A Mechanism for Sarno’s Work

I’m a very analytical person and I always try to rationalise my experiences. I am new to TMS but I have read books on the subject and I’m well versed on the theory and the mechanism that Sarno has proposed for the MBS pain. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately since I was diagnosed with shingles (to be confirmed by swab) and here is my take on it. Sarno is correct in his observation, I believe what he says in his book is true about what he saw. I agree with that 100%. However, I’m sceptical about the mechanism for the resolution of the pain. What if the pain (say back pain) is caused by a virus? I understand that there is such a thing as internal (silent) shingles where people suffer with pain but no rash and that includes back pain and all sorts of other pains in the body. Now, what if Sarno’s observations isn’t due to the mechanism he proposed but due to a mechanism involving a virus. So, go with me with this. Say a person has back pain and is anxious about it. Lots of fear generated. There’s no tissue damage or any damage can be attributable to the pain. This person goes through Sarno’s treatment then they get better. Why? Could it be that this person has a reactivation of silent shingles (no rash) causing the back pain. This virus was always dormant in their body from childhood. This person’s nervous system is overactive, stressed and causing the virus to replicate and cause more pain. When this person goes through Sarno’s therapy they relax and become less anxious and fearful. They feel better and as a result their nervous system attenuates and feels “safe”. As a result their immune system becomes stronger and fights the virus causing it to deactivate. Once deactivated the symptoms start fading away ie pain reduces or resolves. Every time the person is stressed in some way symptoms reappear because the virus is reactivated. I totally believe Sarno’s observations but I have ambiguities about the mechanism of action ie lack of blood supply etc. By the way, I took antivirals for a day recently. My buttock nerve pain seems to have reduced which I find to be an interesting observation. However, I reacted severely to it so had to stop taking it after 24 hours. I would like to test my theory. What do people think of the virus theory to support Sarno’s observations? The internal rage that Sarno talks about I think is valid but it’s because the rage causes anxieties and fears which activates a virus. Could it be that once a person is at peace with the rage their anxieties and fears attenuates and their immune system boosts which causes a viral deactivation and a reduction in pain? Thoughts? Note: Stress, fatigue, and trauma are also commonly related to shingles.

 

Perplexity.ai says this (below) re your question which, as you will see, concludes that your theory could well be right, but more research would be needed for proof positive...

"Exploring the "Virus Theory" in the Context of Sarno's Observations
Your question proposes a scenario where back pain, in the absence of clear tissue damage, could be due to a silent reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV, the cause of shingles) triggered by stress and anxiety. You suggest that Dr. Sarno’s mind-body approach might work by reducing stress, which strengthens the immune system and suppresses viral activity, thus alleviating pain. Let’s examine the plausibility of this theory and how it aligns with current scientific understanding.

Silent Shingles and Pain Without Rash

• Reactivation of VZV can indeed cause pain without a rash, a condition known as "zoster sine herpete" or internal shingles. This can present as chronic radicular pain and is well documented in the medical literature, even in the absence of visible skin symptoms.
• Such reactivation is more common in older adults or immunocompromised individuals but can occur in healthy people as well.

Role of Psychological Stress in Viral Reactivation

• Chronic psychological stress is recognized as a potential trigger for VZV reactivation, even in immunocompetent (otherwise healthy) individuals. Stress can suppress cellular immunity, making it easier for dormant viruses to reactivate.
• Case studies have shown that psychological stress can precipitate shingles, sometimes with atypical presentations.
• Stress and anxiety can disrupt immune responses, increasing susceptibility to viral reactivation and other infections.

Mind-Body Approach and Immune Function

• Dr. Sarno’s method posits that repressed emotions and psychological stress can manifest as physical pain, with the brain creating symptoms as a distraction from emotional distress.
• By addressing these psychological factors-through education, self-reflection, and stress reduction-patients often experience relief from chronic pain.
• There is evidence that stress reduction techniques, such as mindfulness and meditation, can improve certain immune measures, potentially making the body more effective at controlling latent infections.

Viral Neuropathic Pain and Immune Modulation

• Viral infections, including VZV, can cause neuropathic pain by infecting neurons, triggering inflammation, and altering nerve function.
• The persistence of pain after viral reactivation is complex, involving both direct neural effects and immune-mediated inflammation.

Synthesis: Does the "Virus Theory" Support Sarno’s Observations?

• Plausibility: The theory that stress-induced immune suppression could allow VZV reactivation, leading to pain without rash, is medically plausible and supported by clinical evidence.
• Overlap with Sarno’s Model: Sarno’s approach focuses on the mind-body connection, attributing pain to psychological factors. The virus theory adds a biological intermediary-stress weakens immunity, reactivates a latent virus, and causes pain.
• Why Sarno’s Approach Might Work: If stress reduction restores immune competence, it could suppress viral activity, leading to symptom relief. This would explain why pain resolves with psychological healing, even if the underlying cause was viral reactivation.
• Recurrence with Stress: The observation that symptoms recur during periods of stress aligns with both Sarno’s psychological model and the viral reactivation hypothesis, as stress could repeatedly weaken immune surveillance and allow the virus to flare up.

Limitations and Considerations

• Not all cases of back pain without tissue damage are due to silent viral reactivation; many are likely purely psychogenic as Sarno suggests.
• The viral theory is difficult to confirm without specific diagnostic tests (e.g., PCR for VZV DNA in affected tissues), which are not routinely performed in cases of unexplained back pain.
• The mind-body approach remains valuable regardless of the underlying mechanism, as stress reduction appears beneficial for both psychogenic and some biologically mediated pain syndromes.

Conclusion
The "virus theory" offers a biologically plausible mechanism that could, in some cases, complement Dr. Sarno’s observations: psychological stress may reactivate latent viruses like VZV, causing pain even without a rash. Stress reduction through Sarno’s method could restore immune function, suppress viral activity, and relieve pain. While this hypothesis cannot explain all cases of chronic pain, it is consistent with current scientific understanding of the interplay between stress, immunity, and latent viral infections. Further research is needed to clarify the frequency and significance of this mechanism in the population experiencing chronic, unexplained pain."

 

BloodMoon you are my hero! Never thought to check AI. Bless you.