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rdlaub
4 Posts |
 Posted - 11/22/2010 : 16:15:45
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I am new to this forum but am grateful to have found it.
For the past 3 years I have had lower back pain on the right side radiating down into my glute. Early on it went down my leg but it no longer does that. My MRI shows a herniated L4 L5 disk. I have had physical therapy, acupuncture and spinal injections but the pain does not go away.
I have read Dr. Sarno's books and recognize myself in all that I read. I believe the TMS diagnosis fits me and I have tried to put various concepts into play. However, I have not been able to get rid of my pain.
I am not sure what to do next and I am contemplating seeing a spinal surgeon. I don't really want to do this but the pain is so bad, especially at night in bed, that I don't know what else to do.
Any thoughts or insights would be appreciated. Thank you. |
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Darko
Australia
387 Posts |
Posted - 11/22/2010 : 20:43:34
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Hey rdlaub,
welcome! I also get pain at night so you're not alone. From what I can see I'm not surprised you are not pain free, you still believe its physical, and while this is the case there will be no respite from the pain. You'll need to completely cross the mental gab and dispense with even the slightest belief that the pain is anything other than emotional/mental.
There simply cannot be any gray areas here.....it's either one or the other....100%. Then once you have that commitment you will need to do the mental work in order to ease the pain. Your mind will fight this, so accept and be ready for it. If you have the negative/disaster thinking habit that is the first thing you will need to deal with.
Good luck |
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Back2-It
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2010 : 08:04:45
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I recognize my TMS personality, too. But it takes work and sometime some additional information IMHO.
Dr. Claire Weekes, "Hope and Help for Your Nerves", for me, has helped to fill in some of the Sarno gray areas. It's not contradictory, but an adjunct when dealing with cycle of fear and bewilderment and anxiety and more fear that sensitizes nerves and keeps them that way.
Also, some practical advice added to Sarno's of getting back to daily activity on how to actually do that not so simple thing.
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2010 : 15:14:15
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quote:
Originally posted by rdlaub
I am not sure what to do next and I am contemplating seeing a spinal surgeon. I don't really want to do this but the pain is so bad, especially at night in bed, that I don't know what else to do.
The fact that you would even consider a spinal surgeon indicates that you may not fully accept the TMS diagnosis.
If you consider that surgery may resolve your pain, then it implies that at least a part of you believes the pain may in fact be due to a structural cause.
Unless you are able to fully commit to accepting the TMS diagnosis, the brain will sieze your doubt and perpetuate the symptoms.
If you have truly been 100% honest with yourself about potential psychological causes of the pain, and have done the work prescribed in Dr. Sarno's books with no relief, then you may need to consider psychotherapy. However, for relief to come, you really must fully accept that the symptoms are benign. |
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rdlaub
4 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2010 : 11:21:16
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Thank you all for the responses.
My challenge is that while I believe my issue is TMS, I can't help thinking that it might not be. So I have followed some physical approaches (acupuncture, physical therapy, spinal injections etc.).
Also I do hear some "crackling" in my back at times which makes me think my disc is moving around.
I have had a history of transient pain such as tennis elbow, neck and shoulder pain, plantar faciitis etc. So again I recognize that these are classic TMS symptoms.
I just don't know how to get over the hurdle and thoughts that this is physical. I guess I've been trying to follow both paths hoping one or the other would help. |
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2010 : 22:35:26
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Welcome.. I feel your pain 22 years of back pain which I have over come through the work of Dr Sarno.
I have allot to say but gonna get strait to the point
Btw a few years ago I could barely walk and get out of bed in the morning. Today I am running 4-5 miles at least 3 times a week. Last two years I did some boxing training too. Hows that for testimony
Since you are new to this forum means you have some homework to do.
However since you read Sarno’s book means you have been enlightened of where to start.
Few suggestions and yea im YELLING here
DON’T SEE A DOCTOR nor DO ANY FORM OF SUGURY (you will regret that rest of your life)
Now I don’t know your condition but don’t need to based on what you’ve written
If you want to do exercise stretch or any rehabilitation go for it if you feel better
BUT DON’T SEE A DOCTOR TILL YOU LEARN YOUR CONDITION FIRST.
Keep reading Sarno’s books till you make a few more connections with your condition.
Learn about your personality traits, habits and work on healing your past / present/ hang-ups and be “real “ with yourself.
Read testimonies, success stories and the like.
Read testimonies, success stories and the like.
Read testimonies, success stories and the like.
If someone tells you something constrictively about your personality condition, that you don’t like that may be a red flag of an area you need to work on.
De program yourself
De condition yourself
Re investigate your life as far as what may be contributing to your pain or when it first started (emotionally)
Learn your body, as well as your emotional make up. Make a spiritual application and you may get further when it comes to journaling part of healing.
Think positive …. Well that’s a start
HTH
Wish you well
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
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rdlaub
4 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2010 : 13:19:24
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Thank you for your words.
I will not see a surgeon and will go back to reading Sarno. My problem continues to be that I understand the TMS connection but still cannot get the pain to stop.
I will try to continue on though. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 11/28/2010 : 21:23:00
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quote:
Originally posted by rdlaub
Thank you for your words.
I will not see a surgeon and will go back to reading Sarno. My problem continues to be that I understand the TMS connection but still cannot get the pain to stop.
It is best not to focus on trying to "get the pain to stop." There is no magic bullet, no quick fix for treating TMS. Contradictory to what Dr. Sarno may lead you to believe in his books, for many people it is a struggle that takes considerable time.
Try your best to put the herniated disc diagnosis out of your mind, and not to get frustrated if the pain does not disappear. Take a long term view and continue to do the work. Have faith that relief will come, in due time, if you ignore it and focus instead on the psychological issues (i.e. repressed emotions) that may serve as a trigger for the pain. |
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rdlaub
4 Posts |
Posted - 12/08/2010 : 07:14:24
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Having a terrible time here. My sleep has become torturous as the pain in my lower back has gotten sharp and made it next to impossible to find a position that does not cause pain.
I am losing faith and my mind. |
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Darko
Australia
387 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2010 : 16:24:06
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rdlaub,
I'm backing what Dave said in his last post. Look....the pain is there and you can want it to go away more than anything in the world....I can PROMISE you it wont. I have been where you are now. ACCEPT the situation DON'T resist it as this will only create suffering. The more negative/depressive/disaster thoughts you connect with in your mind the more the pain will set in. The pain is a result of what is happening in the mind.
Take some pain killers, get some rest and get a positive state of mind. If you still can’t get your head around this then look at it this way. It doesn’t matter if it makes a difference or not, a positive, negative free state of mind will serve you better!
Good luck
D |
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healingback
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2010 : 23:26:56
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| Your pain may of gotten work if you've been doing the sarno work, I know my pqin did from reading the books and journalling, if that's the case then the tms is merely trying to regain control, don't let it, think qbout whqts going on emotionqlly when this happens... don't loose faith... |
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I recongize my TMS personality, but still in pain
