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Aussie
Australia
87 Posts |
 Posted - 12/20/2011 : 18:02:58
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Hi Everyone,
Really hoping for some advice to cheer me up as im pretty confused at the moment. I recently have had some great progress with my chronic low back pain after reading Sarno's books and then beginning to use positive affirmations along with telling myself "I am not broken" daily. I had about a 30% pain decrease and was overall feeling great. For the first time in many months i could really feel and believe that the pain was ending. Then out of knowhere i have developed a numb and painful feeling in my left foot that has stayed for 4 days so far. My last MRI and all other tests show no significant injury or nerve involvement from my low back and i have never had any sciatica type symptoms before but this pain has scared the crap out of me. It's crazy that last week i was on top of the world and so positive and now im freaking out over all sorts of potential physical injuries. Its so hard to stop my mind from freaking out when i get a new pain, Is the mind really that smart that it would hit you with a new scarier symptom to keep you focused on pain?? |
Edited by - Aussie on 12/20/2011 22:47:26 |
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marsha
252 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2011 : 21:10:44
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Go back to Sarno's books. It is very commom for the pain to move around. Also stop keeping a calander on your progress. It will slow you down.
Marsha |
Edited by - marsha on 12/20/2011 21:11:35 |
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Bugbear
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 01:25:43
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| Yes, I believe the mind really is that smart. I have had a host of TMS symptoms throughout my life but there has never been anything as painful as sciatica. As a result of this particular TMS symptom I found the Sarno books, the TMS forum and the TMS wiki. Sarno believes these symptoms are meant to prevent unpleasant thoughts and emotions from reaching a conscious level. In my case I believe the sciatica had the opposite effect. This particular symptom made me really sit up and take notice, not so I would be frightened of physical pain but so I would recognise that there was something else going on with me that wasn't physical. See it as a wake up call, not something to fear. |
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PhilMid
United Kingdom
28 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 03:01:35
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HI Aussie,
I read Dr Sarno’s book about 6 weeks ago and it seems just like you I still have doubts. Overall, I am making progress even though some days I appear to be going backwards.
I am doing things that my mind convinced me would aggravate the problem. When I did them, the pain moved around and new ones developed. You said “Its so hard to stop my mind from freaking out when i get a new pain” – from what I have read this sounds classic TMS. When this happened to me I said “Great, so it is TMS and I know it is trying to find another weak point. I need to continue addressing the emotional issues".
Why not demonstrate to your mind by doing an activity that it thinks is a problem? The very act of doing something is a distraction especially as TMS dominates thinking. Keep proving to it that it is not a problem and your confidence will grow, your doubts about TMS diminish and your pain will reduce.
Have you tried the Structured Education Programme on TMS Wiki? I am on day 10 and so far not only is it very interesting but proving to be helpful.
Phil
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 09:54:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Aussie
...It's crazy that last week i was on top of the world and so positive and now im freaking out over all sorts of potential physical injuries.
Not so crazy, your subconscious, that creates TMS symptoms, does not like rapid change that forces it out of it's homeostasis. It's not used to you feeling "good". It took your mindbody a while to acquire TMS pain as a defense mechanism. It will take sometime to de-condition it and to learn to think TMS when symptoms arise from time to time. Life events that are seemingly positive can also create TMS symptoms.
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
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
==================================================
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
======================================================
TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/page/Find+a+TMS+Doctor+or+Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 10:44:53
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Here's a good citation from wiki on Psychological homeostasis. It nicely complements Dr. Sarno's TMS theory.
"Psychological
Author George Leonard discusses in his book Mastery how homeostasis affects our behavior and who we are. He states that homeostasis will prevent our body from making drastic changes and maintain stability in our lives even if it is detrimental to us.[11] Examples include when an obese person starts exercising, homeostasis in the body resists the activity to maintain stability.[12] Another example Leonard uses is a unstable family where the father has been a raging alcoholic and suddenly stops and the son starts up a drug habit to maintain stability in the family. Homeostasis is the main factor that stops people changing their habits because our bodies view change as dangerous unless it is very slow. Leonard discusses this dilemma as the media today only encourages fast change and quick results. The opening of his book aptly describes his despair with the current state of the world and how it is at war with homeostasis. "The trouble is that we have few, if any, maps to guide us on the journey or even to show us how to find the path. The modern world, in fact, can be viewed as a prodigious conspiracy against mastery. We're continually bombarded with the promises of immediate gratification, instant success, and fast, temporary relief, all of which lead in exactly the wrong direction."
Dr. Sarno's TMS books are amongst the few "maps" to guide us on the journey along the path.
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TaylorJoh
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 11:57:13
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Hi Aussie,
I think you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, perhaps? Please be careful with that because the mind really is a brilliant organ. It knows you're waiting for it and it knows where you're waiting for it. It will eventually oblige. That is why it is so important to always concentrate on the psychological not on the physical. That is the ONLY way to get better.
I used to never be a hypochondriac, but a traumatic surgery sort of kick started that. I once obsessed over getting hemmorhoids (LOL), I didn't end up getting roids, but the muscle there became so tight, I felt like I was walking around with a golf ball up my bum and couldn't have a normal bowel movement without a suppository. And sitting became out of the question! Obviously, my mind knew the exact spot I was obsessing over and sent a whole buncha tension there. This went on for over a month. Friggin' miserable.
So, even if I have pain in a certain area, I try my hardest not to concentrate on it. Or any other part of my body lol.
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Edited by - TaylorJoh on 12/21/2011 11:58:20 |
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Aussie
Australia
87 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 15:19:27
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| Thanks for the messages everyone. Taylorjoh that is exactly what im doing..(obsessing over new problems and worrying about ones i dont even have yet!!). I have had chronic back pain for years but never with any sciatica or nerve type feelings, and in a way that has been a big reassurance that this was tms and not a physical cause. Now that i start to pull myself out of the back pain hole-Bingo some nerve type pain appears!! I need to regain my strength and focus on the psychological, But is so hard when my brain is so focused on this new pain..This pain has been here under a week but whenever i try to think tms, My mind goes back to the new foot pain and starts putting all sorts of weird and negative thoughts that are really overwhelming..ie will i one day need surgery etc etc etc. Any advice on how to stay strong and get the confidence i had last week back? I think my problem now is the pain or new pains totally dictate how i will feel on that day-in general and about a TMS diagnosis. |
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TaylorJoh
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2011 : 16:52:33
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I experience complete numbness/pain in my lower pelvic and top thighs. It used to be constant and had me housebound for almost 2 years. It was at times excruciating if I kept standing. Upon sitting, everything would cease to hurt and I could feel the blood circulating again. So I sat a lot lol!
This is what I do now.
When I start to walk around and it starts coming on, I say to myself immediately, "It's ok, yes it hurts but it's completely harmless, keep moving forward." Just reassure yourself from the get-go, you may not believe it at first, but tell yourself something long enough and you end up believing it.
It's impossible to completely ignore pain. But the more you practice getting your mind off of it, the longer you actually do. So what I do is, once I start thinking of the pain, I break out singing a favorite song, or think about a movie to watch, whatever that will take my mind off it even for a bit. And one thing I NEVER do anymore is say to myself, "Oh Gawd this hurts I have to sit down." I never let the TMS know it got me to sit down. I always tell myself, "I think I'll sit down to watch a movie" or "Time to get back to work" (at my computer). I just act nonchalant about the whole thing.
Just try your hardest not to fear or catastrophize your pain, and keep moving forward. And before you do something, don't predict you'll have pain. A lot of us TMS'ers are just one big self-fulfilled prophecy lol.
Well, I have to end this post because I have to go grocery shopping. Saying that actually gives me goosebumps because for 2 years, it was something I thought impossible! |
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italiangirl20
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2011 : 07:10:27
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I've been fighting low back pain for 4 years now. I have some good days, some bad days. My husband complains from time to time about his knees being sore. I would always think to myself, at least my knees never hurt... 2 months ago I woke up one day with my knees being sore, and they've been hurting ever since. So, now my back and my knees hurt. I struggle accepting the tms diagnosis just like you.  |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2011 : 15:47:24
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quote:
Originally posted by italiangirl20
I struggle accepting the tms diagnosis...
Hi IG, we'll assume you have TMS since this is the TMS board and you've had back-pain for years. Unless you were whacked in the knees with an aluminum bat by Tonya Harding as you slept, your knees are likely TMS also. It's called the POWER OF SUGGESTION, you've been hearing about knees from your hubs, and the TMS gremlin is getting bored with the same old back ache.
Your sub-conscious needs the bodily pain to prevent you from dealing with your emotional issues, which it feels would be more painful in the long-run, Dr. Sarno calls it a PROTECTOR, a defense mechanism.
If you are tired of the physical pain you will need to accept or deal with your emotional issues that are the psychological underlying causes for them. Right now your subconscious mind has decided for you that you're not ready for that ride.
If you want to see what the emotional issues are, take a look at the Rahe-Holmes list in my sig below and figure out the stress causing life situations that you're involved in.
To get on board with the TMS "cure" all you need to do is change your thinking about the origins of your pain. Immerse yourself in the TMS books, audios and videos and let it sink into your subconscious--it's a form of brain-washing. The body is strong, your back is strong, your knees are strong!
Good Luck!
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
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
==================================================
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
======================================================
TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/page/Find+a+TMS+Doctor+or+Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
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italiangirl20
3 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2012 : 10:35:42
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| Haha, Tonya Harding! I'm definitely involved in many of those stress causing life situations. I've read a few of the books, and I do believe it's tms most of the time. But, I have days here and there that I don't believe. It's an everyday struggle. |
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0ne step forward 2 steps back.. Help!!
