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marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
 Posted - 05/20/2005 : 16:01:53
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I know tons of people have posted this question, and I apologize for asking again. But here goes:
What do you do when you get control of the major TMS symptoms that debilitate you, but then there's the other smaller ones that just don't want to relent, no matter how much effort you give it. I'm not obsessing on the smaller symptom, just noticing that since this started in January, I've not been able to get the dang wrists to cooperate the way I have the back, buttock, neck, shoulders, etc. I know I am doing a good job working this whole TMS situation, or I wouldn't be running again pain free, and thwarting off spasms in my neck and back. I am elated  that I've come this far. I just need a little perspective and maybe advice on how to combat the one or two lingering small aggravating symptoms so I don't obsess. I try laughing it off as well as having serious talks with my brain and reading to remind myself of the process. I am confident I'll get there eventually, I just need some help getting my head around it. Thanks and happy Friday everyone! 
P.S. Thank you Allan for talking with me as a newbie on here and for referring me to this wonderful board.  |
Edited by - marytabby on 05/20/2005 16:03:47 |
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Allan
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2005 : 17:29:54
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You are welcome Maryalma8. Congratulations on your progress thus far. You certainly have livend up the board with your interesting comments and questions.
As far as the littler problems such as the wrists, I am not much help. After five years of being pain free, I now have a knee that will not give up.
Wishing you the best.
Allan. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2005 : 19:11:30
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Hi Mary,
Sometimes I hesitate to respond to this kind of question because I've had such limited experience..But on the other hand, you obviously know that, and can give whatever I say the weight it deserves (i.e. not that much )
I'm not sure what kind of wrist problem you have...Is it a carpal tunnel kind of thing? I do know that it's a very delicate area and can be very slow healing..Maybe even TMS injuries differ with respect to recovery time as a function of the part of the body its in...While TMS is in the mind, it's also in the body...It just makes sense to me that some TMS problems..in the same person but in different parts of the body, might respond at a different rate. Does this make sense at all?
The other question I have is, has your TMS doc (I think you said you see one...incidentally I'm from MA too..I'm wondering it you wouldn't mind saying who it is?)evaluated it? Is he saying its TMS?
I only bring this up as a remote possiblity...Obviously you're thinking the right thoughts and doing all the right things given how everything else has cleared up...
One other possibility...is there something about your wrists that might have special significance? I don't want to get too Freudian, and I'm not even sure if that stuff's applicable here, but is it possible you're "holding on" to your wrist pain for some reason...Actually, "holding on" sounds like it would have as a physical analogue the hands...but maybe the wrists too..I was interested at the time how you referred to your rash as "stigmata" which immediately makes one think of martyr type stuff...I for one can certainly get into this role (the long suffering, "why me" part of my personality) Not at all saying that's you, but just throwing it out there...
Anyway, I'm really slinging it now, but I'm well-intentioned..just food for thought from a struggling newbie...
A. |
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marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 13:41:58
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Art,
THanks for the reply. You bring up a valid question about the wrists but I have no idea, could I be holding on to the pain for some reason? Possibly but I can't for the life of me figure out why. It's not carpal, it's tendinitos, and the TMS doc says it's TMS for sure. Hand surgeon wants to do surgery but I know now that it's TMS, I just can't get to the root of it, it keeps hanging on. As far as the stigmata analogy, I wrote that because it reminded me of stigmata: two harsh angry lines on the wrist that look and feel horrible. I did that tongue in cheek but to show the intensity of it.
So that's it. I just need more work I guess. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 13:57:40
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Hi Mary,
I've had lots of tendonitis in my day...Looking back I'm sure most if not all of it TMS...
It hung on for years in some instances, but the thing is, mostly, I just kept doing whatever the activity was that seemed to have brought it on in the first place and it never got beyond a certain pain level (as TMS would predict) or caused any serious problem (again as TMS would predict)..
I don't know your pain level, but if its TMS it's probably manageable, no? I once was convinced I had a shoulder problem from playing golf...It just got worse and worse and more and more painful..My life was just consumed by this shoulder as it was golf season and I love to play golf so much...One day I was playing and it got so bad after nine holes I was sure my golf season was over...but I figured since it's over anyway, I might as well just keep playing...I don't know...a mixture of depression and defiance I guess...I was absolutely positive that one more swing and I'd be done, that's how bad it was starting to hurt...
But then an amazing thing happened....it just went away on the next shot...totally..gone...I had no clue about TMS at the time, but somehow I think just relaxing into the thing was enough...I didn't have another problem with the shoulder for the rest of that whole season...
Anyway, I guess I bring it up as a demonstration that if it's TMS we really cannot hurt ourselves, no matter the perceived pain level..
I hope that helps... |
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marytabby
USA
545 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 16:29:55
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| Thanks Art. For a newbie like me you're keen on the ideas of TMS and I appreciate you probing me for insights. We all have a lot of work to do. Today out of nowhere my left butt cheek started killing me. I was just sitting in a chair doing nothing and it came on and I have not had this for many many weeks. It used to come on from running. But prior to that it hurt all the time. It was like today it crept back in trying to jab me and all day it's been threatening to come back and I keep trying to talk myself through it. I know it's TMS but darn it, why doesn't it get the message already? I know I can run so it's not structural. It's just AGGRAVATION is what it is. Because once it starts, the natural tendency is to focus in on it, obsess on it: why is it back, why now, what the hell did I do to bring this on, why why why? It gets to be really plaguing and I have a lot of work to do with this whole process, trying to NOT obsess, NOT focus on the pain, NOT question it. So you're not alone, and I know I'm not either. I am a newbie (3 months or so at this) so I have LOTS to figure out. |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2005 : 16:56:25
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As I recall....it's been a long time since I've read the book...Sarno discusses obsessive/compulsive disorders as a TMS possibility, but short of that, I have the feeling that most of us, as part of the whole mind-set tend to be way over-focused on every little ache and pain to the point of obsession. God knows I am. It's a rotten way to live and I desperately want to stop doing it. If exercise and working out weren't so important to me it probably wouldn't be so hard, but then again I probably wouldn't have nearly as many symptoms...an ongoing litany of plantar fasciitis, hamstring pain, ball of the foot injuries etc. etc. blah blah blah.
I think it might be helpful for us to try to stop thinking of this as a genie that can somehow be shoved back into the bottle once and forever, and to just practice experiencing our little stray aches, pains, and twinges for what they are..benign reminders of our own human-ness...
You and I and the rest of the hordes of TMS'ers out there are sensitive creatures...By and large it's a good thing to be sensitive. Unfortunately, was also sometimes pay a steep price..
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miehnesor
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 10:29:49
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| You've made huge progress in a relatively short period of time. Many of us TMS'ers have been working on this stuff for years so when I see how fast your improvements have been I just think keep doing what you are doing and don't try and change the gameplan too much. If say at the end of the year you feel like you have hit a wall and the symptoms are not continuing to improve then you can think about adding more TMS work. Way to go- you really deserve a lot of kudos for the progress you have made so far. |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2005 : 13:29:48
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In my experience, it's the symptoms that bother you most -- the ones you are acutely aware of -- that stick around.
For me it was heartburn. Believe it or not it's easier for me to ignore chronic lower back pain than the burning sensation in my stomach and esophagus.
The better a symptom works as a distraction, the more stubborn your brain will be to give it up. |
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Question that bears repeating
