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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
 Posted - 08/19/2007 : 11:00:23
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It's been a month I have been dealing with acute pain and limitations in my wrists.. I know other TMSers have dealt with this in the past alot longer... I am doing the Sarno work, but instead of writing, I am constantly thinking about what could be truly bothering me to cause all this...
When the pain gets particularly bad, especially at night, my fingers become visibly swollen... I know Sarno mentions swelling and inflammation as also a part of TMS... I was just wondering if anyone else on here has experienced this finger swelling related to wrist tendonitis? |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2007 : 13:30:26
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I had substantial swelling in the knee at one point....something I now recognize was TMS.
I had pain in my foot for 6 months or more, and a frozen shoulder deal for about the same length of time...
The way to recovery in my case was to lose my fear, stop obsessing, and ignore the pain...In the case of the foot, that meant running many painful miles...
I urge you to stop staring at your fingers...
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2007 : 14:15:40
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ur right,A.. |
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carbar
USA
227 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2007 : 15:13:05
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>>>acute pain and limitations in my wrists..
Limitations?
Change the vocabulary, Karen.
Your current TMS symptom is wrist/arm pain.
>>>I am constantly thinking
Obsessing is a TMS equivalent in my mind, too. Glad you are actively doing the Sarno work, but maybe you want to set a timer in the house. You get 30 minutes for Sarno in the morning, 30 minutes in the evening. That way you have structured time to consider the necessary questions (what am I feeling? why? etc.). You can use the time to talk to your brain and yell at it to stop with the "limitations" thinking!
After that -- on with life, keep your days as busy and purposeful as possible.
As to your original questions about swelling. Sure, tons of it in all sorts of places. It was always TMS, for all 7 years.
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2007 : 16:36:58
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| thanx, C.. |
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stanfr
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 08/19/2007 : 18:13:25
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| Karen (hey i thought you left??) i came to the realization this past week that feeling sorry for myself and allowing pain/problems to put me down probably have been serving a subconcious purpose in motivating me as a pefectist (since without adversity, i believe that i'd lose my motivation!) As a Singer and Artist (artists are well-known for feeding off their percieved ill-fate) something you might want to consider-S |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 00:20:49
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Karen, you need to be making a concrete record of the emotions you are exploring, not just thinking. It is truly important to have a visual or audible record, and not just thoughts going around and around. The record will help you see just how much there is, and whether you have considered or listed a particular issue before or not. (This is why the written record is better -- easier to access.)
It can bring relief just to have the emotions out of your head and put somewhere else, rather than thoughts...which have a tendency to go around and around...as you are rather demonstrating here with asking about your same physical symptoms again.
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 10:42:30
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ACL,
That makes a lot of sense..Still having to ask friends to type for me and do other basic things, or else, the pain increases ten fold.. I tried to push through the pain by typing and teaching a voice lesson (playing the piano)..I clearly was not ready, conditioning wise..That is probably why Dr. Sarno specifically says to resume normal activities when the pain is nearly gone..
I was going to record my thoughts and feelings into a tape recorder but the perfectionist in me thought it wasn't anywhere near as good as writing in journal..My right hand is worse than my left..I have trouble even making out a check, and do not recognize my own signature..When I try to pick up something really small like a vitamin my fingers on my right hand are shaky and weak..Naturally this brings about enormous fear..Since I paint with my right hand, not to mention the obvious things we all need our hands for..
I am hoping this weakness in my fingers is just another manifestation of my TMS..Clearly I have it pretty bad..
In my inner exploration thus far, I realize I am holding a tremendous amount of present or recent past anger and resentment inside..Before the wrist episode began, I was feeling enormous pressure to get my life together and potentially move back home to the East Coast..I also had just sold three paintings and was commissioned to do another by the same couple..It is very complex piece and quite large..Dave helped me realize the connection between the self-imposed pressure/fear of failure and the onset of the acute TMS in my wrists..It seems I need more than just the awareness of all of this..When I can afford it, I am going to start up with my TMS therapist again..
Lastly, the biggest thing troubling me deep inside is that I am so far away, geographically, to a very close relative who is trouble..I feel powerless to help her and she calls me frequently everyday, asking for my help..I am being vague out of respect for her privacy..The bottom line is that I have very little family left on the planet and feel very alone in this regard..Thank God for my friends who really are my true family anyway..One of them is typing this novel for me now, lol...
I guess I could consider this a journal entry of sorts..Tonight I will ask my bro to set me up with a recorder so I can journal audibly in private..Thanks for reading and for your input as always..
Peace,
Karen
Art and Carbar,
I found your posts to me very helpful too..I just didn't write much till now because I was alone and typing is extremely painful..
stanfr,
Thanks for your input, I will definitely give that some thought..My only question to you (since on here we can not hear vocal intonations) is what did you mean by asking me "I thought you left??" Was that meant to be helpful or sarcastic? I tried my best not to take it personal, but I must admit it didn't feel good..A person has every right to change their mind at any time..I learned a lot from all my overpostings in the past, and have no intention of going overboard again..
But what is wrong with me using the forum in a more healthy and productive way? I decided to take my friend Art's advice and come back with a new perspective or at least a resolve to heal my TMS..
Peace to all,
Karen
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h2oskier25
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 12:25:47
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Hi Karen,
Glad you are back. With you AND TT gone, it was just too insanely boring on this forum.
Sorry to hear you are still struggling. I still see it in your posts where you constantly say "I hope it's just TMS . . . ". Further proof that you still do not believe.
If and when you believe, we will hear posts from you like "Today I had two voice lessons AND went to the gym. I had some pain but it didn't stop me . . . "
I feel so bad over your family member who needs you badly right now. Unfortunately, you can't help them unless they give up that which is causing them so much pain, which they won't do. That leaves you in a bad spot.
Carbar, I suffered for 7 years, too. Strange little coincidence!
Regards,
Beth |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 13:58:22
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Hi Bethie,
You're right as usual
Hope to talk to you again soon..And not just about TMS..
Hugs,
Karen |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 14:05:25
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quote:
I was going to record my thoughts and feelings into a tape recorder but the perfectionist in me thought it wasn't anywhere near as good as writing in journal..My right hand is worse than my left..I have trouble even making out a check, and do not recognize my own signature..When I try to pick up something really small like a vitamin my fingers on my right hand are shaky and weak..Naturally this brings about enormous fear..Since I paint with my right hand, not to mention the obvious things we all need our hands for..
Karen...listen to yourself.
You are focusing on the physical, dwelling on your fear, and letting yourself get in the way of your own work.
It is the same as before. I will again be waiting for something different to engage with you, since I have already given all the advice I have for your present situation.
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Wherever you go, there you are. |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 15:03:44
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Hi ACL,
I understand how you feel regarding my still describing physical symptoms..But, I wrote a lot more than that in my other response to you..I opened up and spoke about what I think could be going on psycologically with me. It was like a mini journal entry..So, I am not only dwelling on the physical..My problem is I am too much of an open book sometimes, and just tell all..
Take care,
Karen |
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stanfr
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 16:23:19
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| Karen; that question wasn't meant to be either sarcastic or helpful, it was just a side question, since i was surprised to see you had changed your mind after saying you were taking a break. Quite frankly, your the only one who can decide what's best for you, but there probably are some people on this forum (possibly myself included) who might benefit from a complete break. As Dave mentioned in response to one of my other posts, TMS treatment focuses on a reconditioning of one's psyche. If this forum is part of one's conditioning, breaking that cycle could be a positive thing. |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2007 : 21:59:04
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Hi Stan,
I know what you mean.. But if you knew how much over posting I used to do, when in acute TMS, you wouldn't even notice that I changed my mind and came back.. I intend to use this forum more reasonably..
Take care,
Karen |
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weatherman
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 08:38:17
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Maybe one thing to ask yourself is, if you push through the pain what's the worst that can happen? Can it really get any worse than it already is? For example, I've never heard of someone pushing through carpal tunnel type pain actually breaking a wrist or tearing a tendon. We're not talking about walking a mile on your hands here - the activities you describe just don't sound to me like they could physically hurt you.
Weatherman
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." |
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h2oskier25
USA
395 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 08:48:45
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That's a good point weatherman. When I suffered and babied by wrists for YEARS, at some point, I came to the conclusion that I was never really able to get worse, or better, just the same "a little better today, a little worse today" that went on for years.
When you push through, you will get more symptoms or severity sometimes, but realize, this is the last ditch effort of a desperate mind to convince you it's physical.
Stand tough. We're pulling for you
Beth |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 10:31:13
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Hi Weatherman,
It makes logical sense what you are saying. My concern is that when I did that crazy stretch and held it for 18-seconds, one month ago, that I did get a micro-tear in the tendon at the time..I had felt sharp pains in my right wrist the evening after I did that same stretch several weeks prior..I did ice and advil and it went away in three days..I kept telling myself that the pain wasn't real or it was just TMS..But then the time one month ago that I did that stretch I felt pain during the movement which got worse and worse through the day..I then realized it must have been that stretch..Before thinking it was TMS..So I babied the right wrist and literally did everything with the left wrist including driving and within the week both were really bad..
I suppose I could have initially gotten a slight injury because of repeatedly doing that same stretch after working out for many months..Instead of healing quickly it turned into TMS related to current life pressures about the commissioned painting among other things..Then like a scared idiot I spoke to several of my mainstream Dr. friends who told me tendonitis needs to be carefully treated with rest, splints and meds or steroids..There's no way I was going to take steroids or have them injected..
Every time I tried to play piano, type, open something etc. the pain would go from only happening upon certain movements/activities to constant stabbing pain..It also shot into my palms and certain fingers..And unless I made myself sleep with pain meds I lay awake all night..So although these activities seem benign, when they increase the pain that much conditioning takes over..
I am sure I am going to get yelled at by somebody for talking about the physical..but I was trying to give you an honest answer..
Hugs,
Karen
Bethie,
Thanks for rooting for me buddy!
Lots of love, Karen
PS In case anyone asks, A dear friend is typing this for me now. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 12:48:05
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An important point that you are entirely missing is, the fact that you felt compelled to do that stretch in the first place means that your thoughts (and actions) are still firmly rooted in the physical realm.
But you are right in that pain initially caused by an injury (such as a crazy stretch that shouldn't be attempted in the first place) will heal completely, yet TMS may sieze the opportunity to create more chronic pain in that spot. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 13:19:23
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Karen,
I identify with your struggles...I can very well see myself doing some weirdo stretch found on the Internet or some such place, then worrying for weeks that I've done myself grievous harm...Thankfully, that kind of stuff is mostly in the past for me now...
You've got TMS...Pure and simple...Remember a bunch of us offered to eat our hats if not? That still goes...
I agree with weatherman. He's making the same suggesiton I did a week or so ago and many others have as well...use your hands...Just do it..They're not going to fall off..
It's terrible to live in fear like this...You can have a better life..All you need is the courage. |
Edited by - art on 08/21/2007 13:20:50 |
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swmr1
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 13:20:43
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| I have a hard time believing that you (being a person who does sound somewhat in shape) can be THIS injured and have THIS level of tendonitis from the activities you describe. It's not like you are doing hardcore movements or anything. I think you should start being skeptical about your pain. There's no way in H-E-double hockey sticks that painting and typing can cause that amount of stress on your tendons. Those are not high-impact, or even strenuous activities. Now, if you were talking about how you walked on your hands all day or did strenuous acrobatics or something it would make a little more sense to have such pain. Don't you think your level of pain is a little out-of-whack with the type of injury you insist you've sustained? I don't think people with BROKEN wrists are in any more pain that you seem to be... |
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Singer_Artist
USA
1516 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 13:34:29
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Dave,
It wasn't that crazy of a stretch..My quads/hamstrings never fully came back in my right leg from the real, serious previous knee injuries..So after I work out I would sit to stretch my quads so as to not put pressure on the knee which still acts up now and then..Probably TMS there too..
Art,
I know what you mean, living in fear is a nightmare..That is why I keep trying more activities to push through the pain..But when it keeps me up all night it is too unbearable..
swmr1,
I have thought the same thing you just said..It just doesn't make sense that I am this incapicatated, I agree with you..
Hugs to all,
Karen |
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Topic |
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Tendonitis question
