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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
 Posted - 03/07/2008 : 09:14:01
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Hi All,
I'm a newbie here, have read 2 Sarno books, have done some journaling and read some helpful posts on this site(thanks). I have had sciatica, low back pain, neck and shoulder pain all for about ten years now. I feel I am making some progres by reading the books and have worked out some issues by journaling but am a little stuck right now. I was wondering if most people have success by working things out themselves or if more success is found by people who go to a TMS doctor or Sarno? I live in Canada and I don't think I'll have much luck finding a TMS doctor but I am willing to travel if it would help heal faster. Any advice? |
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RageSootheRatio
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 09:57:22
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I also live in Canada and have been wondering about seeing a TMS doctor. There is one I found listed:
Canada--Vancouver/Richmond B.C.
Sean Graham, D.C. (chiropractor) 604 274 7224
He is a chiropractor, so I am a little unsure about that, as I mainly have "equivalents" (allergies, fatigue) so I wasn't sure, although I had a serious chronic pain problem many years ago (and swore I would never see another professional who couldn't help me!)
Anyone here seen Dr. Graham and know anything about him? I wondered if he does the lecture series for his patients and if he had worked personally with Dr. Sarno and for how long, etc.
I feel like I have so far gotten excellent, life-changing results from working with Dr. Sarno's ideas so far (since last November) but now I want it all ! I've wondered too whether I can go as far as I can, on my own, (am I stuck?) without someone being my "official expert" helping me get better, when I go through the downswing periods. I wonder if it would help if I had an "official diagnosis" of TMS for all my symptoms, rather than just "self-diagnosing" myself (everything serious has been ruled out, over the years, so it makes sense, but I wonder if I need someone to help me officially dump some of the labels.)
Maybe Sagelady (who recently saw a new TMS Dr) or others who had this dilemma in the beginning might be able to share their perspective? |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 14:20:14
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| A practicing chirporactor is not a TMS doctor. |
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RageSootheRatio
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 15:21:05
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I don't know whether Dr. Graham's a practicing chiropractor or not ... I found his name on Dr. Schechter's site, on his "List of Doctors Doing TMS Diagnosis/Treatment"
http://www.mindbodymedicine.com/doctors.html
Dr. Graham is the only person listed in Canada, so this may be the only option of being diagnosed by a TMS professional in Canada ... unless anyone knows of someone else?? I must say that his listing as a chiropractor (and not an MD) was another reason I was hesitating. |
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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 09:32:42
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Hmm... B.C.,
I'm from Ontario so that would be quite a trip! I love B.C. though so if I knew he was good I might go, although a chiropractor being a TMS doctor does seem contradictory. Seems we don't have much to chose from in Canada so I guess we'd have to look at the States if they would accept us as patients.
I'd still love to hear from others experiences with TMS doctors, if it's nessesay etc. Was this topic addressed in past posts at all?
Thanks |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 10:18:48
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Dave -- what about Dr. Sopher? He's a practicing family medicine doctor, and he's said that he doesn't treat everyone who comes in the door who he thinks has TMS with the TMS method, because many of them won't accept it, and unlike Dr. Sarno, he can't turn them away because he is not just a TMS doc.
I think a chiropractor could have the same situation, feeling that they could best help people by being willing to recommend TMS to those who are open to it, and treat by chiropractic those who are not.
I too am skeptical of chiropractors as TMS docs since I met one who claimed to believe in TMS but did not really, and because I am skeptical of chiropractic in general, but it is difficult to know how helpful someone could be without meeting them, I think.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 10:44:20
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| A chiropractor's core training is in direct conflict to TMS: that our vertebrae can somehow go out of alignment and that this causes physical symptoms, and that these symptoms can be resolved by adjusting those vertebrae. |
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RageSootheRatio
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2008 : 11:36:14
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I would have to agree that a typical chiropractor's core training would be in direct conflict to TMS! At the same time, Dr. Scott Brady also admitted that his core medical training was in conflict and he went through quite a difficult internal process himself, coming to terms with TMS and treating patients in this way. To be fair to Dr. Graham, he must have some reason to have pursued TMS study at all (maybe he was like Dr Brady and was a chiropractor before being cured of his own pain problem through TMS?) so I don't want to prejudge him, especially as he is the closest TMS professional I have ever seen listed! Having said that, I am increasingly hesitant to jump in, here. Perhaps I should try to have an "informational appointment" with him (ie making it clear I am NOT seeking a dx on the first appt) to get more information about his TMS training, his philosophy, etc and to get a feel for whether he would be able to be genuinely helpful to me.
On a side note, since getting good results with Dr Sarno's ideas with my headaches, I have really "wanted it all" .. completely good health, and being able to do whatever I want, physically: NOT LIMITING MYSELF!! So, deciding to start slowly, I began the Somatics (Hanna) exercises as a way to get into more movement. The next day I had back pain and fatigue, which became debilitating after I decided to "ignore" it and pushed through it to go for a walk! This is where I am getting confused about what is and isn't TMS for me and where I would really like a TMS professional to be able to guide me. I also have an unrelated-to-TMS neurological condition which I believe can contribute to debilitating times, and so it is hard to tease out what is what, and what to do, when. It is very hard to do this on my own and so I do wonder whether a TMS professional could be of help, now. (Of course, I am also very aware of the risks involved, and maybe I AM better off working on my own. Still unsure, what to do yet.) |
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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 14:34:04
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see my post under trying real hard... good days and bad
Sage |
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RageSootheRatio
Canada
430 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 14:48:51
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| Thanks, sagelady. I've been following your posts with keen interest, since the very first one! I think it could be SO helpful to get a "formal dx" and then the workshops, like you have been doing, but while I wait to hear if anyone has any first hand information on Dr. Graham, I will continue to try to work on my own. I had excellent results re my headaches, but I was pretty convinced they were TMS. With my other symptoms, I am much less sure, and so I guess that is why I am a little stuck and ambivalent these days. I will continue to follow YOUR progress with interest! Sounds like you have had a great start, despite the ups and downs. |
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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 15:29:33
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Hope i can be a good role model ragesooth  Geez , the pressure on a perfectionist... just kidding.
I also read the books prior to consultation/ diagnosis. I knew then that I was on to something. Found myself on most pages, personality and symptoms. My problem, being a nurse is I needed the diagnosis. Not saying that EVERYONE does. I just know me.
Must tell you, I am now at the end of the day at work. I have been working very hard all day on the things mentioned by armchair and MK and Dr. Schubiner in workshop. And it has WORKED!! A very good day. Sure i don't know about tonight or tomorrow. But being mindful of the moment, it looks good from here.
Check out Dr. Schubiners site. Call him or email him. He will answer promptly. Tell him, his "student" Patty sent you  . Maybe his online class would work for you. By the way he is an internal medicine Doc. This was important to me in the diagnosis phase.
Keep working at it. As Dr. schubiner put it, "it's simple work, that is very hard to do". In other words, the homework looks easy enough, until you try to apply it in every aspect of your life. It's hard work.
Sage |
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Finding a TMS doctor (in Canada)..or not?
