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Sara
66 Posts |
 Posted - 02/21/2005 : 16:57:21
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TT,
Just wondering if you had your appointment with Schecter? I am leaving Friday for LA and have an appointment on Monday. If you did have your appointment, how did it go?
Sara |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 09:57:24
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Hi Sara,
Yes I did make it to LA and saw Dr. Schechter and also Donald Dubin. I'm still waiting for some results to come in and would be happy to compare notes with you after your visit.
It was a beautiul sunny day when I arrived but I brought the rain with me from NorCal. LA's a desert and when you add water to it you get mudslides. I saw a once beautiful house in a broken heap along Laurel Canyon Drive. I wouldn't be surprised if all of SoCal disloves someday.
The area is very Hollywood'ish. Lot's of flashy convertibles with people who might be stars. Lot's of touristy things to do within walking distance nearby (not that anyone in LA walks accept for the homeless): Farmer's Market, CBS Studios, Petersen's Auto Museum. I think this is Academy Awards week so your chances of seeing stars will probably be great.
I stayed at several hotels in the vicinity. The Meridien and the Beverly-Laurel. Lots of good restaurants too.
Best Wishes,
tt |
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Sara
66 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2005 : 10:14:52
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Well tomorrow I am off to LA to see the doctor. Tom, I will definitely want to compare notes with you when I get back. I am hopeful for a TMS diagnosis, but as I said before, very nervous. I'll let you all know.
Sara |
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Sara
66 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2005 : 09:35:10
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Well I had my appointment with Schecter and low and behold it is TMS. I was so nervous going into the appointment, but now for some reason I do not feel as happy as I should. Perhaps I am scared of goint it alone, or maybe even lazy, I don't know. Nonetheless I have a lot of work cut out for me and although I know I am capable, feel some trepidation.
We had a nice trip to LA. I can honestly say however that I never want to drive there ever again! I am originally from Chicago and have been in traffic. Chicago traffic pales in comparison to traffic in LA. It took us two and a half hours to go 45 miles. Unbelievable! I now live in a town with 5 traffic lights and in the two years I have lived here have been in traffic twice.
Nonetheless we had a good time, the kids got to swim and we saw an old friend (who stated that Sarno is very well respected in the movie industry).
Sara
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MikeC
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2005 : 15:06:22
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Sara,
Regarding your TMS diagnosis, I was just like you. I was so hoping that someone would tell me that it wasn't primarily structure based and yet when the TMS doctor told me, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't happier.
Realize that this was Step 1 in a long journey. No one wants to have a chronic issue yet so many of us do. At least you are tackling it head on. Do what Schecter tells you to do and see how you are progressing. I know it is tough to do when you are living it every minute but sadly, there is no other choice. The best thing I did was I shared my pain with my friends and family so that I didn't have to put on a disguise. YOu would be surprised how many people I found out have their own issues that they never talked about because they felt no one wanted to hear about it.
Good luck
Mike C |
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Bazz
Netherlands
34 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 08:38:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Sara
Well I had my appointment with Schecter and low and behold it is TMS. I was so nervous going into the appointment, but now for some reason I do not feel as happy as I should. Perhaps I am scared of goint it alone, or maybe even lazy, I don't know. Nonetheless I have a lot of work cut out for me and although I know I am capable, feel some trepidation.
We had a nice trip to LA. I can honestly say however that I never want to drive there ever again! I am originally from Chicago and have been in traffic. Chicago traffic pales in comparison to traffic in LA. It took us two and a half hours to go 45 miles. Unbelievable! I now live in a town with 5 traffic lights and in the two years I have lived here have been in traffic twice.
Nonetheless we had a good time, the kids got to swim and we saw an old friend (who stated that Sarno is very well respected in the movie industry).
Sara
Dear Sara,
Can you tell us more in detail how an appointment with dr. Schechter is going on in practice. How long was the appointment. What does he examine, what does he aks you, what does he tell you to do etc.
I'm really interested. Especially, because I am not in the position to visit him. (to far away)
Thank you in advance,
Regards,
Barry |
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Sara
66 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2005 : 13:16:39
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Mike, thanks for the support!
Bazz,
My appointment was about 45 minutes. It basically consisted of talking about the symptons, when they started and what was going in my life at the time. He did a quick physical exam and checked for the tender tms points of which there are eight total. I had seven of the eight.
I asked him if he thought most chronic pain was tms, excluding anything serious, and he seemed to believe that it was.
He recommended I work with a psychotherapist and do some journaling, about twenty minutes a day.
He also said to get moving. I told him at one time I was very passionate about running and he told me that was great and that I should go running.
He also stated that progress was not a straight line and to expect relapses.
I hope this info helps, if you have any other questions let me know.
Sara |
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Bazz
Netherlands
34 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2005 : 09:16:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Sara
Mike, thanks for the support!
Bazz,
My appointment was about 45 minutes. It basically consisted of talking about the symptons, when they started and what was going in my life at the time. He did a quick physical exam and checked for the tender tms points of which there are eight total. I had seven of the eight.
I asked him if he thought most chronic pain was tms, excluding anything serious, and he seemed to believe that it was.
He recommended I work with a psychotherapist and do some journaling, about twenty minutes a day.
He also said to get moving. I told him at one time I was very passionate about running and he told me that was great and that I should go running.
He also stated that progress was not a straight line and to expect relapses.
I hope this info helps, if you have any other questions let me know.
Sara
Thank you Sara! I have a couple of other questions: Was journaling and working with a psychotherapist the only thing to do according to him? Or did he also instruct you about self-talk, daily reading etc? Or does he simply refer to his audio materials. (which are very usefull) And does he give information about the average results of the treatment?
Regards,
Barry |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2005 : 10:00:39
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Dear Sara,
I was very happy for you to hear that Dr. Schechter diagnosed you with TMS. I delayed replying to you with my DX because I didn't want to prejudice your exam or spoil your family vacation. Unfortunately my results wern't as positive as yours. Dr. Schechter did a quick range of motion check on my right hip and a look at my x-ray and reccommended hip replacement for me, sooner, rather than later. I was disappointed by that but it's not anything I haven't heard before. About five years ago, I got the same DX from another TMS doctor, Dr. Bruce Eisenforf in Santa Cruz, CA.
After the appontment, I did what I usually do whem I'm not working, I found some tennis courts to smack balls on. About a block from Dr. Schechter's office are the Beverly Hills Community Tennis Courts on La Cienega. It was Friday afternoon at dusk, and unfortunately it was raining--no hope for tennis. So I parked my Landcruiser behind the courts on one of those narrow, tree lined, quiet residential streets, that must make life bearable in LA. I sat for a few moments thinking I just got some news that should be devestating but didn't feel very upset. I thought about going to the clubhouse at the courts and doing what tennis players do when it rains, hang out. I decided I wasn't much in the mood for kibbitzing, so went back to the Beverly-Laurel MotorHotel, where I was staying, and did what I also like doing, ate at the adjoining Swinger's Diner.
I pulled out of LA early the next morning, got on the Hollywood Freeway to the I-5 and and made it back to NorCal in time to do the afternoon practice with my coach, followed by a couple of more hours of fun(?) tennis on the challenge court. Next morning and since then the same routine--practice, work, take my dad to the dox, practice, play, hot-tub, eat, sleep.
I've had a couple of weeks to process-digest the DX and am in no hurry to have a mini-amputation of the ball of my femur and acetabulum. The longer I wait, the worst that can happen, is the less there is to remove and the better the techniques get. Pain is not an issue thanks to TMS methods--being one step slow is.
Thanks to my great coach, my stroke technique is so good, I can have a lot of fun gimping around. One thing I haven't tried is taking a sabbatacal from life to travel and rest. I've got a Court date in DC in late March and hope to drive there on Route 50. That should give my hip some time to re-generate some cartelege and fill that small empty space the dox keep finding in my x-rays and MRI's.
Cheers to all,
tt |
Edited by - tennis tom on 03/06/2005 10:03:02 |
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Sara
66 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2005 : 08:28:48
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Barry,
He didn't directly tell me to engage in self talk, but it is written in the materials he gave me. I was instructed to journal as well in his workbook. I never asked him an estimated time of recovery, as I did not want to be disappointed if I did not meet that goal. I am trying to take it one day at a time and not be so obsessed. Honestly he didn't really tell me anything I did not know already from my own reading and this board. I went to see him mostly because I was having doubts about tms applying to me especially since most of my problems are pelvic pain. I hope this helps some.
Tom,
Thank you for your reply and your kindness. I was touched that you wanted me to have my own experience at the doctor. You are a very thoughtful person.
In regards to your own issues, you are an extremely strong person both physically and mentally and your positive outlook is contagious. Thank you.
Sara
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2007 : 20:16:51
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| I would be curious to hear what Sara has to say about Dr Schecter, two years later. Sara, if you're still out there, what can you tell us? |
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2007 : 23:42:23
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quote:
Dr. Schechter did a quick range of motion check on my right hip and a look at my x-ray and reccommended hip replacement for me, sooner, rather than later.
tt, did you end up getting a hip replacement (I'm thinking not) or maybe you will never need one? Maybe the doctor is wrong and it really is TMS?
Ken |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2007 : 07:43:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Woodchuck
quote:
Dr. Schechter did a quick range of motion check on my right hip and a look at my x-ray and reccommended hip replacement for me, sooner, rather than later.
tt, did you end up getting a hip replacement (I'm thinking not) or maybe you will never need one? Maybe the doctor is wrong and it really is TMS?
Ken
Nope! And not a day goes by that someone doesn't try to talk me into one and look at me like I'm crazy for not taking advantage of the "wonders" of surgery.
For "normal" purposes my hip is no problem, like walking, working, sitting, sleeping, etc. For tournament tennis I'm one step slow and that's all a good opponent needs to beat me. Tournament tennis is not a "normal" behavior.
I'm on the tail-end of a cross-country road-trip on Old US 50. I've been on the road since Dec. 26th, driving about 250 miles a day, except for a break to play some tennis in sunny Florida at Naples and Lauderdale. I'm in a Jeep, not the most comfortable car on the planet. I would averge 500 miles or more a day accept Historic HW 50 is mostly two lane. I have had no pain what-so-ever from driving all day. I try to find a motel with a pool to run in for 30 minutes a day for some exercise.
I can play club tennis all day long and routine 'em. I have a discernable limp after playing. After playing, I run in the pool for a half hour and hot-tub and I'm good to go again. I have observed many players who have had hip-replacement and they may exhibit less pain, but they don't play or move any better. I have heard of some tournament players who have had hip-replacement and are still playing tournament level singles but yet to see them with my own eyes.
When I saw Dr. Schecter, I also saw Dr. Donald Dubin, the TMS therapist on Schecter's tapes (which are very goood to listen to). Dr. Dubin said to me, regarding my negative dx, that he doesn't always agree with Dr. Schechter. I had also seen Dr. Bruce Eisendorf in Santa Cruz, CA, who dx'ed me with arthritis and TMS.
I noticed about a year ago that my right leg was visibly atrophied. This was a wake-up call to use it or lose it. It lost strength from not being used whether from by TMS or injury. When I get back from my road-trip in a few days, I will work on a program to build it back-up again. Maybe in the gym or maybe just play a lot of tennis and improve my technique and foot-work.
My mantra has been, I've never had an injury I couldn't fix. This one is a major challenge. There were a number of TMS emotional issues that either precipitated or exacerbated it.
I can always have the hip-replacement. The incisions are down to two inches and wearing down my acetablulum and trochanter won't matter since they will just lop it off to replace it. Bones are living things and they can heal from breaks and regenerate. Our blood supply is created in the marrow of our bones in fact.
So there's my story.
Cheers,
tt
From Lamar, Colorado
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Edited by - tennis tom on 02/12/2007 07:46:04 |
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Woodchuck
USA
111 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2007 : 09:40:29
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quote:
So there's my story.
Cheers,
tt
From Lamar, Colorado
Good for you! I am impressed with your attitude and determination! And, like you say, the longer you wait, the better the surgical technique will be.
Ken |
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Tennis Tom, did you see Schecter?
