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waterboy
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 11/10/2010 : 22:49:42
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Hi Folks,
I posted my intro a little while back. Thought I'd check in here and mention that things have been getting better bit by bit, but I've been getting down some days and felt like posting. Since learning about TMS and this forum, I have been able to take some control of my life, anxiety, and my pain after a pretty stressful move and summer. I started having back pain shortly before accepting a job offer and moving from Oregon to California for what is in a lot of senses my dream job. I've had psychologically-induced symptoms off and on throughout my life and have gotten through periods much worse than this one (only with the help of zombifying antidepressants). This new pain sent me into a spiral of anxiety and obsession. In any case my practice of Sarno's advice as well as working on my anxiety issues has greatly lessened my back pain to the point that it's hardly there! I also declined to start a new antidepressant (Cymbalta), and my pain and mood has improved even without it.
However, at the same time I started to get neurological symptoms on my skin throughout my body. These seem to range from a pins and needles tingling to a burning to shooting pains. I would probably describe it to a sunburn-like feeling. The sites and intensity of pain change from day to day, sometimes from hour to hour, but are mostly centered around my feet/shins, hands/forearms, and chest/shoulders. Some days are worse than others, and since starting therapy I seem to be having good days more and more often although progress is slow.
Not that I'm impatient, but it can be frustrating to have several good days in a row and then feel like I've backslid a whole bunch. Has anyone had these types of symptoms? Do they go away with TMS treatment? What helps the most?
Thanks in advance!
Sid |
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healingback
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 23:06:20
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Hi Sid. I'm pretty new to the tms theory also but your side effect symptoms sound like the symptom imperative to me. .. your mind knows that you've caught onto its secret and is trying to distract you by giving you new symptoms. .. for instance I've suffered chronic back pain for a year but since working on the emotional side of things I've been overcome by extreme fatigue and also various aches and pains over my body. .. but I know its only my unconscious tricking me. ... I know you feel like you get one problem under control and another pops up but tms is something that you can't cure only something which you have to stay on top of so that you don't experience the symptoms. Keep going. .. I've found that positive affirmations work well for me.
Good luck hb
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Back2-It
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2010 : 05:07:59
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Waterboy,
You are describing very typical anxiety symptoms. I had all the ones you did when I ramped up over my problem. They will all go away. There's a very good site called anxietycentre.com, which details all your anxiety symptoms and more.
I'd say you're not really backsliding; your nervous system is still on overdrive.
Good for you re the Cymbalta. I was on that and weaned myself off, even though it helped my anxiety. It's not been on the market that long and the long term side effects are unknown.
Good luck! |
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waterboy
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2010 : 22:37:33
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Thanks for your replies! I did feel better today, but I will try not to raise my expectations too high for tomorrow.
I know how important it is to stay positive and try to engage in what I value. Positive affirmations are important as well as accepting fearful or anxious thoughts. I am trying harder lately to face up to my fears. For me, pain has kept me less from physical activities and more from social ones. I can exercise just fine, but I feel like I let my pain get to me when I am dealing with others. It's a less obvious obstacle than overcoming fear of physical exertion, but for me, I think it's vital to overcome it. I think that it's something that I should have dealt with long ago, but chronic mind-body pain and the understanding of its origins is really pushing me to face my demons. For now, I am happy and give thanks for the clarity of thought and improved confidence in dealing with difficult situations that my TMS work has given me so far.
-Sid |
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heelsdown
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2010 : 01:41:44
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Hi Waterboy,
I'm new to this too and I have had my ups and downs with symptoms. Although in general I have definately moved forward! I have had the burning/tingling and still do on occasion, only now it doesn't worry me or keep me from doing anything. I just think "geeze that's annoying." And then sometimes I tell my body it's being dumb b/c I know what it's doing. The tingling had gotten way better though since starting.
I noticed from your other post that you are in the bay area? I am too, and newly transplated. Did you end up seeing any doctor or therapist here? If you did, were they any good? |
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waterboy
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2010 : 11:33:37
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Hi Heelsdown,
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I had a great weekend visiting family and am happy to report that I was nearly pain-free the whole time. I see a clear connection between times of stress (both internal and external) and pain, which serves to reinforce the mind-body theory even further. Of course now that I'm back in the office, certain sensations are acting up again, but they are getting better with time. I am hopeful to report a full recovery soon, but am very grateful for the progress I've made so far. I'm glad that you are on the mend as well and trust that things will continue to improve for you too.
In response to your question, I saw one psychiatrist (non-TMS trained) when I got here and he prescribed Cymbalta. I was already seeing some improvement through self-therapy, so I decided to sit on that a bit. I also started looking for a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders (since no TMS doctors were in a convenient radius for me). I found one in Campbell that seems to be ok. He doesn't have training/experience with TMS theory, but has experience with people who exhibit physical symptoms due to anxiety (basically the same thing IMO) and is pleasant enough to work with. So that's good enough for me for now. Honestly, most of the positive work that I've managed to do has been through reading and self-reinforcement, so I don't feel a burning need for a shrink. However, it is nice to talk to someone about my issues from an outside perspective and my insurance covers it, so I think I'll keep going on a 1x/2x per month basis. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
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waterboy
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2010 : 22:02:33
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| I would like to, but neither are near me or on my insurance. |
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Some progress, but looking for inspiration
