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Sara
66 Posts |
 Posted - 10/17/2004 : 09:48:16
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Just out of curiousity I was wondering what a TMS doctor does during an examination. I do not have any X-rays or MRIs anymore. 10 years ago when my pain started my results were unremarkable. These were for my back only. Now with both lower back pain and pelvic pain, which has been termed hypermobile, I am wondering if I need to get some X-rays before seeing the doctor.
Also I am planning on traveling to LA to see Dr. Schecter. He seems to be the closest to me (I live in Colorado). Of those who have seen him, was your experience good? As many of you, I have seen numerous doctors all of whom have a different opinion and claim they can help me. None have. So with that being said, I have a pessimistic view of doctors. How does a TMS doctor convince you that you have TMS? How do they account for those who have had success with "standard" treatment? This shouldn't be an issue for me since I have had no success with it, but it is.
As I have stated before, I am still unable to embrace this fully. I feel that my back pain is due to TMS, but I am unsure about my pelvic pain. I would love to hear about people's success stories as I think they are inspirational.
As always thank you for your advice and input.
Sara |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2004 : 11:19:22
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Sara,
I can't get into a long reply now, but I'll try to give you some quick ones. Read and re-read Sarno, as most, if not all your questions, are answered in his books.
He would attribute surgical cures to placebo effect. He says surgery is the best placebo-it's good for two years. Sure enough, all my "buddies", who have had hip replacememt, are back at the surgeon's, within two years to replace the other one. Morphine and percodan are great TEMPORARY pain killers.
I wish I had never had or seen my x-rays and MRI's. They only serve to cast lingering doubt, in my TMS gremlin mind, that it is "arthritis" (a generic term for 100 different pains that the doc'x have no cure for-because it is TMS).
The exam by a TMS doctor is emumerated in the books. If he needs more tests or films to rule out the infamous TUMOR or "other", than, I'm sure he will ask for it. (By the way, does anyone know of a case where their joint or muscle pain was due to a TUMOR?).
By the time most TMS'ers see a TMS doctor, they have had umpteen tests and dx's that have not helped them-otherwise they would not be contiualy searching for a "cure".
For years, I didn't think my hip/arthritis was TMS, because Sarno wrote more about backs and only gave my site a couple of paragraphs.
This was a nasty trick my TMS-gremliin mind played on me. The answer was always there in the books. The odds are 80%, or better, that what-ever it, is-it, is TMS! The catch-22 is that the boiler-plate says, to see a doc to rule out something "serious". It's like the fox guarding the hen-house. At least, with a TMS doctor, like Schecter, you have more than a fighing chance. I will see him someday myself for maintenace and general health although I am 90-99% "cured".
So Sara, it took me six readings of Sarno's books, twice each, slowly, word for word to intellectually understand and fully accept the "knowledge" cure. I didn't accept it on a deeper basis until I had my pain shift experience. To paraphrase, Edna St.Vincent Millay's quote in Sarno, "the heart is SLOW to learn what the quick mind sees at every turn".
The best thing you can do is read and re-read Sarno until you can quote him verbatim and uncover the secrets of TMS hiding in the cracks of his books. Don't mean to sound preachy but that's what worked for me. Just trying to save you some time, money, and pain. No need to re-invent the wheel here. As long as I'm spouting off truisms, let me throw in one of my favorites: "Your enemy, who tells you the truth, is a better friend, than the friend, who tells you lies."
Well, this did turn into a long- winded post after all, but the tennis courts are stll wet from a heavy fog.
Hope this helps Sara,
tt |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2004 : 12:30:05
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Sara,
I agree with Tom in regards to Sarno's books. He is totally right about that. Since you did want to know what to expect with Dr. Schechter, thought I'd tell you my experience.
I found Dr. Schechter accidentally, through a friend who I believe has TMS (in the form of fibromyalgia) but won't admit it. She said "You know, there is a TMS doctor right here in L.A." and that was all I needed to hear. I made an appointment that day and was very nervous about seeing him, since my problem (dizziness after I flew on a plane two plus years ago) is not back pain or hip pain, etc. There is a questionnaire on-line which you can print out and fill out before you come to your appointment, and I think there are a couple of other forms too. First, he asked me a whole bunch of questions with regards to all the TMS symptoms I've had over the years (irritable bowel, back pain, tension headaches to name a few). We talked about my current problem (dizziness/floaty sensation/vertigo/lightheadedness) and he asked me how I came to the conclusion this was also TMS. I explained that Dr. Sarno touches on dizziness in his books (I think Sarno himself had it at one point) and then I brought a file I had which I had printed from the internet on people who have gotten the dizzy thing after flying. He was very interested in this since pretty much all of the people also talked about fibromyalgia or headaches or other ailments. I remember him saying "I see a lot of TMS on these pages." He did an examination to look for the classic tender points along the back, neck and legs and I was positive for all of them. He did a neurological exam and asked if I had any MRI's etc., which I did not. I had already seen three doctors and no one could figure it out so I had self-diagnosed with a bizarre syndrome I had read about called Mal de Debarquement. He told me that he agreed that I do indeed have TMS and that this dizziness is a manifestation of it and I then purchased his CD set and workbook, which were extremely helpful. I think the total for both was about $60 but I'm not sure.
I found that having Dr. Schechter confirm this diagnosis really helped me but again, as Tom said, would I be doing better today had I simply re-read Dr. Sarno's books? I'm not sure. I continue to read those books anyway, but something about listening to Dr. Schechter's CD's really clicked with me. The workbook was a little more challenging because I found I got almost a writer's block when faced with the challenge of writing down what was really bothering me. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. I do highly recommend Dr. Schechter if you do need that face to face validation as I did. I know another gentleman on this forum, Iqbal, went to see him on my recommendation and loved him. Also, Dr. Schechter can refer to various psychotherapists, if needed, and I saw Dr. Don Dubin upon his referral. Dr. Dubin's office is close to Dr. Schechter's so I recommended to Iqbal that he set his appointments back to back, since he was traveling a distance just like you. Good luck!
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iyusaf
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2004 : 22:17:03
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quote:
I am unsure about my pelvic pain.
If you're unsure, it makes sense to visit a doctor to rule out anything structural.
I've seen Sarno and Schechter (Schechter trained with Sarno at NYU). The examination includes taking your history, palpation of TMS trigger points (poking you in six different places), and possibly a nerve test. Depending on your symptoms, additional examinations and tests including MRI or XRay may be required.
I find the audiobook version of Sarno's, Healing Back Pain to be very effective. Drop that on your iPod and have Sarno speak directly to your brain. Powerful stuff. |
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Agata
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 10/19/2004 : 17:45:55
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| I had the same experience with listening Dr. Sarno’s book on CD with headphones. It feels like Iyusaf said, let him talk directly to your brain. I think my concentration is better when I listen with headphones on why it feels like he talks directly and only to me. |
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pault
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 04:42:29
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| Well said Tom! |
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Stryder
686 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 21:39:13
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quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
By the time most TMS'ers see a TMS doctor, they have had umpteen tests and dx's that have not helped them-otherwise they would not be contiualy searching for a "cure".
I am so lucky I opted out of surgery when I first had my MRI's, and decided to wait it out. It took another 8 years before I discovered my pain was TMS and I started to recover. I can't imagine the mess I would be in now if I had gone down the surgery path.
-Stryder |
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Sara
66 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 17:57:32
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Thank you all for your input. I am quite sure I need to see a doctor. As to when that will occur, I do not know. I wish I could do it on my own, but I can't. My conscious mind says TMS makes sense, but I am unable to apply it fully to my situation. If my conscious mind has doubts, I can't imagine what my unconscious mind is thinking. My pain is constant and prevents me from doing so many things. I have terrible guilt about all the things I cannot do with my kids, so, I know I need to "get with the program" soon.
Sara |
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Dr. Schecter and TMS examination
