Derek S. Relapse of back pain after car accident

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Question

I was in car accident and rear ended at like 3 miles per hour around a month ago, and my old tms back pain has been back ever since. I know it can't be from the accident but I can't help but think maybe it caused it. Is this my mind just messing with me?

 

Answer

Great question. Our tricky minds will usually give us TMS symptoms at times when and in places where we are most likely to buy in to them.

You're much more likely to buy in to the fear around your pain after this minor fender bender than if it would have developed the day before. Your mind knows what its doing.

They actually did a placebo car crash study, where subjects thought they were in a collision but no actual contact had taken place between the cars. 4 weeks after the fake accident, 10% of the subjects had neck pain. Why? Because their minds had the ammunition to sell them on it.

I've had clients get MRIs after minor accidents like this just to prove to their minds that no damage had been done to their body. It's all about finding a way to remove the fear, and telling yourself that this is just your mind trying to pull you in to a TMS state as opposed to a real physical injury.

Best of luck in your recovery!

Derek

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There's a great example of TMS/"whiplash"--yes/no--cited in Dr. Sarno's books. In Finland where people can sue, there are many cases of "whiplash", but next door in Lithuania, where you can't sue--NO WHIPLASH.