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sue1012
USA
31 Posts |
 Posted - 05/25/2008 : 13:37:24
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| Hi everyone! I have been lurking for a while and really get a ton out of all your experiences. I saw Dr. Sarno about 10 years ago (am 38 yo) and he diagnosed me with TMS. I was never able to follow up because I lived in Colorado at the time, but his theory never really worked for me because I know I never TRULY accepted it. A brief history is that I started with heart palpitations and IBS in my teenage years and ended up with low-back pain/sciatica from lifting a heavy object (pain came on acutely and never completely went away), then I had a rear-end car accident where I ended up with chronic neck, shoulder, upper back pain. I was eventually dx'd with fibromyalgia/chronic myofascial pain after NO treatment worked and most made me worse. Two years ago I was in another car accident and it made everything even worse and I am in so much pain, especially with the TMJ, neck and upper back. I also have chronic fatigue, bouts of insomnia, anxiety and low-level depression for YEARS. Well, just like everyone, I had a tumultuous childhood and fit the TMS profile exactly. Lately, I have really been trying to accept the TMS diagnosis, but just can't quite commit. I have SO many trigger points and ropy knots of taut muscle in the upper body and just don't see how these things can go away??? My moscles are like bricks! I think I have damaged my body irreparably, even if it WAS caused my TMS. Do you think it is possible to recover from the myofascial pain?? Has anybody here done it?? I need some encouragement and want to get better SO badly, but when I work out I REALLY flare badly, so that theory of working out and it won't hurt you hasn't worked for me. Any insight would be appreciated:) |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2008 : 14:32:10
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Trigger points (like pain) are physically real, but their cause can be psychological. My arms and back at one time were horribly tight virtually everywhere. I had a year of professional trigger point therapy. This helped physically, but it couldn't keep up with the pace at which my mind could retighten the muscles. Eventually, I stopped all the treatment, and started with the Sarno method. Quickly, the trigger points (though they did not disappear) ceased to cause pain. Every so often I would get flare-ups where a 'trigger point' would start to cause pain again, but the point didn't feel any different than it did when it wasn't causing pain. It was just painful. I still have most of the trigger points I used to, although my muscles don't feel quite as tight. But there's nothing physically problematic about having trigger points, apparently!
This is even acknowledged in the trigger point literature to some extent -- mentioning that trigger points can become "latent". The conventional interpretation is that latent trigger points can be reactivated to cause pain by almost anything, so they should be eradicated. In my experience, as I described, this is not true.
It's my view that trigger points and muscle tightness are one possible physical manifestation of TMS. Oxygen deprivation (due to TMS) leads to temporarily inefficient muscle function and tendency of fibers to bunch, and emotional tension to muscle tightness. However, all this starts in the head, and all of it can be reversed there.
Because physical treatment of the trigger point can help the symptoms -- I'm not sure I would have been in a fit state to address my issues using the Sarno method had I not had the therapy -- I sometimes do suggest to people whose physical manifestations include trigger points that they get professional trigger point massage or self-massage using The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. (It's not unlike Sarno's suggestion to take ibuprofen if you're in so much pain you can't concentrate on treatment.) But in your case I'm hesitant because it sounds like you've already tried a lot of things, possibly including trigger point massage.
What happened for me (I was also skeptical/not serious about Sarno when I first found the theory) is that when I got to the point where I realized I had no other solutions left and nothing to lose by trying it, I was willing to commit to an attempt to believe, and to acting like I believed by doing the treatment program. It may be that you need to look things full in the face like that too. What else can help you at this point? What do you have to lose by just trying it?
Full belief isn't necessary. Full commitment to the method is (including full commitment to working to eradicate not magnify the doubts (many people who doubt seem to sit around thinking things like "because of thus and so I doubt" -- instead you need to sit around coming up with ideas about how it does work, i.e. "because of thus and so I think this is TMS"), and that's something you can create in yourself.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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sue1012
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2008 : 16:06:39
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| Thank you SO much Armchair for your response! I actually never have tried trigger point therapy, but really want to try it. I have no idea who does it where I live (in CT). Is it usually a massage therapist who administers it? I guess I have always wondered how on earth those knots are going to go away by using the Sarno theory. The tightness around my neck is like it is in a clamp! It's interesting that you still have the trp's, but no pain. Sometimes mine don't cause pain, but the tight/stiff feeling is awful and debilitating and any strenuous exercise makes it much worse (I used to be VERY active and athletic....no more). It is SO true that there is nothing to lose at this point in committing to Sarno. I just drive myself crazy thinking and analyzing it all and have a hard time giving up the "search" for a cure and a specific reason for why I feel this way. I really do need to eradicate my doubts and stop looking for answers in the conventional medical community. After 10 years, still nothing...so I don't why I think I'll find that "magical doctor" who will know what to do with me. Thanks again so much for your reply:) |
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2008 : 16:57:31
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You're welcome! I think the "analyzing to death" is a very common thing among people with TMS. It is another way of occupying the mind.
If you are not sure about finding professional trigger point therapy, but feel you may need some physical relief before you can begin the Sarno work, I would recommend purchasing The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies. This allows self-treatment and it will give you some level of control over your pain and may improve your mood and ability to function so that working with the Sarno concepts is easier.
However, I do believe healding can be done entirely through the Sarno method, and that may help heal your doubts faster too. Do what you feel is right for you, inside. Starting to trust yourself (instead of looking for the magical doctor) is part of the Sarno journey in my experience.
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It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2008 : 19:05:02
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Sue, I'm sorry that your pain has lingered for so long. You clearly have TMS. Dr. Sarno told you that a long time ago, but (from your statements) it appears that you (1) never believed that you actually had TMS, and (2) didn't really understand its implications. If I were you, I would recommit myself entirely to the TMS diagnosis. It really does offer the promise for a true cure for much of your pain and suffering. You live in CT, so maybe you should go see DrZiggles. I think that would be a better idea than continuing to explore the world of symptomatic remedies. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
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sue1012
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2008 : 06:32:07
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| Thank you so much Armchair and MK! I do really need to commit to the Sarno method. I don't know why after all this time I think I am going to find someone who can cure me. I have asymmetry on the whole right side of the body (where most of the pain is) in that everything on that side is lower than on the left, so I keep thinking "THIS is why I have all this pain!" and someone needs to fix it! I also have mild scoliosis at the top and bottom of my spine. These "structural" problems make me think it must be that that is causing my pain, not psychological stuff. I know I will never magically be completely symmetrical, but keep hanging on to a thread of hope. Anyway, I've never heard of Dr. Ziggles, but will look into him. Thanks so much....I need this "kick" to get myself to commit to Sarno:) |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
879 Posts |
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Effie
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2008 : 05:28:55
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I'm a newbie here - mostly just lurking for now. I live in CT, too. I was also diagnosed with chronic myofascial pain about a year ago, after suffering from neck, back, shoulder, arm, and hand pain for 3 years. The most relief I got was from a traditional western massage therapist -- she focused on my trigger-points and painful areas, but did not do trigger-point therapy. When she moved out of state a few months ago, I panicked and started seeing a trigger-point therapist, but it just didn't help as much. As a matter of fact, because I was focusing on my pain so much I think it was making it worse so I stopped seeing her. Then about a week later I discovered TMS and my pain instantly started going away! I still have my trigger points and initially they were still very painful to touch, but over the past few weeks they've gone down considerably - I had only one brief flare-up due to an extremely stressful family situation, but I managed to calm myself down (with the help of some of the members of this forum) and the pain went away again! I think the traditional massage might have worked better because it really relaxed me, body & mind -- she worked only on the areas where I had pain, and by the end of the sessions I was usually pain-free. I believe that getting oxygen flowing through the areas where I hurt also made a difference. I find that whenever I dwell on my pain or talk about it, or experience stress, it will try to come back again, so I'm definitely sure I have TMS! I just keep telling myself that nothing is REALLY wrong with me and that seems to help. But I definitely will try to find a regular massage therapist again if I have difficulty doing it myself.
I'd also like to know who is Dr. Ziggles? I'd also like to find out if there are any support groups in CT? |
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