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Northerner
62 Posts |
 Posted - 03/29/2009 : 21:11:10
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I've been working at a TMS cure since Mid-December or so, and became more aggressive in Mid-January, when I started discussing it with a psychologist. At the time, I had had a flare-up just after Thanksgiving, with left shoulder pain, left scapular pain, and pain going down the left arm in the C7 nerve area, per my physical therapist and doctor. At first, my arm felt like an alligator was biting it when I reached for something. All of this has been blamed on a pinched nerve in the neck, with MRI and nerve conduction study documentation.
I seem to have made some great progress, especially after I emailed my history and neck scan report to a TMS doc, and he replied with an email saying that although he couldn't diagnose by email, he was certain I had TMS.
I started played basketball again, at first with great pain, which reduced significantly after a couple of weeks. I now play basketball pretty much pain free, and can reach for things without pain.
I do have occasional scapular pain, some lower back pain, which sometimes occurs when sitting or when whitewater kayaking (MRIreport hasn't really said why on this - this is a recurrence of a pain from last year), some pain running down my left arm at times when driving or sitting in certain positions, and some minor numbness in the fingers and toes. The numbness is probably the biggest concern/annoyance, because it interferes with my typing.
I seem to have stalled, with the condition not improving or getting worse.
It could be because I'm much more comfortable now - I can live with this, and it rarely interferes with my day-to-day activities. I keep hearing about people becoming pain-free, and that's what I want (is that perfectionism ringing?).
Does anyone have any experience with this? Anyone else have any comments?
I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.
- Mark Twain |
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marsha
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2009 : 09:54:36
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[i]It could be because I'm much more comfortable now - I can live with this, and it rarely interferes with my day-to-day activities. I keep hearing about people becoming pain-free, and that's what I want (is that perfectionism ringing?).[/i]
This is part of your conditioning. You have already told yourself that this is enough. If it isn't make it clear to yourself that you are striving for more and then get to work.
You are feeling well and that is good. I wish I could say I am doing as well as you are.
Continue.
Marsha |
Edited by - marsha on 03/30/2009 09:58:00 |
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Peg
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2009 : 04:54:22
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The course of recovery is not always a smooth one. I can only speak for myself, but I had ups and downs. I had a lessening of my symptoms upon reading, but at times the pain would creep back in to my life. Looking back I think this was due to becoming complacent about the emotional work, the pressure of feeling like: I "should be pain free by now". When that would happen, I would try not to lose hope (faith), try not to beat myself up for not doing recovery "perfectly". I would journal. I would re-read parts of Sarno books. I would remind myself that my pain was better than it had been, so it was TMS. I would bring my thoughts to the emotional realm (not the physical).
So, while I experienced, relapses, and symptom imperative. The pain was never again, what it was when it was at it's worst.
The only thing I can think of based on your post is that if your psychologist does not understand how emotional conflict can cause pain, the therapy may not be as helpful.
Also, you post was mostly about your symptoms, and while it's great that you are involved in your fun activities, you may be stalled because you need to do more of the deep emotional work. Your pain has improved with the knowledge you gained from Dr. Sarno's work. You have TMS!
For many of us, just reading the book is not enough. There is work to be done. What is your body trying to tell you?
Hope this helps.
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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Northerner
62 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2009 : 09:38:47
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Martha nad Peg -
Thanks for your responses.
I think you've both made good points. There is certainly more work to be done emotionally on my end.
There have even been some times lately when I really didn't want to think about what was bothering me, because thinking about them made me feel so (emotionally) miserable. That has faded some with the likely appearance of more work, which shoudl take off somefinancial pressures and create a different kind of pressure (doing the impossible, which is what I am expected to do at work - solve the problems they have been unable to solve).
In any case, yes, I have emotional work to do, and have become complacent at times, so I need to keep at it. Thanks for your suggestions.
I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.
- Mark Twain |
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Stalled on progress
