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la_kevin
USA
351 Posts |
 Posted - 01/04/2010 : 05:53:09
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So after years, I went back to doing martial arts training and fitness training again. I always had this "background" pain or stiffness through all my TMS journeys. It wasn't like chronic or the way it was when I suffered with TMS. It was just this low level feeling or weakness in my back and buttocks.
So I have changed everything about my health this past month and a half. Went back to doing my organic diet and water, vitamins, biking, crunches, isometrics, and speed drills(punching, bobbing , weaving, etc). I feel and look like a different person, better than ever.
So now I think..."Hmmm I wonder if it was really a "physical imbalance" this WHOLE time"...
Then I think , "Nah, I definitely had TMS".
But maybe this last part is healing the little part that WASN'T TMS?
Or maybe exercising is increasing a little oxygen flow to counteract? Maybe my lifestyle of being unhealthy for years added to the TMS that was already there?
I dunno. Anyone have a similar story or opinion on this?
As a side note, I have to say that getting back to this point with no worry or fear seems to be the final step I never took. I healed from TMS, but never went for the full prize. I'm quite happy with the way I look again. Feels like I'm 18.
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"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans"- John Lennon
"TMS is just as afraid of us succeeding, as it is us failing" - Me |
Edited by - la_kevin on 01/04/2010 05:55:42 |
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HellNY
130 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2010 : 06:49:44
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I have always been leary of the idea of some black and white line between TMS and physical. They sort of are two sides of teh samething. For example, what if we consider the idea that a tension-prone personality leads to chronic muscle tension and vasoconstriction. A person does the TMS "work" and has like, say, partial relief but still has deep pain somewhere in the back or wherever.
Might it be possible that muscles that have been in a short, tightened state for years due to the constant worry/fear/suppress signals from the subconious, are reluctant to lengthen and relax? Might it be possible that actual activity and exercize assist in relieving the tightness that has been so constant for years?
Im my case that seemed to be quite true, although what was also true was that my TMS "work" prevented the ongoing tension cause, I still needed multiple ways of helping relieve the effects, some of which were long lasting due to years of a habitually tensed body.
Doing exercize or stretches does nto "deny" teh reality of TMS to me, because I dotn think of the mind and body approach as incompatible ideas for which only one merits focus. My disclaimer would be that my viewpoint is probably not shared by Sarno. But thats fine with me. |
Edited by - HellNY on 01/04/2010 06:51:28 |
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winnieboo
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 08:47:06
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I felt this way after I went back to Pilates recently. The first time back, not only did my body feel amazing while I was doing it, but it was FUN! I was in the locker room afterwards wondering why I EVER gave it up. And my body changed in a few weeks (muscle memory!) and that was an amazing boost to my mood also.
I think that inactivity exacerbates the TMS symptoms and the idea that "I can't move" fuels the fear, and that's precisely why part of the treatment plan is to return to exercise. I still have TMS symptoms (migraines and other), but nothing related to my neck, which is what totally debilitated me and led me to Sarno. I would have to confess that since I overthink everything, I also question whether my neck debacle was purely TMS or partly physical. I guess the point, and the important feature of the result, is that feeling good is the goal. If we're there, that's great, and the TMS concept and "training" is a skill for life. |
Edited by - winnieboo on 01/05/2010 08:50:43 |
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catspine
USA
239 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 15:59:49
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As you all know TMS is a Mindbody thing so how could it be one or the other ? It is true that what really matters if that one feels good and how one achieves that is difficult to comprehend or define and memorize because it may not work the next time you try it or it may and it's a great improvement. I noticed several times already that when the day doesn't start well I start to get better if I chose to do anything involving physical activity so I do understand how you feel.
Asked how I was doing i started complaining about my state of being to a very straight forward person and he told me this: " at your age you ain't gonna get what you were used to when you had the best... because that what you had when all was well: THE BEST! and if you have it again then enjoy it and be happy, be grateful because you're lucky because having the best is not a permanent thing in life. Your ability to enjoy your present state may condition what you're gonna get tomorrow but no guaranty there !"
I thanked him for being honest and that was the end of the conversation but I did not feel offended because there was some truth in this almost negative statement.
Anyway I had to think about it for a while. Something in there was challenging me. (My back problem are completely gone but some replacement symptoms took over later on).
Supposing being at our best everyday requires a strong commitment, with discipline, work out, healthy diet, constant mental or physical re-adjustments, a high achievements driven behavior etc isn't that what leads to TMS as Dr Sarno discovered after years of experience with it?
This question was bothering me but my back did not give me any trouble because of it so it seems like there must be some kind of a one way valves in the mindbody communication system/s that prevents the pain from returning to the same spot after TMS has been identified as the cause of it and the problem fixed. just as if the nerves had been disconnected or else why would it need to go somewhere else?
To la-kevin
When you feel this weakness in your back have you tried to lay on your back and completely relax your abdominal muscles?. Then try to feel deep in your abs pushing down on it near above the navel with your fingers w/o tightning the abs . Often if there is still tension on your back from TMS a string of muscles running from bellow your stomack to the navel will be there as hard as a tendon and you'll know that there may be residual tms tension causing the weakness in your back because it pulls on the front of the vertebrae. It can also make you feel weak generally speaking occasionally.
Eliminating the doubt can get you back 100%
To hellny
There certainly is a muscle memory built in and our body knows more than our mind does too this is how we know our limits when we need to use our strength before we even touch what needs to be moved. A performance is just the extra bit of reserve dug out by the brain.
it's nice because this can definitely be used to our advantage as well when tms wants to keep us down .
I think I remember reading that Dr Sarno recommends exercise if the purpose is to exercise and not to be a form of placebo.
winnieboo,
Have you ever heard of that?
There was a study I forgot the name of , sorry but a bit simplified it went like that : It is known that the brain generate electric current and how much. So following this principle the experiment was that an electric toy was connected to the brain of a lab rabbit in order to determine the effect of physical activity on patients recovery from injuries imposing long period of no activity. The first rabbit was not confined or restricted in its movements and it made the toy move on the tracks when the connection was made. When the same experiment took place with a rabbits that had been immobilized on purpose for a few days the toy never moved . The study found that the brain probably requires the physical activity to keep functioning optimally and the principle lead to the concept that patients should not be kept laying in hospital beds longer than necessary.
Anyway I hope there isn't too many spelling errors in there
Be well.
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2010 : 17:24:48
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Seems like you are overthinking this.
Remember, resuming normal physical activity is a key part of recovery from TMS.
By resuming martial arts and fitness training, you send a message to your unconscious that your body is strong and free from physical problems.
And TMS or not, living healthy is a good thing. The body feeds the mind. If you are attentive to your physical health, you feel good about yourself and this strengthens your emotional well-being as well.
So, stop trying to analyze it, and just enjoy it! |
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guej
115 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2010 : 07:49:32
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Kevin,
I peruse the forum from time to time and saw your post. First off, I am so happy for you. After 6 years of debilitating pain, you deserve to feel and look 18 again! What's so amazing is that in the midst of your worst pain, I'm sure you couldn't even imagine feeling that good ever again.
In response to your question about whether your pain might have had a physical basis because you didn't take care of yourself, here is my take: I was in great shape when my TMS started, and I had been athletic my whole life. In fact, I think there are a lot of athletes on this forum. We tend to suffer injuries that morph into full blown pain syndromes. I agree with hellny in that our life-long TMS personalities result in tense muscles, which, in my opinion, leads to frequent injuries. Coupled with unreasonable worrying and focus on the pain, and voila...fibromyalgia, chronic pain, etc.
After having been in constant pain for about 18 months now, I know that my body is tight and my muscles tense. I know Sarno says the condition is "benign", but real changes have occurred in my body. I think if the pain lessens (due to Sarno's program or just ignoring it) and you learn a new way to respond to stress, over time that tension will lessen. After 6 years of pain, your body is slowly unwinding. As you gain more confidence, the tension is finally releasing too.
I also know that when I felt much better over the summer, it was because I had gone back to being active. That made me feel so great mentally, and in turn, it had a postive effect on me physically. I completely agree with Dave's statement that the body feeds the mind. After therapy or personal insight, I think you now know you deserve to be healthy. Your body now is a reflection of how you feel about yourself inside. Whatever it is that you're doing, keep doing it and enjoy! |
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Why do I feel better after going back to training?
