Book New TMS therapy book by Dr. David Schechter

While moderating the TMS Wiki chat group today (Dec. 27, 2014), a drop-in named Deb made me aware of a new TMS therapy book just published by Dr. David Schechter entitled Think Away Your Pain (November 2014):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/19...&tag=wwwmindbodyco-20&linkId=XAENXXQ6N3VSWYZL

From the Amazon blurb:

"This book teaches the TMS healing method where changing thought, expressing feelings, and understanding can and do change the neural circuitry of the brain and eliminate the pain. Dr. Schechter discusses research supporting the approach including research by the author."

It's being billed as an updating of Dr. Sarno and seems to rely on a system of cognitive retraining. Has anyone on the Forum had experience using Dr Schechter's program? The more tools we have at our disposal the better.

 

Thanks Bruce, Forest - i'll make sure I buy a copy.

 

Dear Bruce, Forest, and Mike,
I'm just checking in with this thread as I am the author of Think Away Your Pain. It represents the current state of my thinking about TMS, a condition that I have treated for over 25 years.

As to what it is, I wouldn't necessarily call it a TMS therapy book and I wouldn't necessarily call it a cognitive retraining book. But what I really tried to do is create a clear, hopefully concise, well organized, and easy to understand book for several groups of readers. Individuals with no awareness of this condition, those who've already read other books on the subject but are looking for a different perspective, and even a section for healthcare professionals with an ultimate goal of having more of them be interested in potentially diagnose and treat TMS.

As Forest mentioned I was fortunate to receive Dr. Sarno's endorsement for the book, and I explained to him that I felt that he had covered the psychology of TMS extremely well in his four books on the subject.

So I tried moving forward and utilizing the scientific evidence that has come to us over the last 15 or 20 years that supports TMS my focus is more on the brain, the central nervous system, and neural pathways. Obviously psychology is still at the essence of this work but this is what I was thinking about as I wrote and rewrote this book over many years and finally finished it this fall. When you read the book you get a sense for the diagnosis and the psychology of an individual with TMS, learn important lessons about pain (Seven Lessons), and understand the 12 stages of healing that I find patients go through on the way to ultimately recovering from their TMS condition.

 

Sounds good to me. I think I'm getting this.

 

I downloaded the "sample" of the Nook version, and the first few pages look interesting, but it wasn't enough to distinguish this book from the other books I have read. So before I plunk down my money and invest my time reading it, I'd like to know if it contains any significant improvements in treatment options that are either easier or more effective than what is recommended in other books.

 

James's

I agree basically all the tms books in my opinion are basically of the same back bone, on the definition of tms and how to face your emossions and to not repress them and not to react but to respond to them. Continue physical activity and don't fear the pain.

Everybody seems to bring a little twist to there treatment which is great. Do the sep...journal threw it,mediate laugh and most important is self care. Do not rush the healing and give your self a break a few days a week.

 

Like that concept about altering neural circuitry by expressing (rather than repressing) your deepest feelings. The question is, of course, how deep down do those changes extend and whether (or not) they can alter disease states more serious than TMS? Wait 10 years and find out. Will have to check out Dr. Schechter's book simply because in it he attempts to address the gray area where psychotherapy and new findings in neuroscience overlap. New knowledge develops at those points where different fields of study come into contact.

 

Awesome! I am jazzed about this book and will purchase it after I finish posting here. Thanks for calling it to our attention, Bruce. And Doc - thanks for chiming in on this thread. Consider me an eager student.

Blessings to you all as we kick off a new (and hopefully painfree) year!

 

I was reading Dr. Schechter's book and came across the following in chapter III under When There Is an Issue with the Body.

With structural injury or damage, the pain may be present constantly or most of the time. The pain you experience typically varies depending upon how the painful area is being moved or stretched.​

Then he goes on to say in the next section that the patient did not improve with TMS treatment, but additional MRI with wider view showed a tumor.​

For those of us that still trying to believe TMS instead of structural, it raises doubts. I have low back pain and other pains. When I sit (move and stretch to seated position puts strain on low back), it causes additional pain the longer I feel the stretch (strain) of being seated. Does that mean with additional tests, they may find something structural? Keep working at TMS, but as long as the pain is there, do you ever know it is not structural?

 

Thanks for the suggestions - yes, I have seen doctors and had MRI's and other imaging tests like the patient described in chapter III of Think Away Your Pain. In the book, Dr. Schechter describes the patient not responding to TMS treatment, so he had an additional MRI performed which eventually identified a structural problem.

I imagine most patients here have had tests that did not reveal major structural problems and are now trying TMS. If they do not get enough relief from TMS treatment, maybe they continue see doctors for more tests...

Much TMS success depends on belief and acceptance, but if structural, then TMS treatment will not succeed. As you said - "up to you to decide to accept the diagnosis", which is what I am trying to do. I will try evidence sheets as you have suggested.

 

Agree with the importance of clarity-- a clear diagnosis of TMS if possible. But it is difficult to get this given the paucity of physicians with expertise in this area. Also, as I discuss in the book, the "gray" area TMS cases where, I believe, there can be structural contribution but clear evidence of TMS as well are challenging both for patient and practitioner.

I also wanted to mention the book is now available as an AUDIBLE BOOK on audible or amazon, itunes. To my knowledge, the first audible version of a book other than Dr. Sarno's classic series, to directly address TMS.

 

I might as well be the one to ask. Dr. Schechter, respectfully, there have been several posts recently expressing dismay with your endorsement of the Back2Life device which seems inconsistent with a TMS approach. Could you explain?

 

I am glad you asked, although I was not aware of such posts. What I have learned in 25+ years of practice is that there are people who are ready and willing to accept a TMS diagnosis and others who are not. As a physician, I am healing patients with a variety of techniques and methods. As you know from Think Away Your Pain, acute and chronic pain, for example, are very different issues in many patients.
I try to heal people in the most effective way for that person. I also believe TMS is a diagnosis, not a religion or a cultic belief. Therefore, when asked to evaluate this device in my office, I found that people who were not moving, not using their bodies at all, stuck in chronic pain (and either not a candidate for tms or unable to grasp its concepts), lied on the floor, relaxed, used the machine and felt better (I let at least a dozen people use it, some multiple times).
So I therefore agreed to endorse the device. When interviewed for over thirty minutes, and even in the clips they used, I emphasized the importance of activity/movement (activation), of hope, and of the emotionally relaxing effect of the machine. I feel all of these are compatible with healing. I hope this clarifies the issue.

 

Thank you. To follow up though, is the effect any different than (for example) some gentle stretching or yoga would be? The website talks about the device being revolutionary, aligning the spine, releasing built-up pressure between vertebrae, ergonomic support providing perfect posture, and so forth. As you know, those all sound like structural bogeymen for those of us in the mindbody world.

 

I do not own the patent for the device, I did not invent the device. I have no control over their marketing or their website. It is an interesting device (I have used it myself to test it out) that stretches you out a bit and gives you 12 minutes to lie still and relax. It is not expensive.
I would prefer people do gentle stretching or yoga, but for some who are stuck in inactivity or fear, and the only thing they see is a TV commercial that tells them that passive motion may help.... I felt that is preferable as a first step, not a final step, toward rehabilitation and better health. Some people are stuck in such a fear/pain cycle that passive movement may be the only thing that they will try.
These real world choices are challenging and I made a decision to endorse this that is not popular with the core TMS crowd and I understand that. I even received one aggressively stated "attack" email from a disappointed TMS "follower". Note I said "follower", not patient. Most TMS doctors use other treatments, when appropriate. Dr. Hanscom does surgery. Others use medication of a variety of sorts.
My great joy is curing with TMS diagnosis and treatment. However, I heal people in a variety of ways.

 

Thank you for explaining your perspective.

 

Observing some video of the device in use, the first thing that I felt was a happiness that patients were experimenting with the experience of new motions. It also seems soothing, like being rocked on a massage table. My impression is one of building confidence, and getting "support" through the device's passive action, and the support of the soothing factor. I am happy for some long-term pain sufferer to have this kind of breakthrough, and support.