconscious doesn't want you to feel.
It is true you need to "deal with your stress/anxiety" but I'm not sure you appreciate what that means. It's about dealing with the underlying psychological issues that cause the stress and anxiety.
Perhaps the most important part of the doctor's advice is about pre-occupation with pain symptoms. This is, in my opinion, the #1 perpetuator of TMS. It is imperative to learn how to ignore the pain. When you are aware of the pain, accept it as a benign signal that you are not in touch with your emotions. Ignore the pain and try to figure out what it is that you are not facing up to. |
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chicago
85 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 09:10:21
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Dave and Michelle,
Thanks for your replies. I am angry. I guess a big part of it is being angry at all the time I've invested going to doctors, journaling, but most of all the time I have spend pre-occupied with thoughts. There is anger at myself. I understand the concepts, I am able to successfully apply strategies (exploring my feelings, redirecting my thoughts etc.) In fact I have improved a ton but somehow I hang on to pain. I have had many pain free days but I still have experiences like going to my sons soccer game, just sitting there and have pain. Then the next week I'll go to a game and there's no pain. I know its connected with my thoughts, but at the same time its very confusing. I find that I have very few middle days, I'm either pain free or in pain. I'm sure lots of people would gladly accept that, but i'm having a difficult time celebrating the good days, instead I tend to dwell on the negative. See today I'm in a rut but tommorrow I'll be out of it. Sometimes a thought or two gets or a word of encouragement gets me going in the right direction. I guess that's what I was looking for at my doctor's visit but all he did was sit and listen, write me a script for anti-anxiety med and tell me I'm not going to get out of this until I learn to better deal with my stress/anxiety. I guess I was looking for-- hey you've made progress, keep up the good work, you'll get there. Maybe how he handled the apt. was best because it did get me angry and it has made me think. Does any of this strike a cord with anyone? Do you think words of encouragement help more or hearing what you don't want to here. (deal with it, your anger/stess/anxiety/issues)??? |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 09:16:23
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Sorry, but you don't go to the doctor for a pep talk. You should get that from your friends and family, or a therapist.
You go to a doctor for medical treatment. Your doctor gave you the diagnosis of psychogenic pain. That is actually quite remarkable for a non-TMS physician. You should be happy that this doctor is confirming the TMS diagnosis.
You need to take a long-term view. If you dwell on how you feel from day-to-day, you'll never get out of the rut. Do the work. Ignore the pain and delve deep into your psyche. Stop making the pain a focal point of your life. That is just a distraction from feeling. |
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chicago
85 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 11:15:44
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Dave,
Thanks for your thoughts. Its interesting the doctor I went to is a a doctor of psychiatry. I asked him if he was familiar with Dr. Sarno and he said he wasn't. However in the past he has said that he has treated many patients with pain disorders much like mine that have been caused by anxiety/fear/anger-emotions. He suggested a book called the anxiety cure, an anti-anxiety med and seeing a counselor. All have been helpful but it was Sarno's book on back pain that opened the door for me. I asked my wife the other day why she bought the book for me several years ago and she said that she thought it would be helpful because it best described me and the process I was going through. A smart lady. On another note I went to see my GP for a check-up a couple of months back and describede my burning pain. He told me thaqt all neurological conditions are progressive and that mine hasn't and that its very clear that its caused by emotion/stress/anxiety. He said that many pains and aches have anxiety/stress as there cause. I din't ask him about Sarno. But I found it interesting that I have had the good fortune to run across two doctors who believe and talk openly about emotionally caused pain. are doctor's out there that may not be familiar with TMS but believe the premise. Perhaps others have run accross such physicans.
Dave,
I will try and take your advice and start ignoring the pain. I don't post very often, its when I have some time on my hands. I'm off this week, what a waste of my free time. I would like to explore my feelings and then move on/get busy. Perhaps I will once I stop this obsession. Sometimes I think I can think away my pain in the process I avoid thinking about what's really going on and dwell on the pain aspects. Well I better get busy. |
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chicago
85 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2006 : 17:50:14
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| It was mentioned, ignore the pain. I try to but it does grab my attention. There are probably lots of things I don't want to dig deeper with. One of the biggest joys and stressors in my life are my two kids. (ages 7 & 9) I get anxious at times and also overwhelmed. I guess its the responsibility thing. I want to be the best dad I can be but at times I feel both resentment (always have to be on) and guilt. It's interesting that my pain emerged with the birth of my first born. I'm sure many of these thoughts are universal. How do you be a good parent and get over the pain thing???? |
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Wavy Soul
USA
779 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2006 : 04:44:13
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Hello pain,
Ha ha, you're pretending to be those serious symptoms I used to believe so deeply in.
Heh heh... you can't fool me because I know you're there to stop me feeling ... what? (Checks inside in emotional body which is a little to the left and 4 degrees separate from the physical body that is feeling "pain"). Oh, I'm afraid. Feel the fear. Shiver. Feel it and breathe into it. Gimme all you've got, fear.
Oops, underneath it was... ANGER! Sarno was right! But I'm afraid of my anger. Shiver. No ****ing way! I'm going to feel it (punches pillows and breathes and snorts).
Go to gym and do things I cannot really do.
By the end of the day all is very well
Hope this helps
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
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Doctors visit
