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JaniceG
25 Posts |
 Posted - 07/30/2007 : 16:48:17
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I have had TMS symptoms for the past 6 weeks...lots of back,neck and shoulder pain. I haven't been to work since July 13th. My doctor has given me clearance to stay home until August 6th. I have been following Sarno's program for the past 2 weeks and am starting to see a lot of improvement. I still have some pain,but it is just an annoyance at this point. I just worry because I still tire very easily and sometimes get a dizzy if I stand up too quick. So I am really worried. What if I go back to work and start to feel bad and have to leave right away? I'm feeling somewhat better, but not 100 percent. I have to go back to the doctor on August 2nd to see if I'm ready to return to work. How have any of you dealt with the residual weakness and fatique from being in so much pain? Any tips for how to get my strength back? Thanks!
JaniceG |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2007 : 17:31:08
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just a thought....
Are you a perfectionist/goodist?
Could you be intimidated to go back to work because your'e not the 100% you used to be in your mind?
What if you just relaxed, accepted the notion that your'e only 85% right now, and that your boss and co-workers w/b more than happy w/ 85% of you at work than nothing, perhaps that would calm you a bit.
Perhaps that mode of thought would keep the symptoms in check, perhaps relieve them somewhat, and hopefully not make you feel any worse. Of course I'm speculating this as I'm in the course of learning the acceptence myself. But I think this is supposed to be how it works.
Your'e probably wondering how it would look if you went back to work, only to go back out again. At that point to your boss/co-workers will start rolling their eyes at you. In this case it looks better if you only went out for just one long stretch, cause everyone goes out once in a while. But is being out contributing to the problem?
I'll be checking for other responses. Good luck. |
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ndb
209 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2007 : 17:52:48
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quote:
Originally posted by JaniceG
I have had TMS symptoms for the past 6 weeks...lots of back,neck and shoulder pain. I haven't been to work since July 13th. My doctor has given me clearance to stay home until August 6th. I have been following Sarno's program for the past 2 weeks and am starting to see a lot of improvement. I still have some pain,but it is just an annoyance at this point. I just worry because I still tire very easily and sometimes get a dizzy if I stand up too quick. So I am really worried. What if I go back to work and start to feel bad and have to leave right away? I'm feeling somewhat better, but not 100 percent. I have to go back to the doctor on August 2nd to see if I'm ready to return to work. How have any of you dealt with the residual weakness and fatique from being in so much pain? Any tips for how to get my strength back? Thanks!
JaniceG
My guess would be that the fatigue and pain is not really residual from being in back neck and shoulder pain before. I would suspect this is another manifestation of TMS. I don't believe that you can become so weak from inactivity that you become easily tired and have dizzy spells. I really think you should try treating these symptoms in the same way as your back pain. Try to start doing routine things without worrying about getting tired.
ndb |
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JaniceG
25 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2007 : 09:53:53
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Thanks...I am a perfectionist when it comes to my job. I feel incredible guilt being out like this. I have been with my company for over 20 years and haven't been out since 1990, when I had, you guessed it, weakness and dizziness. I was diagnosed with TMJ disorder back then, but now I realize it was really TMS. It took me about 6 months to recover back then. This time my symptoms have been going on for the past 6 weeks. Maybe I'm just impatient with the TMS healing process. I know it takes an average of 2 months to feel a lot better and you're not supposed to put a time limit on it. I just feel pressured because someone else in my department is going to be out for surgery and I'm supposed to cover for them. I'm sure this is making me more tense and contributing to the problem. I'll try to ease up myself.
JaniceG |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2007 : 12:49:22
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Do you have to go back to work full-time?
My company have a "rehabilitation scheme", where you can start back a few hours a day and slowly build up. Could you suggest that to them and your doctor? It would also help you get over the fear of going back.
You could "sell" it to your company maybe by telling of your fear that you're not 100% ready to go back and you're afraid that by starting full-time immediately you risk going off sick again.
I think the best way to get your strength back is by going back to work gradually.
Hilary N |
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shawnsmith
Czech Republic
2048 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 08:12:29
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There is a lot of pressure on you to recover within certain time frame, but your unconscious mind will not be rushed like tat.
*******
Sarno-ize it!
Read chapter 4 of Dr. Sarno's "The Divided Mind." It's all you need to know in order to recover. |
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JaniceG
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2007 : 20:07:32
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I like the go back part time idea! I'll suggest it to my doctor. It will also take the pressure off as far as a time frame. Thanks!
JaniceG |
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Newmom
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 13:48:35
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JaniceG,
Are you collecting workers' compensation or some sort of disability? Why do you need the doctor's permission to return to work? Unless you have money coming in while you are taking it easy, why wouldn't you want to get back to work sooner?
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JaniceG
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 18:34:29
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Newmom- yes, I am collecting disability at this point. I can't go back without medical clearance because they won't let me. It's just that I've always been an active person. I have never missed worked other than vacation and sick days for 26 years, other than when I had my son. So I'm very anxious to go back, but realizing I have to ease up on that until I'm feeling much better. I'll only slow up my progress by going back too soon. I'm reading Sarno's books and doing the work, but it just takes time, which is what I have to realize.
JaniceG |
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JaniceG
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 18:40:27
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Newmom- yes, I am collecting disability at this point. I can't go back without medical clearance because they won't let me. It's just that I've always been an active person. I have never missed worked other than vacation and sick days for 26 years, other than when I had my son. So I'm very anxious to go back, but realizing I have to ease up on that until I'm feeling much better. I'll only slow up my progress by going back too soon. I'm reading Sarno's books and doing the work, but it just takes time, which is what I have to realize
JaniceG |
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Newmom
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2007 : 07:53:12
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JaniceG,
The only clearance you need is from you. Once you decide you are not afraid to return to work you will go to the doctor and get your clearance to return to work. I do not know your medical condition, but is seems there is some reason that you do not want to return to work. Remember, there are so many doctors out there that will keep you off work for unreasonable extended periods of time solely based on "subjective complaints of pain."
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2007 : 09:57:25
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Janice, I had forgotten the fear I had in returning to normal activity( travel for me) until I read your post. I began practicing Sarno's technique about 4 years ago and have been pretty much "cured" for about the last two. Cured is really a misnomer because symptoms often try to return but they can't really get any traction with me and I think thats the whole secret. At the beginning,when I started to improve,I was really frightened to get in the car and go any distance. "What if I get where I'm going and have horrible pain or get dizzy or sick". All these thoughts were really scary. All I can tell you is what worked for me was baby steps. Go shorter distances with shorter stays first and you will become impowered. For you that might mean going in for half a day to begin with. Once you find out that you really won't die you get stronger because, after all, there is really nothing wrong with you. Logically you have to realize that nothing can be worse than the initial attack pain and you already made it thru that. You just have to dive in and swim slowly. Honestly, getting thru this has made me a much stronger person. By the way, the exaustion is only tms. I had it and the dizziness with the pain. Just treat them all the same. What's the worst that can happen if you go to work and have pain? See what I'm saying?
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JaniceG
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 11:10:20
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Thanks so much for your encouragement, Susie and Newmom. Every week my pain is lessening, but the fear is really terrible. A lot my problem comes directly from my work situation, I've come to realize. I work on computers all day and lately they've been piling more and more work on me. Then I found out one of my co-workers will be out for a month in September, and they expect me to pick up the slack. That's when I had this physical breakdown caused by my emotions. I pretended not to mind, but internally I was filled with rage for being imposed upon like this. Now that I have been out for 4 weeks, they have taken someone from another department to fill in for me somwhat. I have to learn to speak up for myself and insist on help when I go back and stop trying to be Super Employee.
JaniceG |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2007 : 11:31:28
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quote:
Originally posted by JaniceG
I have to learn to speak up for myself and insist on help when I go back and stop trying to be Super Employee.
yeah, I think they'd kill for "regular employee" right now. Heck, "below average" employee w/b a relief to them right now.
Maybe if you set your own expectations at "I can go back and be average employee no problem" then perhaps your unconcious rage would settle somewhat. I think you hit it on the head w/ the pressure you had put on yourself. |
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Afraid to go back to work
