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Deb-ann
Australia
3 Posts |
 Posted - 07/07/2009 : 04:35:22
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Thank-you for giving me hope. I am 53 and I thought I was the only woman in the world with this nightmare pain. I am fairly new to Sarno's method and the forum but when I read your story the similarities were astounding-same kind of rectal perineal thigh pain. Like you, stress sickness, personal and others close to me and 2 deaths led me to get this pain in April 2008. I had never been ill before and had always managed well. Like you I went to the toilet and ended up in emergency on morphine for the extreme rectal pain. Like you I have had every test, including pudendal nerve, all horribly invasive. The specialist even injected botox into my sphincter muscle to try and relax it. I was so ill i ended up back in hospital. Like you, neutrontin and lyrica didn't assist. The pain just increased. A girlfriend saw TMS on a website and i've gone from there. My problem is that, in Australia, there are no doctors with TMS training. I read Dr Sarno's book, MindBodyPrescription, 8 weeks ago and have tried to put it into practice. I haven't been able to work so I have all the time, but can't seem to make much headway. Can you please reply to me with some advice? I would be so grateful.
Thanks
Deb-ann |
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SarnoFan
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2009 : 08:56:47
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It takes a long time to reverse the physical symptoms. Basically, this is all anxiety related and you have to calm down your thoughts and nervous system first. Then the physical symptoms will subside. Your good days will increase, your bad days will decrease.
Stay off all websites except this forum's success stories and the website I found very helpful: www.anxietycentre.com.
I occassionally get a flare up but it is a reaction to stress and bad diet from days ago and hard to pinpoint. But it doesn't matter now. I just think only positive thoughts (very hard to do when you are in pain).
When you first wake up in the morning you probably "scan" and "test" your symptoms. Immediately recognize this, stop yourself and think of something you look forward to or a pleasant thought from your past. It takes practice.
Acknowledge your symptoms as being present 'for now' and that they will fade away with time no matter how bad they are. Walk daily even if in pain. Make sure to get good sleep consistently (temporary meds can help-like Xanax-but be careful-use sparingly), eat well, avoid sugar/processed foods.
This has worked for me. Dr. Sarno references perineal pain/spasm in his books too.
I have never consulted a TMS doctor or therapist. I self treated myself with Sarno's books and the anxiety website. In the end it is only you that can solve this anyway. No one else can take it away for you.
If you need more self help and insight, try Dr. Shubiner's on-line program www.yourpainisreal.com or Monte's www.runningpain.com |
Edited by - SarnoFan on 07/07/2009 09:03:57 |
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sarita
130 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2009 : 05:24:35
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sarnofan,
great post! |
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Paul
134 Posts |
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SarnoFan
USA
72 Posts |
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2009 : 22:21:18
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SarnoFan, would you mind sharing with me exactly the steps you took to get better? Did you journal like crazy, etc. What had the biggest overall impact, etc.?
Thanks! |
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SarnoFan
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2009 : 14:38:52
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Hi Paul,
Some of what I do is in the post I refernced above to Den-ann.
I don't journal much, although I bet it really helps.
I concentrate on calming my mind when I'm anxious or feel physical symptoms.
Right now, for example, I have a 'woozy' feeling and a slight back spasm (TMS equivalents which are anxiety symptoms). I think about what is going on in my head: I'm worried about my son's extreme low back pain, my career and finances, and that tonight I'm going to a party in an upscale neighborhood where I will know no one (business related). So this is what I'm going to do:
-deep, slow breathing and then focus on pleasant thoughts
-direct my mental energy away from negative thoughts
-accept my symptoms as being a part of my personality problem
-confirm that I have control over my thoughts
-accept my son has pain and it will go away, my career/$ will get better, and the party is no big deal it will be over tsoon and hey, I may even enjoy it.
-if that doesn't calm me down, I'll take the dog for a walk
I had a perineal/pelvic flare up earlier this week and it went away in a couple of days. Now I have some TMS equivalents which will also go away. I don't make a big deal out of it anymore. It's funny how it has "jumped" to my son now and is bugging me more than him.
Let me know if this helps! |
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2009 : 09:50:22
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Yes, that helps Sarnofan, thank you!
I guess my biggest question is, when the rectal pain got REALLY bad...what did you do or think? |
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SarnoFan
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2009 : 08:13:37
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Hi Paul,
It has been many months since I got a breath stopping spasm. When I got one of those, all I could do was breathe through it until it subsided. I kept myself from panicking and just looked forward to it 'letting go'. The trick is to keep your thoughts and body calm to avoid it in the first place; but if it does hit you, try not to get disappointed. Just take it as a matter of fact and it will eventually stop coming back. Don't say "when will this ever stop??" say "okay, here we go, now let's get through this". This is like accepting it or 'rolling with it". By doing so, it loses its power over time. That has been how it worked for me. If I feel a 'twinge' like it is about to come on, I immediately focus on a pleasant thought and ignore it. It doesn't come.
If you are talking about all the other symptoms that go with it they take more time to subside (achiness, burning, etc.). Just ignore them. I just accept they are there and do not worry about them. They subside eventually. It is all about taking the focus OFF your physical symptoms, because that's why they are there in the first place...to get your attention.
There's no particular method to follow. You just have to find a way to believe and understand that the pain occurs after a stressful event or constant toxic thought. From this forum I see people 'get this' in different ways. For me it was just getting my mind off my symptoms, just letting them be and remain calm when they are there. I don't let them bother me emotionally and they eventually go away. Even if 5% remains, I don't worry about it.
Although I did not journal, I have now started journaling because I believe it is a good way to keep things at bay for the long term.
Since I understand now that physical pain is a result of long term unrecognized issues, I feel that journaling will keep these issues from staying hidden; I plan to keep them on the surface and recognize that they are there. |
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anniess
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2009 : 18:21:06
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I have had what I call "rectal cramps" for many years, which usually start while I am asleep. I have always thought they were due to stress and plan to work on them with the knowledge of TMS. Meanwhile, to relieve the acute pain, if you get on your hands and knees and slide a well-lubricated smooth hard piece of plastic or rubber, something like a nozzle (even your own finger) a few inches up inside you for a few minutes and try to relax, the pain will lessen. Eventually. Good luck; I know how excruciating this pain is!
ann shaffer |
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Paul
134 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2009 : 16:10:04
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| Deb, are you doing any better? How are you progressing? |
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Sarno fan same Rectal - perineal pain
