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gav
Australia
13 Posts |
 Posted - 02/23/2010 : 17:47:12
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Hello,
My name is Gav. I am a Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu player who started experiencing "tendonitis" in my elbows over a year ago. I saw two doctors and two physio, had injections in my elbows, took inflammatory meds etc... I was forced to stop training, although i had persisted through the pain for almost 6 months.
At this time I started to put my trust in a guy online who claimed he could heal tendonitis. By this time I had pain in my wrists, tightness and a burning feeling throughout my whole forearms. It was terrible and it ruled my life. Under the internet guys instruction I started a time consuming ice bathing routine, which I would carry out every day in order to control inflammation and in order to bring fresh blood to my tendons and get the waste fluid out (he may be partly correct here). I would do this for up to 6 hours a day. I did this for 4 months and experienced slight relief. Yes, that's right, I did this for 4 months every day for up to 6 hours a day.
At this time I could not use a computer without experiencing the onset of a strong and horrible burning sensation throughout my arms during the day.(I used idictate for mac if I had to type a lot eg. an assigment) At night I would ice my arms and try and "reset" them for the next day.
At this time I found some info about TMS. I read through a BUNCH of online material and that day I continued to use the computer even though it hurt and I did not ice that day. Every day after that I would read more and continue to use the computer, I have NOT iced my arms since that day, about 4-5 weeks ago.
Wow, what a big change in my life already. I now have a spare 4-6 hours a day where I am not icing, what am I supposed to do with this time? Realise how lonely I am? haha (bitter laughter)
I can use the computer as much as I want, I still experience pain at about 20%, but it does not get worse, if it gets bad, I have a half hour break and then hop straight back on.
Now returning to Judo and BJJ are the hard thing as I believe I have conditioned myself to believe that the gripping in Judo is SO hardcore that it puts stress on a normal arm. I have returned to judo and BJJ about 5 times now and I was doing pretty good, not pain free (close to), but able to do it and do it STRENUOUSLY. On saturday I trained for 3.5 hours. I did a BJJ class, had an hour break, and did another 1.5 hours of Judo. This in itself blew my mind because I didn't think I would even be fit enough to do such exercise after such a hiatus. Just shows the body is so strong, it is the mind that limits.
Anyway it was ALL good, but on monday I did judo and I started experiencing the pain in my arm that I had when my "injury" first began. I still have some pain now two days later. Any tips on how to overcome this and kick the pain out? I think that I also have conditioning to believe that if I exercise too frequently that it constantly is tearing/damaging my tendons, as my doctors and physio told me I need to do less all the time. I would also like to get the pain on the computer down more as well?
SORRY THIS IS A HUGE POST!
I have mindbody prescription, fred amir's book, and the divided mind. Initially I was following DR Sarno's advice, journaling focusing on emotional and repudiating the pain, but it got to the point where I was almost obsessively telling myself the pain is TMS, the pain is TMS, the pain is TMS. It's emotional, it's emotional etc... I had trouble sleeping some nights and the pain actually seemed to get worse and thrive on my mantra. So I read a bunch of posts by Skizzik, HellNY and Dave and they helped to just ignore the pain and do what I want. Thank you guys, was really helpful.
But now I feel like I have reached a bit of a plateau. I wonder if it is because I want it too bad. I get a lot of self esteem from judo and jiujitsu and I have put on weight from not exercising and so am keen to get back and lose it.
What to do? I appreciate ANY advice and feedback!
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 20:47:32
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For cripes sake, of course it's just tms, your'e 24 fricken years old, get off this board and go wrestle and party, run while you still can!
Just kiddin
I love MMA, so glad to have you aboard.
I'm wondering how is the pain when your'e sparring, training? In otherwords, all warmed up, do you even think of it, or just have fear it's gonna hurt afterwards.
And what happened/happening in your life just prior to the pain? Do you come from a broken household? Do you have issues with your Dad? Neglect in particular. Of course you don't have to answer any of the personal questions. But I notice alot of correlations with chronic pain in athletic males and father issues.
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gav
Australia
13 Posts |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 21:22:47
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Did you watch UFC 110? It was awesome, it was on free to air TV in Aus.
Well, the first 3 or 4 times I went, there was just fear. Fear that I was damaging my arms more and that I would never recover and live a normal life, but very little pain during the actual sparring. At times I would think "oh my arms", but I would find they were ok and keep going, the first night there was some pain. The next week, I didn't go back because I went away. When I went back after that it was better again, and I went a few days later, still ok.
The last time I went, monday, was different. During randori (hard sparring trying to throw the other person) I noticed the pain emanating from my elbows, making it painful to grip. I decided I better sit out, but then got up a bit later to do some more, but just with one of the young kids where I didn't have to use strength. Someone also pulled on my arm at one point while i was resisting and the pain was very high - like an 8.
This is very similar to when the problem started. Pain from elbows when doing a lot of gripping, if I continue, it increases in intensity, hurts the next couple of days, and every time I get back, the time it takes for the pain to start is less. For example - it hurt doing randori, next time maybe it will hurt earlier, even in the warm up! So, I have to stop earlier... that was the old pattern. It used to get so bad that I would have trouble releasing the handbrake of my car after practice.
The thought that comes into my head a lot is, That i have TMS and a legitimate injury. That the relief I have experienced and the ability to use a computer, or play guitar relatively pain free have come from recognising TMS, but there is still another problem which is effected by strenuous activity like Judo. But Sarno says chronic tendonitis doesn't even exist. So that is the battle.
My parents divorced about 2-3 years ago and I live with my mum (I am still at uni). I don't really see my dad that much, and it seems that when I do see him it is normally to help him with something. For example - on monday before judo I was helping him buy a new computer. My Dad also doesn't support me financially, whereas, my mum does. |
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skizzik
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 08:15:17
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Well, you did all the icing that a whole team of mma'rs could'nt do in a lifetime.
So, you make the connection of tension brought on by your parents split, low self esteem, holding on to things (mentally) and you go about your life.
If your life includes Judo, and your'e doing it for the right reasons, (not to show off, ego etc) then you continue. Let it hurt, don't attatch emotion. If your arms rip apart, then so be it. But I've never seen that happen lol.
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gav
Australia
13 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 15:33:13
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| Alright, thanks for that Skizzik. Once again, I read a lot of your posts and found them quite helpful, so thank you. |
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Judo Player and TMS
