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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
 Posted - 07/25/2007 : 22:44:43
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I am praying this right wrist pain and some finger pain is TMS and not a true injury or carpal tunnel..I do this quadricep stretch wherein I put significant strain on my wrist to hold up my leg by putting two fingers in the inside of my sneaker..I cannot hold my leg up any other way for this stretch..I have done this b4 without a problem..but this time it's been bothering my right wrist especially..The one i use to paint and i also play piano when i teach my voice students..The pain was sharp at first then lasted a few days and went away after ice, advil..etc..
This time it's not going away..And it's the same wrist that was bad years ago from being on crutches for months..I am really scared because my livelihoods depends on my right hand, in particular, for painting..I have a big, difficult commission i am supposed to be working on now but i can barely type let alone paint..Any words of encouragement would be so helpful..I just hope it's plain old TMS taking another form in my body..
Hugs and God bless,
Karen |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 00:53:35
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No such thing as carpal tunnel!
Karen...this is a cycle for you. You need to get out of this cycle by defeating it with your mind, by not letting yourself get into the spiral of "what if". By having 100% commitment to treating your pain as TMS and overcoming the doubts.
If you go into a doubt spiral every time you have a pain, you will keep having pains. You need to replace the doubt thoughts with the TMS principles and with a way to trigger "thinking psychological".
Talk -- and think -- about what is going on in your life, not your symptoms and your past injuries.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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mikescott_98
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 07:45:25
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I hate to be blunt Karen, but over a thousand post and you still don't get it!
Of course the pain you are experiencing is TMS! There is NOTHING STRUCTURALLY WRONG with your wrist!
I believe that Advil is considered an anti inflammatory drug (anyone with more knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong)which along with ice would only help if there is swelling. The last time this "cured the pain" was probably a placebo effect, which obviously did not last.
You probably should print what armchair mentions below because you should read it many times a day.
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 07:45:45
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I would write essays on the pressures you mention in your posting. Well, more the concerns you have than the physical aspect since it is not likely physical-related.
You can't just HOPE it's TMS; you have to BELIEVE it is. Forget the "it's the same wrist. . . " Our body heals. Our brain knows where to attack.
-Lori |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 07:51:57
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Karen, holy smokes...What mike et all are saying...Isn't any of this catching on with you? Can't you step away and see this for what it is?
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 09:49:30
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Thanx everyone,
I can feel your frustration with me and I was almost reluctant to share on here about this because I am feeling particularly emotional and sensitive right now..Mike you sound borderline angry with me..I am sure you want to help me, and I appreciate that..but angry messages don't usually do much for me..It's just my personality I guess..the sensitive artist thing.
There is actual heat in the right wrist as if it really were inflammation in there causing that..When my knee was really injured it was warm inside and out..All I know is that I cannot paint, typing is tough and now it's hard to drive, open a can, etc. etc.
I do have ALOT of pressures in my current life, no doubt..I am doing the reading, but not enough and writing is out of the question right now..There is some intermittent tingling and finger pain in the right hand and that is really scary..I never had a wrist issue this bad b4..It did happen after that strain when I held up my leg to stretch..that was when I felt it this time..THe first time a few weeks ago was a delayed reaction..
I am at my part time job ready to cry and/or leave..I just want to crawl under the covers right now..I am fighting with myself, talking to my brain, etc..Doesn't anyone else on here have alot of posts and still have struggles? I don't think I am the only one..And..i deliberately stay away when things are just the 'normal' level of pain to give others on here a chance to talk..I only come back when it gets really bad..
Thanx,
Karen |
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JohnD
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 09:50:22
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"no such things as carpal tunnel"
I don't mean to be a devils advocate.....as my own "carpal tunnel" is what introduced me to TMS theory and changed my life forever. But I do find it funny these types of blanket statements are made here.
The other thing I find quite interesting is how quick people are to diagnose athletes with 100% confidence from on a message board.
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 10:17:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Singer_Artist
...wrist pain ...finger pain...true injury...carpal tunnel...quadricep stretch...significant strain...pain was sharp...went away after ice, advil...same wrist that was bad years ago...
What's wrong with the above picture?
quote:
I am really scared because my livelihoods depends on my right hand, in particular, for painting..I have a big, difficult commission i am supposed to be working on now but i can barely type let alone paint...
Can there be a more obvious reason for psychogenic pain?
You still have not mastered the ability to think psychologically first. This pressure that you are putting on yourself for this "big, difficult commission" is where you should be focusing your thoughts, not on the symptoms, as you are still doing.
You are still employing circular reasoning. You don't realize that the emotional sensitivity you are feeling right now is a symptom serving the same purpose as the wrist pain. It is not because you have some "injury" that is preventing you from doing your work. The pain is not the cause, it is the symptom.
If people on this forum (including myself) seem curt or frustrated, it is simply because after all this time you just don't seem to "get it". You continue to fall into the same trap over and over. Your analysis of your emotional state is shallow, yet your analysis of your physical state is tremendously detailed. This is backwards.
And by the way, why are you doing this crazy quadricept stretch in the first place? |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 10:42:55
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Thanx for the honest feedback, Dave..:)
I am doing this crazy stretch because I have put on some weight and my right knee which was injured 3 different times will not stretch fully or normally up and back..I have to sit down and stretch one leg at a time that way, cannot put all my weight on one leg..I was stretching after working out or I would be sore..
You are right..I put way more detail into the physical then the psychological..I can tell you psychologically I feel TERRIFIED, DEPRESSED, SAD, ANGRY, CONFUSED, LOST and ALONE to name a few..
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 10:52:46
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Karen, you need to focus on the content of our messages and not the tone. The kind and gentle approach has not made any change in the way you react to episodes of pain. I guess we are all hoping the balder approach might work. You are a kind, caring, and sensitive person, I like you, and it saddens and frustrates me to see you suffer in the same cycle over and over when really, truly listening to the advice you've been given can stop it.
So take the content and really look at it. Accept it into your heart and into your head.
Then take a piece of paper, divide it into three columns, and at the head of each column put this:
1) Past Traumas and Negative Experiences
2) Pressures from myself (goodism, perfectionism)
3) Pressures of daily life
Start listing things in each column. Don't think too hard, just list anything that comes to mind. If you get stuck on one column, switch to another.
When you run out of things to list (when I did this it took 3-5 pages, although I had them all intermixed), go back and actually read the lists. See the things that are going on with you. Acknowledge them. Realize it's enough to give anyone TMS three times over. And ACCEPT that you have both recurrent and chronic TMS and you have nothing to worry about physically.
Then start writing long pages about each thing, like Lori suggested. You NEED an outlet. Give yourself one.
quote:
And by the way, why are you doing this crazy quadricept stretch in the first place?
I was wondering this too. Not that you can really hurt yourself this way, but a) stretching isn't necessary, and b) there are many ways to stretch a quad without using just two fingers or even your hand at all (trust me, I had no use of my hands for several years, I know a few ways).
BTW, JohnD, "no such thing" is rather of a simplification of my beliefs on RSI/CTS, but after the evidence I've seen from myself and on the board where so many people with RSI/carpal tunnel just get better, I have a really hard time believing in it.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:14:13
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ACL,
I am so touched by your letter..Thank you very much..Honestly, I am sneaking on the computer at work..(my part time job at the pilates studio)..and I feel like crying right now because of your compassionate heart..:)
I will do what you said..I can write columns slowly with this pain..many pages, not sure how I will do that..It got so bad last night i couldn't sleep and I am PMSing on top of all of this..After work today I have to play piano for one hour straight teaching a lesson..forget about painting at all unless i want another night like last night..Or..if i can do these columns maybe it will stop..It is so bad right now, I really can't stand it..
Hugs,
K |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:24:41
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quote:
Originally posted by Singer_Artist
Thanx for the honest feedback, Dave..:)
I am doing this crazy stretch because I have put on some weight and my right knee which was injured 3 different times will not stretch fully or normally up and back..
That's part of TMS. Bodies heal completely from injury. This is yet another physical distraction for you.
quote:
I can tell you psychologically I feel TERRIFIED, DEPRESSED, SAD, ANGRY, CONFUSED, LOST and ALONE to name a few..
These are symptoms. Something is causing you to feel this way. The child inside is in a blind rage because you put so much pressure on yourself. Try to identify those sources of pressure. Likely, one of them is fear of failure in your artwork, either that you won't get it done on time, or that people will not like it. |
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JohnD
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:27:09
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The people who get frustrated over others not taking their advice,thinking physical, not getting over tms have to take a look at themselves too. Haven't you guys realized that there are always gonna be some people who don't take your advice? Haven't you realized that there are always gonna be people who want to talk physical? How many more times does it have to happen in order for you guys to come to terms with it? Maybe there are some people who need more support such as therapy like the Good Doc himself says. NOW TAKE MY ADVICE BECAUSE I AM RIGHT AND YOU NEED TO CHANGE THAT APPROACH. If you get upset one more time its all your fault because you didn't listen to me. You're stuck in this vicious circle of frustration and you obviously haven't mastered your own emotions yet. So from now on I'm gonna monitor everytime someone gets upset or frustrated at an unruly TMS recoveree. And if you get upset about another poster and show you're frustration, I'm gonna let you know in an even bolder way until you get the point. So please take my advice because I am right and you are wrong.
OK on a more serious note, do any of you talk to people like this in real life?
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:27:34
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ACL,
I re-read your reply and I started my columns..My handwriting is so bad from the pain i can barely read it..I have to notice how I just focused on you saying you couldn't use your hands for 2 years..that really scared me..That just cannot happen..It can't even be 2 more days or my career is over..I know I should keep focus on all the other wonderful things you said and I will..but I was wondering was yours TMS the whole time and if not what happened?
Hugs,
K |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 11:55:47
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Dave,
Thanx for the insight..Never thought of it that way..that those emotions were symptoms of something even deeper..I have to let that sink in..Yes my inner child is probably really angry about all the pressure over both fear of failure and fear of success as well..
Hugs,
K
John,
I did get a little sensitive when I was asked about posting 1000 times and still not 'getting it'..but I realized quickly that each and every poster is just trying to help me..THey see patterns in me and they are concerned..I could use to toughen up a bit..I am too thin skinned sometimes..I do appreciate your concern though..
Hugs,
K |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 12:16:15
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WOW...was that PS I just wrote ever dramatic..Yikes! I am embarassing myself now..The Hypochondriac in me just always thinks the worst and I hate it..I suppose that is also a symptom of deeper issues..I just re-scheduled my voice student for Saturday..I just have to be able to play the piano and paint by then..
Thanx for listening..Maybe i just invent these syndromes now and then because i like talking to you guys so much..:) |
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mikescott_98
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 13:00:03
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Karen,
I am not at all angry with you.
Since you have not had much success by posting what symptoms you are having at any given time and letting us tell you why it is TMS, I have a suggestion that might help you.
It is kind of like school work where the teacher gives you a problem and you have to research the answer.
YOU need to get one of Dr. Sarns's books and instead of saying
quote:
I just hope it's plain old TMS taking another form in my body.
Start your Quote with "My latest TMS symptom is_______. I know it is emotional, not physical and here is what Dr. Sarno says about it and why it is an equivalent." (I think I would have to include the statement "Man, that guy is a genius!" after word, but you do not have to do that)
Let us know that you understand which personality traits you specifically have that are mentioned in his books. And specifically what life stresses you are experiencing ( I think you do a good job of this one)
Then using Sarno's book YOU tell us what you need to do next. (Hint...wearing a little support thingy is not the correct answer) That way we know you are at least trying to understand the correct part of his theory.
I think that if you mention specific parts of the book, you will understand it better and be more receptive of the cure.
Again, do not take any of this as anger aimed at you.
Anyone else think this is might help her? |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 13:10:42
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Thanx Mike..:)
I have read all his books but the Divided Mind..I have it..but haven't started it because I am running around teaching lessons, working here pt and painting and marketing my art..I realize that is no excuse and i have got to find that book and read it..I think it's still in one suitcase from when i was living in NYC part of last year singing..I haven't even unpacked that suitcase yet..I came back to Vegas in January! Your suggestion is excellent!
Hugs,
K |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 14:11:44
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Hey Karen, sorry to worry you on the hand front. It was TMS the whole time for me. I had RSI symptoms, so I had pain and limited use of my hands for a few years before I learned about TMS. I type full-time now at my job, and ride my bike and cook and carry heavy dishes and shopping bags and have no pain. You'll get there too.
If you're having trouble writing, you could try using a little tape recorder or your computer and a microphone to record. Or just write slowly and/or messily. It's just important that at the end you can look back and see what you said/wrote, because that's quite different from thinking about it, it gives a concrete record of what pressures you have.
We like hearing from you too -- but no need to get panicked so you can come back and share! Just come and tell us what you're feeling. 
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2007 : 14:17:09
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| Thanx Sweetie..I will do that..:) |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2007 : 08:10:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Singer_Artist
..The Hypochondriac in me just always thinks the worst and I hate it..I suppose that is also a symptom of deeper issues..
Aha! Now you're on the right track.
When you start thinking about physical problems, yell STOP!!!
Take a few deep breaths. Clear your mind. I sometimes visualize pulling a virtual curtain down over those thoughts, quieting my mind. Then try to think of nothing for a few minutes. Focus on your breathing. Relax!
Recognize that these spiraling obsessive thoughts are a symptom and don't allow them to continue. Do this every time. Slowly you will recondition yourself and those thoughts won't serve as such a distraction for you. |
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wrist pain-carpal tunnel?
