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suegr98
USA
39 Posts |
 Posted - 12/28/2010 : 12:41:35
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Hi all, I am having a hard time with just one aspect of Sarno's theory and take this with a grain of salt as I am but two weeks into recovery. But I am also a recovering alcoholic of 21 years and in my recovery, I have never taken anything stronger than ibuprofen (which I just now understand is a placebo, since muscle pain is usually not inflammation). I am literally a vicodin virgin and would only consider taking it post-surgically, even then I would be hesitant.
So I have a problem with there being no suggestion from Sarno beyond taking pain "killers" and waiting it out. Drug addiction doesn't just kill pain, it kills emotions, and it can even kill people. I have no doubt that many TMSer's also have a strong propensity toward addiction and many people with chronic pain do become addicted to narcotics.
I realize that ice, heat, stretches, even professional massage are all distractions from the distractions but if they help in a crisis, and we use them knowing they are not curative, I have to say I would rather use those techniques than narcotics.
Am I making sense?
Hilary thanks for the link on the tmswiki. I do like the idea of deconditioning ourselves to expect pain by simply being near what we consider to be the source. That is a scientifically proven cure for negative conditioning up to and including PTSD.
take good care,
Sue
http://healingwithfeelings.wordpress.com
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Back2-It
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 14:09:49
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quote:
I realize that ice, heat, stretches, even professional massage are all distractions from the distractions but if they help in a crisis, and we use them knowing they are not curative, I have to say I would rather use those techniques than narcotics.
Good question. I don't take pain killers, because they don't work. I've never done the big boys, however, and, given my level of pain/discomfort, don't see a need to go down that road.
I do understand that chronic pain can be the result of our minds being over-sensitized to what should be minor discomforts, which, if you don't treat the pain as an emotional result, will begin a cycle of pain-fear-pain.
Early on, Dr. Sarno used PT on many patients, as I'm sure you know, a practice he discontinued. Some he said were "cured" and others were not.
Now I am using amino acids as a method to desensitize my pain by boosting serotonin. Doing so has taken me off the Obessive merry-go-round and cleared my thinking.
One man's drug is another man's supplement?
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 15:35:40
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Hello Suegr 98
You make sense … but would caution since you are a Newbie I would say continue to learn The TMS/ Sarno Model while getting better..
Yes continue de programming- relearn whatever you need to do learn in what got ya in pain in the first place. Not knowing your condition but considering your bacround as a recovering Alcoholic I would say be VERY CAREFULL not to go near any RXes and especially painkillers. Stay on course you’ll get better
Good luck
With that said Fwiw (some may disagree) but that’s ok we all healed differently. Anyway I personally don't see anything wrong with loosening up or using anything natural to feel better as you begin to heal. If you are in lots of pain ALL THE TIME and the muscles are in total spasm for A LONG TIME you need to give them a break as well.
Keeping mobility and moving, light stretches, relaxing the body etc … is ok in my book However as long as it doesn’t become a programmed response. If you are doing your homework it all will come in due time.
HTH
Kenny V
Always Hope For Recovery
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 19:51:27
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You sound confused to me. Sarno's recommendations are not to "take pain medication and wait it out."
Read the books first and foremost. Or at least one.
Beyond that, I think you also have a distorted view of pain meds. For one thing, there is a whole range of medication for pain, from aspirin to narcotics. WHy instantly make the leap to Vicodin? For another, stronger medications when used appropriately do no kill either emotions or people. If you've an addictive personality and you're concerned about narcotics, then simply don't take them. But countless people have used them safely for thousands of years. In my opinion opiates are without question one of natures great boons to mankind.
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Edited by - art on 12/28/2010 19:53:40 |
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suegr98
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2010 : 23:48:30
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Thanks everyone. In response to Art I have read "at least one book" which brought me to this forum (Healing Back Pain by Sarno) and intend to read many more. Regarding flare ups that do not let up, Sarno's advice to "take pain meds and wait it out" is the exact and only message I got from that book, which is why I need to read a lot more and hang out on these forums for ideas that I can actually use. Pain meds are simply not an option for me and I am talking about myself, not anyone else.
Yes as a newbie, I am confused. That is why I am here. However, I disagree that I have a "distorted" view of pain meds. I am just wondering why pain meds are recommended as the one pain relief option when ice, heat, massage and stretches do actually have a palliative effect and no risk of physical addiction.
However, I am not currently using <em>any</em> of the above because I do believe that at the root of the pain are buried feelings which is first and foremost what I am working on, and digging out those feelings is being far more effective than any palliative care I have experienced.
take good care,
Sue
http://healingwithfeelings.wordpress.com
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StudentWithTMS
5 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 04:17:11
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Sue -
I think Dr. Sarno probably did not have people with addictive personalities in mind when he recommended pain killers in the book. I'm not quite sure why you make the assertion that people with TMS are addiction prone -- as far as I read it seems the two are unrelated. Perhaps someone who knows more can comment on a connection, if any.
If the pain killers that would work on your pain pose you a risk of addiction, it seems you do in fact need to resort to other means. I can recommend what worked for me, because honestly pain killers have not been very effective for my TMS anyway. Here are the practices that come to mind:
- Stretches
- Ice dulls the pain, heat relaxes it. Apply whichever works, or alternate.
- The amazing Tennis ball massage. If the pain is in your back (probably works some other places too), lie on a tennis and roll around for a while. Even better results with two tennis balls attached together -- I either tape them or put them in a sock and tie the sock.
- Foam roller. Similar to the tennis ball, but with slightly different results. I find the foam roller is better for mild pain and the tennis ball is better for acute attacks
- Take time out from life. Set aside two hours, run a hot bath, then watch a movie or favorite TV show.
In desperate times, like when I had a date that night and had to recover ASAP, I would do all these things back to back. Almost certainly, this would resolve my symptoms temporarily. Hope you have equally good results. Good luck! |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 05:54:31
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"Regarding flare ups that do not let up, Sarno's advice to "take pain meds and wait it out" is the exact and only message I got from that book."
Then I suggest you read it again. You're fixated on pain meds for some reason. I'll go out on a limb and guess that the majority of TMS'ers do not take pain medication once they get an understanding of TMS.
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Edited by - art on 12/29/2010 06:00:38 |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 10:30:14
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quote:
Originally posted by suegr98
I am just wondering why pain meds are recommended as the one pain relief option when ice, heat, massage and stretches do actually have a palliative effect and no risk of physical addiction.
Yes, I wonder about that too! How does swallowing a Tylenol (and maybe an Advil along with it) know to go to my ankle for instance? I don't think it does. I think it goes to my brain's pain sensing center and dulls the pain there--I don't know for sure, I'm not a pharmacologist.
Perhaps Dr.Sarno stopped PT pain relief methods because he felt it pulls focus away from the emotional cause in the mind.
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6415
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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suegr98
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 12:28:52
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quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
Perhaps Dr.Sarno stopped PT pain relief methods because he felt it pulls focus away from the emotional cause in the mind.
Absolutely! This is why I don't understand why he suggests pain meds. Even the strong ones that work give no lasting assistance and simply delay dealing with emotions.
Art if I seem fixated (and I only am for purposes of this question) it is because I work as a nurse in physical rehab and see a lot of addiction-related problems with patients who use pain pills to avoid pain AND emotion.
I am reading Ekhart Tolle right now and his spiritual approach to disconnecting from negative thought and pain are really resonating for me.
take good care,
Sue
http://healingwithfeelings.wordpress.com
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scd1833
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 14:09:21
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Hi,
I think Sarno considers the pain killers to be a short term symptomatic treatment for very acute TMS pain. all the "natural" treatments you are considering will just serve as distractions themselves and will continue to get you to focus on you body and symptoms instead of the emotions that are causing the symptoms that your conscious mind does not want to acknowledge.
*it's best to discontinue ALL physical treatments*
addictions/compulsions are just another distraction in themselves that prevent repressed feelings from coming to the surface first by distracting us with the repetitive behaviors, and also by numbing the feelings directly with the substance.
best |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 12/29/2010 : 16:21:05
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Sue,
I don't understand the pain meds recommendation either The only thing I can recall reading (and hazily at that ) is that under conditions of severe pain, pain meds could be helpful while adhering to the TMS protocol (journaling, repudiating physical causes of pain while focusing on emotions etc etc)
In any case, as I've said a couple of times, you certainly don't need to take them. I'm guessing very few around here do. I'm trying to tell you that this need not be a big deal for you.
Just say no :>) |
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suegr98
USA
39 Posts |
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pain "killers" and deconditioning ourselves
