Day 1 The journey starts here

After over a year struggling to find a solution to my back and leg pain issues, I feel ready to accept TMS as my diagnosis. I'll admit it's not easy in the face of what appear to be "medical facts" about structural issues but believe I can embrace this approach and see results. I have the support of the people who matter the most in my life and feel I have found that same support in the professionals I am asking to provide me w/ guidance. I can't wait to tell everyone "I'm better!"

 

Hi, bollib1. Welcome to the TMS community and this web site. "Medical facts" can be wrong, or they may be caused by our emotions. When we discover those emotions, we heal. The SEP is a wonderful way to discover those emotions. Also, try to believe 100 percent in TMS. Anything less delays or prevents healing. But you ARE going to heal. Keep this foremost in mind, because thousands have healed through TMS.

Here is a pep talk about success in the SEP. Kevin posted a few days afterward that he was 100 percent healed.

Kevin healed 95 % from SEP


Welcome to the SEP and to the path of recovery. I am on my final two days of the program and I can say with complete confidence that I am a changed man. I started after 6 months of nasty low-back/butt/leg pain, could hardly walk, stand, etc. was in physical therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, pain medications, etc.. the usual. My MRI showed 3 disk bulges/herniations touching nerves, so that is what I believe it to be....that is until I read Dr. Sarno and found this site.

I encourage you to really get involved, follow the instructions, do the journaling, take time to read all the suggested readings, and watch the videos. I'd say I'm 95% cured. There is still some very light lingering "annoyance", but I still have some work to do. I've been walking miles with hardly any pain these last few weeks. But even more, if the pain comes on now, it just doesn't bother me like it used to, I sorta just see it, acknowledge it, and go about my business. It took working the program to get to that point, but 6 weeks compared to 6 months is nothing! I made more progress in the first week than I did from two months of PT!!! It's going to challenge you and your "beliefs" in medicine, but you have nothing to lose. We generally wind up here when all else fails.

So give it a shot, especially before considering anything invasive like surgery. If you put the work in, you will get better. Have you read Dr. Sarno yet? I assume you have since you're here, but in case you haven't, definitely readHealing Back Pain. Again, it will challenge everything you've believed about your pain, and backs in general. You'll be encouraged to resume life as normal, i.e. stop ALL "therapies" (PT, chiro, etc.), stop taking medications, and most importantly, stop thinking STRUCTURAL problems are the cause of your pain and shift to psychological as the reason.....again, this can be difficult and takes some time to sink in, so be patient and kind to yourself.

It was a process for me. A few of the bigger moves in my case were: I ripped up and threw out my MRI test results (I found myself obsessively reading over them and comparing them to other results I could find on the web and even here on the TMSwiki site...); I got back to the gym and stopped using a weight belt; and I even cancelled an appointment I had made with aTMS doctorbecause it was more than a month away and it was hindering my recovery (that is, my 100% belief in TMS was lagging because I had this pending appointment, but as soon as I cancelled it, my recovery sped up significantly). Everyone's journey is unique to their situation, but I've found that really committing to the program and brining what I learn from it into my daily life has had profound results. Also, sharing along the way here in these forums has been extremely helpful - there's something about knowing that you're not alone in your TMS recovery that really helps. I encourage you to look through my past posts for some insight into my experience with SEP. Like I said, I'm just now finishing, tomorrow is my final day, and I feel like a changed person. It's amazing. And I feel as though it is something that one carries on with, not just like a one time 6 week thing and that's that...it has helped me to get to know myself and taught me tools to "deal" with my emotions. Learning and accepting TMS is a life changer for sure.

 

Thanks, Walt. After a great day yesterday, feeling a little down today as I'm experiencing a little more pain in my right leg. However, it's not in the usual spot so just lends more credence to the TMS diagnosis! I appreciate the inclusion of Kevin's story. Lots of people are finding relief and I know I'll be one of them. Barry

 

Hi! I'm 6 days in...same symptoms and I can tell you the best favour you can do got yourself is believe the diagnosis. I have seen incredible things in the last 6 days that I never thought I would see or do ever again. It helped me to start a list of things that proved had tms. When I get down I look at it and remind myself all those things and all the things I already have accomplished.

Say positive. You can do this.

 

Hi bollib1,
Welcome to this wonderful community of support. I was headed for surgery, and found Dr. Sarno, and got my life back. Good luck in the SEP journey.
Andy B.