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allen_non
55 Posts |
 Posted - 04/05/2007 : 06:52:49
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Well, will coincidences never cease? I posted a couple of weeks ago about my shoulder pain, which I was afraid was a re-injury of my rotator cuff.
I went back this morning to 2 sources of information- my work out training log, and my email account at work. My shoulder started hurting again on January 29, 2007.
Get this, earlier in the same day, on Jan 29, I got an email that one of the other divisions with my company had been sold, and that my former boss was coming back to my division. I like the guy, but really dislike his management style. He's not yet been made my boss again, and it may or may not happen, but there is some real "discomfort" when we're in the same area. The specter of having to work under this guy officially is very annoying to me, but I really like the company, so it presents a very fertile ground for TMS to pop up.
I'm having some careful conversations with the general manager (who I currently report to and am doing a good job for) to let him know that I really enjoy reporting directly to him (which is true) and that I'd like the arrangement to continue.
I normally don't try to make too much out of every little thing, but the connection between these 2 events, along with my very strong opinions about the situation, really seems to nail it as TMS.
Gotta get this journalling thing going. No telling what else I might dig up.
Allen |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2007 : 07:54:43
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Hey Allen,
Sounds to me like you have made the connection! That is great news..I am working on doing the same..In my case, there are so many varying stressors it is hard to pinpoint which is the real culprit in my increase in pain...Hope you continue to feel better and better..
God bless,
Karen |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2007 : 12:21:20
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Awesome job connecting the pain to an event! I think sometimes those "activity" or "symptom" journals can be helpful in that regard, though they do have the danger of obsessing. I imagine since yours is more about workouts, that diminishes the obsession potential.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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allen_non
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2007 : 17:30:46
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Yep, mine's just a humble workout log, but I do keep track of occasional odd things in my training. Like for that day, I did one rep of a military press, with a weight that I had been using for a long time with no problem. On Jan 29, I had written "Mil-Press, 70# x 1 rep left side, shoulder felt terrible so ended workout". I decreased the weight the next workout, but the mental "damage" was done.
It finally occurred to me that my old boss coming back might have been related, so I checked my emails at work and sure enough, the date when I foound out he was coming back was Jan 29. Scary!
Allen |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2007 : 22:42:40
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| Yes, a plausible connection, Allen. Hey, the first time I got a rotator cuff problem I was literally sitting in an office at work talking to a co-worker and the conversation got uncomfortable. Suddenly, I felt a very sharp pain at my shoulder completely out of nowhere! I thought I had dislocated my shoulder because it was so painful and I could hardly raise my arm. It's laughable when you think about it; getting "injured" while sitting at a desk having a conversation. |
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allen_non
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 06:32:21
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It is laughable, the things we let ourselves believe. Sometimes it's like yours, sitting doing nothing when the pain starts. Or in my case, in an activity that I've done literally hundreds of times with no trouble when the pain starts. Fortunately for me (unfortunately for many around me!), I am a logical thinker (engineer's disease!). I am able, sometimes, to make connections like, "what else was going on when this happened?". I was expecting to find a loose connection between my recurrence of shoulder pain and my job related event, but dang, the same day? I know the job news got my brain wheels turning, "drilling" all sorts of scenarios into my head (all undesirable). By the time I got home & started exercising, I was not a happy camper. So no wonder I got this "distraction".
What will be key for me is when I work out this afternoon. Yesterday was a rest day for me, so today will be the first exercise session since my discovery. I understand that knowing it's TMS is one thing, using that knowledge to eliminate the pain (and conditioning) is something else. At least it takes away the fear factor. I can work thru pain & discomfort as long as I know I'm not damaging myself.
Well, gotta get some work done- Fight the good fight!
-A- |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 09:56:25
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quote:
Originally posted by allen_non
What will be key for me is when I work out this afternoon. Yesterday was a rest day for me, so today will be the first exercise session since my discovery. I understand that knowing it's TMS is one thing, using that knowledge to eliminate the pain (and conditioning) is something else. At least it takes away the fear factor. I can work thru pain & discomfort as long as I know I'm not damaging myself.
-A-
Nice post A_N, good luck with your return to "normal activity", keep us informed on how it goes.
Regards,
tt 
some of my favorite excerpts from 'TDM' : http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 04/06/2007 09:59:34 |
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allen_non
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 10:40:58
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Hey TT, and thanks. I'll post back later how it goes. Today is my heavy, "go for broke" workout day, so it will be a good test.
Although I should mention that "normal activity" and I seem to be mutually exclusive! Folks who know me will quickly tell you "that Allen guy, he's just not normal!" Their nickname for my wife is "your poor, poor wife".
-A-
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
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allen_non
55 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 18:28:40
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Survived my workout today (which is good for my Friday w/o. It's the most brutal of the week). Managed to shave almost 3 minutes off the strength portion, which is significant. I must say, even with my new understanding of the overall situation with my shoulder, there still was some discomfort. I didn't let it stop me at all, since I recognized the TMS in it.
But I found it very interesting that no matter how hard I tried to block the process, my brain was literally "scanning" for any little pain it could find in the area. I could have had a pimple on my shoulder, and my dang brain would have found it! Treacherous little twerp brain! I was sort of expecting my brain to pull some stunt like that, so it didn't really suprise me. Plus I figured it would take awhile to disconnect the conditioning aspect of it. It's like dis-arming a bomb where you have to cut wire after wire and you're never really safe till they're ALL cut. Even then there's still some lunatic out there trying to reconnect the wires behind my back.
All in all though, it was a great workout. I was much more confident in my overhead presses, no fear, just trying to find the best groove to get the weight up. I can tell already that the pain is backing off. The first cycle is the worst, till the blood gets circulating in the joint (now WHERE have I heard that before?). Then the cycles get progressively better, until I finish working out. Then, typically once I finish, my shoulder joint feels like someone blew up a balloon in there. Not today though! Even went out & mowed the grass afterwards.
Thanks for the encouragement and the rootin' TT! I'll let ya know when I get ready to increase the weight in about 3 weeks. I'll really need a boost then. I'll be sleepin' GOOD tonight!
-A-
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 19:02:19
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Hey Allen,
Great to hear that your workout went well! It inpsires me..Funny my brain does the same thing..looks for any little pain in neck or knee after lifting weights..Starts to think.."oh no, did i hurt myself, etc" ad nauseum..I have to get my butt to the gym asap..On my way to church for Good Friday..
Happy Easter!
Karen |
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Amazing shoulder pain connection- CLASSIC
