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runner67
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 04/16/2008 : 13:38:44
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Hi all, Just discovered this TMS forum and can't get enough of the reading. Especially like the responses from "Stryker" and "Sensei" if you are still around. I was hoping you all could give me some re-assurance for my obvious self-diagnosed TMS.
I have been dealing with significant back pain for the last 10 - 12 years. Like all of you, I went through the standard doctors visit, physical therapy, chiropracters, masssage therapists, core exercises, stretches, anti-inflammatories, etc.. you name it, I tried it for relief. Saw the Howard Stern interview where he introduced Dr. John Sarno and his two published books as his cure. I must have read those books cover to cover 5 times because the condition he described fit me 100%.
Several years passed and my back pain was fairly manageable. I think I belived in the TMS diagnosis about 80%. To make a long story short, in the last 2 years, I have experienced extremely high job stress along with the responsiblity of raising a family. My back pain came back like a freight train (lower left, lower right, upper middle, neck, back to the lower, etc..).
My wife finally convinced me to see a doctor again because the pain was chronic and impacting my joy of life. You all know how this story plays out - doctor orders x-rays, and a very expensive MRI. I worry about the results for a week and he comes back and says, "you have disk degenerative disease and small tear in your L5 disk." You need to go to physical therapy. If that does not work, you will need some cortisone shots, and if that does not work you may need to consider disk replacement surgery and some term I have no idea what it means. Wow - now my back really hurt! What the hell is matter with these doctors?? Did I mention a year ago this week I ran the Boston Marathon and have run several others in the past? And now I have a doctor telling me no more running and to consider all of these extreme treatments for my ailing diseased disks?
Here is where I could use all of your support:
1) I still am not 100% committed to the TMS theory. I'm at around 85%, especially when I have all these experts in the medical field telling me what is wrong with my back. How do I jump fully into the TMS water and hit 100%? I do not have a TMS doctor in my area and am worried that I need to hear it from a doctors mouth to truly believe and commit.
2) Does hypnosis work to convice myself that TMS is the cause and help express and deal with the repressed emotional feelings?
3) Does exercise (running) do any more harm to my disk ailments? Are these MRI findings common in people 40 and above with and without pain?
4) Why are there not more medical professionals backing this theory? Are they all money hungry because there is no money in TMS treatment?
5) Can someone summarize again the key points and tricks you have learned to convince your subconcious mind that the secret is out and move to "100% commitment of TMS"?
Sorry for the long E-mail. Just writing this makes my back feel better!
Take care and thanks for the posts, Runner67 |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2008 : 16:03:00
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quote:
1) I still am not 100% committed to the TMS theory. I'm at around 85%, especially when I have all these experts in the medical field telling me what is wrong with my back. How do I jump fully into the TMS water and hit 100%? I do not have a TMS doctor in my area and am worried that I need to hear it from a doctors mouth to truly believe and commit.
You just do it. It's not necessarily important to get to 100% belief, but to commit totally to believing and acting. Banish doubtful thoughts with mental reassurance instead of letting them spiral. Resume normal activity. When you have symptoms, don't think about the symptoms, think about the principles of the theory and the emotions.
quote:
3) Does exercise (running) do any more harm to my disk ailments? Are these MRI findings common in people 40 and above with and without pain?
No, and yes. The description of your back disk stuff sounds pretty standard. You should re-read what Sarno says about "normal abnormalities" if you doubt this.
quote:
Just writing this makes my back feel better!
Well, that's pretty solid evidence that you've got a psychogenic problem right there!
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2008 : 18:32:41
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quote:
Originally posted by runner67
I have been dealing with significant back pain for the last 10 - 12 years.
You have TMS.
Best,
MK |
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stefan
56 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2008 : 21:30:01
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Hi runner67! welcome to the forum, and yes it sure sounds like TMS to me, i like the suggestion of re-reading about the normal abnormalities.
Stay with it, your back won't crack in half, our bodies are workhorses, endeavor to regain confidence and banish the fear! You can overcome it. You can do it.
Ars Longa Vita Brevis |
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runner67
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 13:24:52
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Thanks for replies armchair, mk, and stephan. Your information and finding this forum was "just what the doctor ordered". My back has felt great now that I am ignoring physical symptoms as harmless and focused on the real cause - emotions (anxiety, worry).
Still interested in hearing your thoughts on:
1) How much "practice" is needed per day to fully condition the subconcious? Can hypnosis reinforce and get directly at the subconcious?
2) Do you think TMS is heriditary and can passed on to kids or is it caused by a combination of life events that trigger high emotion?
3) I wonder how many doctors have TMS and don't even know it. That's their curse for not bringing this into an accepted mainstream medical diagnosis and treatment!
thanks again, runner67 |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 15:02:50
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It's hard to say how TMS might run in families, though it does seem to -- whether it would be environmental, genetic, or a combination. I tend to think it is a combination (for example, shyness is believed to be at least somewhat inborn and I think shy kids have more trouble expressing themselves), but that no one is doomed to TMS by genetics. How parents model the handling of emotions and how they treat their kids makes a big difference in the experience kids have and whether they learn how to deal with emotions instead of repressing them. But we all do some repression, and a traumatic life due to events outside the family or unavoidable events within it (death or other loss, for example) could make TMS harder to avoid.
As far as time you should spend, say, rereading the books or journaling, the books say about 30-60 minutes a day and no more. 'Thinking psychological' (shifting thinking away from the symptoms to emotions) needs to happen whenever you are focusing on the symptoms, but it doesn't have to last long.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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seimon_23
United Kingdom
17 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 15:18:30
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| Hi runner. Just read your post and sympathise that it's hard to completely banish the belief that your problem is physiological rather than psychological. I'm still in the early stages of recovery and must admit some days to having my doubts about the Sarno technique. The way forwrd, like the other posters have stated, is to stick with it - your faith in it will increase as your symptoms subside. As for TMS and heredity, I definitely think there's something in this. My Dad has suffered all his life with one kind of pain or another - back, neck, shoulder, legs - the list goes on. He's stocked up with more painkillers & pills than a damn pharmacy and none off them seem to do any good. And yet, at 75 years of age, he's still able to work in his garden or fit window frames for my brothers with none of the pain he complains of when he's stuck inside with nothing to do. Because his mind's distracted, he doesn't notice it and that's got to be TMS. My brothers and I joke about it - we even call his garden shed 'the Healing Centre' becuase of it's miraculous effects on his back pain. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2008 : 16:45:00
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Glad to hear you're feeling better. I think the predisposition to TMS -- perfectionism, people-pleasing, etc. -- is definitely hereditary. I inherited my mom's anxiety and obsessive compulsive personality as well. She has suffered with IBS, CTS, interstitial cystitis, whiplash, etc., so I'm glad that I was fortunate enough to learn about TMS so early in my life so that I could avoid a similar path.
As for whether or not physicians suffer from TMS -- you bet they do! That's how a lot of the TMS physicians out there ended up doing what they are doing. In addition, many of the qualities that compel one to become a doctor, and the attributes necessary to be successful as one, only feed the unconscious reservoir of rage.
I have many friends in medical school who clearly have TMS. Unfortunately, they are quite stubborn too. However, I have had success with one attending with severe back pain (since he was in medical school) who read HBP at my recommendation and was cured. It's definitely a challenge, but it's a battle that needs to be fought.
Best,
MK |
Edited by - mk6283 on 04/24/2008 16:49:04 |
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