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Effie
USA
46 Posts |
 Posted - 05/13/2008 : 18:43:23
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I've been suffering chronic pain in my right neck, back, shoulder blade (trigger points under my shoulder blade), shoulder, arm, elbow, hand, with tingling and numbness of my fingers for the past three years. I've seen a LOT of doctors all of whom gave me differing diagnoses or said that they could find nothing wrong. My last doctor diagnosed chronic myofacial pain. Without going into a LOT of detail here (I have my medical history written up -- I'll see if I can fit it below), last week while searching the internet for help I discovered Dr. Sarno and TMS. I immediately recognized myself and my symptoms -- my pain gets much worse with stress, fatique, weather, etc., and much better when I have days off from work and rest and relaxation, sunny weather, massage, etc. I immediately began following some of Dr. Sarno's advice, particularly just having stern talks with myself (my brain) whenever I felt pain starting up and although it's only been a week, it has been working really well!
However, the worst episode of pain I ever had was Thanksgiving of 2006 when I went home (home is 1500 miles from where I live) to visit my Dad. Unbeknownst to me, my Dad was in an advanced state of dementia, and I was suddenly abandoned by my family to be his sole caregiver for a week! The pain became so severe that I ended up in the ER twice and was given Vicodan -- I had to cut my visit home short and had a nightmare trip back to my home, trying to dole out Vicodans to last until I got home, suffering severe pain, fear, panic attacks, anxiety and insomnia until I finally got back to my home and husband (where they magically disappeared).
I've gradually gotten better with the help of acupuncture and massage, only experiencing worse pain with stress, etc., and after reading Dr. Sarno's books, I definitely believe I have TMS, which is a step in the right direction! And I've been doing so much better this past week by simply reminding myself that there is NOTHING wrong with me!! AndI was starting to become really happy that I had found the answer to my pain!
However, last night my brother called me and said that my Dad (who has been in a nursing home for the past six months) has taken a turn for the worse and that we had to make a decision whether or not to have him tube fed. We decided we would not. But from the moment my brother called until now, the pain is getting more difficult to control.
I KNOW in my heart (and in my head) that my pain is caused by TMS -- but I'm scared silly about having to fly home again in the next few days or weeks, and having to deal with the stress of my Dad dying. I can already feel myself stuffing away all my feelings and not facing the fact that he's dying, and my body is feeling it too!! I've even thought about calling my doctor and trying to explain TMS to her, but I'm not sure she will even have heard of it -- and wondering if I should try to get her to prescribe some medication for anxiety for the trip?
I was hoping maybe someone can give me some advice, more tips on how to handle this? I do feel much better KNOWING that there is nothing wrong with me (I've had enough doctors tell me that) and I'm hoping just that simple fact can help me deal with it, and I also plan to bring Dr. Sarno's book with me and read it over & over. But I would greatly appreciate any and all advice anyone here can give me to get me through the next couple of weeks or so . . .
(On second thought, I won't put my medical history here -- just looking at it makes me realize how obsessed I've been with my pain for the last three years and I just can't see the point of posting it here!)
Thanks for any advice anyone can give me!!
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darlin
13 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2008 : 22:10:50
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Hello Effie,
First I would like to say I am sorry to hear about your father. There is really nothing anyone can say to bring you the ease you so need. What I will say is that when you said...
Quote:
"I KNOW in my heart (and in my head) that my pain is caused by TMS"
My first thought was an easy meditation I have practiced...Breathing into your heart. Focus on the breath to your heart.. and let yourself feel what you feel.
I hope this will help you at least a little. It has helped me.
~D
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2008 : 13:46:12
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Happy to hear you see yourself in the TMS boat.
Get out the paper and start writing how you feel about each situation. Let each feeling lead to the next. Or see a therapist to unload. There's a lot of "stuff" in there--as we all have had.
No need to post your medical history. You've been told myriad times nothing is wrong physically. Time to work on the emotional aspect. Get writing! It works! And read Dr. Sarno's 'treatment plan' in the Divided Mind.
Best wishes for healing
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southpaw
Canada
29 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2008 : 07:49:09
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Hi,
Welcome to the TMS club!
It's really hard to deal with life's very stressful situations normally but when you are in pain even more so. For some of us this TMS stuff takes a lot of work and time;others get results faster.
Because you need to be able to deal with a crisis now,I think you should have some meds(anti-anxiety, pain releivers) with you. Maybe you won't need them but just to have them with you in case will help.
Keep telling your brain that you are fine physically and this pain is psychological. Try not to dwell on the physical. Try not to fear being in pain when you need to deal with your family's situation(easier said then done I know). Visualize oxygen flowing freely all through your body.Breath deeply.
Last month when I needed to take my daughter to emerg I dreaded waiting for hours with back pain at the hospital. I told my brain to smarten up, my daughter needs me right now and low and behold it listened!
These are things that have helped me so I hope they help you. |
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Peg
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2008 : 03:26:08
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Effie said:
However, last night my brother called me and said that my Dad (who has been in a nursing home for the past six months) has taken a turn for the worse and that we had to make a decision whether or not to have him tube fed. We decided we would not. But from the moment my brother called until now, the pain is getting more difficult to control.
Of course your pain is worse after a phone call like that.This is understandably a difficult and painful time. I would suggest journalling about your feelings surrounding this situation. If writing causes you to get emotional, let it come. Cry as much as you need to. I think you'll feel improvement afterwards.
Take care
Peg
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei |
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Effie
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2008 : 11:33:53
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Thanks everyone for your support and helpful advice! After I wrote here, I realized that I hadn't been sleeping well for a few nights since getting the news and remembered that lack of sleep ALWAYS makes my pain worse -- so I bought an OTC sleep aid and I got a good nights sleep last night and the night before and am feeling MUCH better now! Today I guess my mind decided that since I wasn't going to let the pain happen where it normally does, it would turn into chest pain -- so at lunch I read "The Divided Mind" & highlighted sections that were helpful, I took a few deep breaths "into my heart" and now I'm pain-free again! Once I got rid of the chest pain, it decided to hurt the sole of my foot (okay -- that's just plain weird!) and again I told my mind just to cut it out, and it did! I'm feeling much more optimistic now -- I really love the part in his book where he says "The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep." When my pain was at it worst, crying always did help reduce the pain significantly and I never really knew why -- but now I do!! I think this will be an ongoing battle, but now I'm armed much better than my adversary and understand it's tactics, and I think I will win this war!! Dr. Sarno says in his book that once you are feeling less pain, you have to try to do things you've been afraid of, and I've been so afraid of flying home again . . . so I'm going to look at this trip as a test of how I'm doing.
Thanks so much again for all your advice! |
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la_kevin
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2008 : 13:42:15
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Lack of sleep can trigger chemicals that can actually intensify pain conditions or syndromes like TMS. Getting good sleep is a good habbit regardless.
For now, concentrate on releasing "control" of TMS. Don't go to war with it in your mind. If you 'war' with TMS, you will always lose. Try accepting that you have it as a first step.
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"Over thinking...over analyzing...separates the body from the mind." Maynard from the band TOOL |
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AmyAJJ
98 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2008 : 21:32:13
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Way to go, Effie. Sounds like you're taking great care of yourself as you're diving into the TMS materials. I'm glad you got some better sleep. That sounds like it made a big difference.
As you're doing your TMS work, remind your mind that yes, you have TMS (do this even when you're pain free) and remind your mind that you know where the pain is coming from and why it's there (to protect you from emotions that it thinks would be more painful). Then you can tell the pain that you don't need it to be there anymore.
In The Divided Mind, look for the story about the marathon runner who told his pain to scram because it wasn't appropriate - or something like that. I learned a lot from that letter to Dr. Sarno printed in the book. Talking to my pain and my mind is the newest technique I'm using around my TMS and it's making a big difference with the pain I experience.
Keep up the great work! |
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Effie
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2008 : 15:53:17
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Hi Everyone --
I just wanted to report back . . . my Dad died on June 4th. Thanks to Dr. Sarno's book and my knowledge of TMS I was able to fly home, attend his funeral, visit with family and fly back home, mostly pain free. Of course, I had a few times when the pain tried to recur, but I just kept reading Dr. Sarno's books (My brother took me to Barnes & Noble where I bought "The Mind-Body Prescription) and I was able to work through the pain, every time I just acknowledged how I was feeling, cried a little or a lot, and the pain went away. Dr. Sarno says that once you know you have TMS and are starting to feel better, you have to start doing things you are afraid of, and that was one of them. And I made it through!
Since then I've been doing lots more things that I've been afraid to do, all with no pain! Whenever I start to feel a twinge, I just tell myself nothing is wrong, and it will go away within minutes. The more I do, the more I'm finding I can do! Aside from the fact that my Dad passed away, I'm feeling really happy and hopeful -- and I make sure whenever I'm feeling down about Dad's passing to really feel what I'm feeling and not avoid the tears, I know they will only help me feel better, mentally and physically.
Anyway -- I just wanted to thank you all for your help -- I printed out your responses and took them with me and read them whenever I needed extra help! I'm just so thrilled that discovered TMS and so grateful that thus far I seem to be one the lucky ones who can just read the book and learn about it to start feeling better!!
Thanks so much!!
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tpunk
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2008 : 17:19:14
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Hi Effie,
So sorry to hear about your dad. I'm glad you are feeling better and are able to get on with your life! It sounds like you're making great progress :)
Great job! |
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la_kevin
USA
351 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2008 : 03:27:59
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Sorry to hear about your Father. I was so wrapped up in giving you a response, I didn't read that he died. It happens on boards like these. We just respond to the first post and forget to read the rest.
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"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans"- John Lennon |
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Peg
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2008 : 17:44:28
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So sorry for your loss Effie
Sounds like you are doing very well with your TMS recovery.
Take care,
Peg
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei |
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joli
USA
51 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2008 : 15:37:49
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Sorry for your loss. It must be so hard to lose a parent.
I feel you are a strong person.
Good Luck with TMS and with grief.
Hey, meditation and breathing could bring up feelings
and I know it's important to feel sad.
I lost a friend when i was 26
and i stuffed it all inside and now it's a beast.
Joli
namaste! |
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Newbie needs some advice - quick!
