Seriously. Wasn't he hooked on painkillers for back pain? Didn't he suffer from migraines and other TMS-like ailments? Do you think he was he all shook up by TMS?* He was under incredible pressure.
* Yes, I know. It should be "all shaken up." I'm quoting a song.
I just read an article in "Vanity Fair" on JFK. I had always thought that his back was injured in World War II, but the article stated that his back pain started way before the War. In my opinion, JFK had TMS.
Oh, and I just saw the movie Meet the Fockers and the character that Robert de Niro plays has it in the form of sciatica when he's trying to repress his rage.
And George from Seinfield (watched old episodes on DVD the other day).
I also noticed in Meet the Fockers that his mum immediately associated De Niro's back pain with repressed emotions. True, she was being portrayed as a slightly loopy "new age" person, but in the end her approach was shown to win through.
Maybe backpain will go the way of ulcers, as the psychogenic side is more recognised by the mainstream.
And don't forget Nixon's phlebitis during Watergate!
There was a great episode of Frasier (season 7) called "Back Talk." He "threw out his back" bending over to blow out a candle on his birthday cupcake. It was just his mid-life crisis getting the better of him. He worked it out by talking to his dog, Eddie.
But seriously, I think for some people who find journalling too much like homework telling their dog or cat what's going on in their emotional world could be an alternative....
Elvis - TMS victim?
Posted - 03/27/2005 : 11:48:36
