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Cookie
9 Posts |
 Posted - 12/14/2012 : 09:27:11
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Hey guys and gals. I've been on this forum reading as much as possible since July, and while I've had some slight success, ultimately not a lot has changed with my excruciating sciatica pain. I've read (and really enjoyed) SteveO's book, Fred Amir's book, HBP (listen in my car), done the journaling, talking to myself, affirmations, ignoring, etc, but nothing seems to be doing it for me. It's a very clear case of TMS, and I try to remain positive, but it's growing very tiresome and hard to maintain. It's classic conditioning, and I know this, but I can't seem to break the cycle.
Yesterday I was having a really painful day at work. I tried to think psychologically about it and convince myself that there was nothing wrong, but it wouldn't let up. I couldn't come up with anything unusual bothering me on a subconcious level, and couldn't sit at my desk because it was killing me. Out of desperation, I broke down and had to try something else, so I took an analgesic painkiller. Back in April (before I knew about TMS) I saw a physiatrist who had prescribed me Arthrotec, an NSAID that he said would help. At the time it didn't do anything for me, so I stopped taking it. Then, once I found out about TMS, I stopped all medication altogether and have been working on myself, but lately it's not really helping. So, after I took the medicine yesterday, I had probably the BEST day pain wise that I've had in months. It was almost like feeling normal again. I couldn't believe it. The same medicine that did nothing for me before now made me feel human again. I was walking, bending, and moving without any concern for the pain.
So here is my question... based on the fact that my pain is a result of conditioning in my mind (ex. very painful in morning or getting up from seated position), is it a good idea to use the medication to try and break the bad conditioning? I was able to get up from a seated position no problem yesterday afternoon which was unbelievable. I know this medicine could be considered a placebo, but if it's used only to quiet the pain while I retrain myself that getting up and down or in and out of a car is not painful, is that a bad thing? Any thoughts or opinions?
Also, everyone on this site is very helpful and I appreciate all the great advice you all give. I'd love to have some good news to report and help others, but I've gotta dig out of my own hole first. Thanks!! |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 09:48:54
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It's always great to feel the pain go, for a moment, even if for the wrong reasons. This is a good question because you already know that NSAIDs are placebos.
Your deeper unconscious relaxes with the safety-net of the ritual of taking the med. You may have also been coincidentally having a good day. I'm assuming it was a narcotic analgesic? You didn't say, but that's more likely because it produces relaxation which calms the sympathetic nervous system. The danger is in addiction because the sense of peace and painlessness replaces pain, which the system wants---The Pleasure Principle.
As far as breaking the conditioning loop it's never been established, although I've seen TMS doctors prescribe anti-anxiety meds to get people under control--temporarily. In the long run, however, it's been conclusively proven that you don't need meds to break the conditioning. If you need them for temporary relief, then it's a personal call, but be careful in the long run.
You have to confront your fear, it's driving your pain. Close your eyes and breathe and relax your back and body, then touch the floor. Are you afraid to do it? If so, you still fear the pain, which is harmless.
The narcotic analgesics helped me too, but they never healed me. It was when I stopped them that I began to heal. They simply mask the problem, and the TMS will shift somewhere when it feels threatened by a cover up.
Remember where digging out of your own hole gets you.
Steve |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 09:51:19
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I don't know enough about pain med and your condition, but my opinion is if you can heal all by the power of your mind, your healing is going to be much more long lasting and if tms/anxiety ever strike again, you would know exactly what to do to defeat it again. Goodluck Cookie.
Seem like you have tried many many methods. Have you try "not to fear" your symptoms?
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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Cookie
9 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 10:09:41
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Thanks for the advice. Mucho appreciated.
Steveo- the medication is non narcotic. It's the equivalent of high powered advil because I asked the pharmacist the same thing. I do see what you're saying though, because even a non narcotic could become habit forming like you mentioned. I was just desperate because I was on a conference call and couldn't sit next to my phone for 2 hours. It was driving me crazy. The relief I had was something I haven't felt in a looooong time. I think I forgot what it felt like to feel normal. I'll try what you say though, because while I think I'm not afraid of the pain and push through it, putting on my shoes and socks in the morning is a major pain in the ass- literally. I've gotta relax and try harder.
Balto- I agree with you 100%. I am in it for long term relief, so I want to do things the right way, not just a quick fix. I'm trying to explore whatever sits in the back of my mind, but a lot of the time I don't come up with anything in particular. I've tried and am still trying not to fear. It's pure conditioning and I just need to break through to the other side. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 11:59:04
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Hi Cookie & thanks for surfacing to contribute your experience. We're all in this together--the Good Doctor says TMS is part of the "HUMAN CONDITION". TMS pain can be a good thing--it proves you haven't been lobotomized and is less invasive then self-trephination. It's a psychological defense mechanism, a "PROTECTOR" as Dr. Sarno theorizes and not a punisher as Freud thought. So, you may want to thank it for doing it's job for you until you switch gears from the allopathic conventional medicine approach to pain and learn to deal with it TMS'ly. You don't have to find the black bullet historic source, of your pain, you only need to gain and mindfully internalize the KNOWLEDGE PENICILLIN of how TMS pain functions, and originates deep in the recesses of the MINDBODY.
I have felt your sciatic pain and it's totally gone--my MINI SUCCESS story over that symptom. It was so excrusciatingly painful at one point, I had to construct a sling and rope system, attached to the ceiling above my bed, to stretch my leg out at night when, I couldn't sleep from the PAIN!--the sciatica is totally gone now--success.
G'luck!
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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
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"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
"The hot-dog is the noblest of dogs; it feeds the hand that bites it." Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter
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"If it ends with "itis" or "algia" or "syndrome" and doctors can't figure out what causes it, then it might be TMS." Dave the Mod
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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/ppd/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 |
Edited by - tennis tom on 12/14/2012 12:41:37 |
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MatthewNJ
USA
691 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 12:45:35
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Cookie,
I will weigh in on this in that I have been succesful with TMS. Pain medication was an integral, and I believe necessary part of my recovery from the relaspes I had in 2008. This worked for me, I am neither promoting it or suggesting you do it. This is up to you and your doctor. I was already 3 years into my therapy with Dr. Evans when this pain episode occurred. I was in such pain that I could not think psychological. 10 on a scale of 10 constantly. Dr. Sarno had confirmed this pain episode was not physical. I was already seeing Dr. Evans. So I doubled my visits with Dr. Evans and saw a pain specialist to manage the pain meds (first I was on 7, 10mg percocets /day and then a 75mg Fentanyl pain patch). Dr. Evans taught me to say a mantra before taking the medication. "I am taking this medication to treat the symptoms, I am working with Dr. Evans to solve the true cause of the pain".
So, my 2 cents is, in the right circumstances, used appropriatly pain medication iS an appropriate part of TMS therapy.
BTW, in the last 4 years or so of his career, Dr. Sarno was prescribing pain meds in certain circumstances.
Matthew
Ferretsx3@comcast.net
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Less activated, more regulated and more resilient. |
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Peregrinus
250 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 13:37:08
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Cookie:
I’m having problems similar to yours. I have lower back pain in the morning particularly after sitting down even for a minute. Throughout the day I experience pain after sitting or on bending down. I usually brace myself by placing a hand on a knee or a piece of furniture before trying to pick something off the floor. About six months ago I was also getting severe groin pain after sitting and in particular after driving any distance. I took meloxicam (an NSAID) which helped. However I then experienced an episode of nose bleeds so I cut out the meloxicam. Others on this forum have convinced me that my pain is “programmed” but I’m struggling to become un-programmed. I’d appreciate any advice you might have.
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 19:10:49
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Yah, the nosebleeds are a normal side effect of taking pain killers that thin your blood also making it easier to bruise by barely bumping stuff. I just had a nosebleed myself.
FYI, something new I found recently for nosebleeds is a product called NASALCEASE. It works great and I think it's made of something natural like seaweed. I spoke recently with the maker and they got recent approval for it's use to stop general bleeding. It's a little hard to find and a bit pricey but it really works if nosebleeds are creating or raising your TMS volume control. I seem to often get nose bleeds when I least want them like being in a hurry to run out of the house to play in a tennis tournament--probably due to increased BP from anxiousness and rushing.
Before the NASALCEASE, I would just jam some toilet paper up their and pack it tight. Kinda' inconvenient and hard to play with a wad of bloody toilet paper protruding from your nose. Or I'd go cold turkey and stick a styptic pencil up there (the white thing men used to use to stop bleeding from razor cuts). It's kinda' yucky and tastes bad if you get some down your throat from your sinuses--glad to find the NASALCEASE, it works good for you bleeders. |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 19:32:06
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quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
called NASALCEASE. It works great and I think it's made of something natural like seaweed.
Or you can stop by some sushi restaurant and buy some seaweed. 
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No, I don't know everything. I'm just here to share my experience. |
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Peregrinus
250 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2012 : 20:30:11
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Tennis Man:
I’ve suffered quite a few episodes of nose bleeds. They have generally coincided with periods of stress. They usually last for about two weeks or so. Sometimes years have passed between episodes. I have tried the product you mentioned and it seemed to work. I have been taking an aspirin a day for about 40 years and lately I’ve cut that down by half. I have limited experience with NSAIDS but from what I hear their benefit is temporary and their side effects are serious. My back seems to be improving without drugs and with the help I’m getting here.
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Bugbear
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2012 : 03:05:19
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| Wise advice from Matthew, Cookie. The last thing you want to do is beat yourself up over this decision. Do what you feel is best for you, not what others, including the critical voice in your head, think you should or shouldn't do. |
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Can Medication Aid in Breaking Bad Conditioning?
