Thoughts Welcomed

I'm trying to figure this out and would love some opinions.

Two days ago I had what I think was a real TMS breakthrough moment. I got a lower back spasm and literally told myself clearly that I knew nothing was wrong with my back and that it was caused by a stressful situation. I worked to fix something in pain, exercised in pain, went on an errand and it was gone. Today I took a strenuous Private Pilates session with my teacher and No lower back pain....yet the tension in my neck and mid trapezoid still linger..not pain but tension...so where am I going with this....maybe I'm not as convinced there isn't a physical element? Severe degeneration, a history of neck tension...could this be my stumbling block? Or is it merely my conditioned body response that has yet to heal?

 

Not a single thought or opinion?!

 

Hi, I'm pretty new to this but I think it just takes time. My brain is really playing tricks on me this week. I won't give in to the migraine this week and it started with wheezing, then, lower back pain, then irregular period.
Also, I wouldn't let it win and go home from work even though I really, really, really wanted to and the next day I forgot my lap top at home and had to leave. I couldn't help but think it was my unconscious because I've never left it at home in 10 years.
I think it's tough because we all have so much chronic pain and our bodies are so used to it. On the SEP they just keep saying to be persistent. I think the fact that you ignored your back spasm was a huge victory. If you keep doing that there is no way your brain has a chance with manifesting pain anymore. Good luck!

 

You accepted TMS and understand symptoms and their effect or non effect. Just my opinion because this is what I work on.
Just relax and don't analyze you're doing great. Stop monitoring , just keep tabs. Steve O and Dr Shubiner both have told me to increase relaxation,laughing and letting go. I meditate and keep aware of when I start to ruminate. You're are tensing yourself wondering why you are tense. Keep smiling!

 

@Ines yes the back spasm was quite something...now to believe as strongly about my neck. Don't forget your laptop!
@intense50 laughing is good for the soul, you were given good advise by top people! And yes I'm tensing thinking of tensing!

 

Hi Susan.
Congrats on your breakthrough! That's huge!
I find that even if I develop a structural issue, my TMS kicks in and prolongs the pain from it. So now, I try to see most things as TMS, until I find evidence to the contrary.
Sarno tells us that we don't always have to know the reason behind things in order to heal. Just go through the steps. Sometimes my analytical self wants to determine just what's causing the pain--but that's not necessary in order to become pain-free.
Hope this helps.

 

Thank you always @Gigi for your continued support
I hope you have a lovely Holiday weekend

 

The tension in my neck and shoulders was the last pain area to leave and is the first to return if I'm having a relapse. Just hang in there and keep doing what you're doing. Each of us is different in how our symptoms leave. It's probably a sign that you are still tensing, so there are still things to let go of. I think for me some of it was habit. It just became how I held myself. But I was eventually able to let it go. Hang in there.

 

Susan, I am struggling with exactly the same problem. I can chase pain or migraine away with high rate of success. My sticky issue is muscle/tendon tension - I just posted my question on the forum http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/need-advice-muscle-tightness.12635/ (Need advice - muscle tightness). It is getting better, but very, very, very slowly, with almost weekly setbacks, one big step forward - two small steps back. It seems to be tied to the levels of anxiety and insomnia, but not directly. I think that muscle tension is a more natural reaction of the body to stress than pain and therefore less noticeable as abnormality, so it becomes more of a second nature. I used to always have tight muscles in my neck and shoulders as long as I remember myself and thought it was just how my body was built. Acupuncture back in January cleared my shoulders - and hands became tight and started getting worse and worse rapidly. Now that I am working on my hands and wrists, my muscle tightness pops up at random in my neck, shoulders, knees, ankles, elbows, arms - all the time.

I am 100% clear and certain that my erratic symptoms are coming from my brain - but it does not help with tightness. I am trying whatever techniques I can think of - until I find the right one.

 

@TG957 I think you're on to something regarding muscle tension as yes it is quite different from pain and a reaction to stress and situations. I'm sure I still have things to let go...I'm working on allowing and easing up on myself. I question whether I'm as convinced about my neck as I was my lower back. You seem to be 100..here lies my quandry.

I've tried acupuncture although I believe in the practice it's yet to help. My close friend is an acupuncturist perhaps I need to discuss some sessions with her.
I will read your question and thread.
Thank you for taking the time to respond..
I wish you less tension and ease.

 

Susan, I had acupuncture in my pre-Sarno days. It did help somewhat but not really. I stopped acupuncture sessions as soon as I was sold on Sarno - and glad I did since I was able not only to stop the decline but also started seeing some small improvements.

I have had some training in acupressure (which is based on the same theory as acupuncture) and I am a believer in Chinese medicine over Western medicine when it comes to chronic illness, mainly because it does not partition a patient between specialists in body parts and because it does not split mental health into a different discipline. It is based on mindbody concept to a large degree, but I don't think it offers a mechanism equivalent to Sarno's method, at least one that I know of. Qi gong (also part of Chinese medicine practice based on the same theory as acupuncture) helps me both as a meditation practice and a physical exercise but my main focus is still on unconscious. The only acupuncturist that I would give a consideration at this point is Leon Hammer, MD, a psychiatrist who converted to Chinese medicine (Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies: Psychology & Chinese Medicine is his most known book), but mainly to seek his view on the psychology of Chinese medicine.

In order to convince yourself, start writing down your evidence list as recommended by TMS Recovery Program.

Good luck with your recovery. Let's stay in touch.

 

Resentment is the key to all our pain once we give it up and stop being mad at our pain it will slowly leave

 

Marco I read your other post that included an excerpt about resentment. I have a lot of resentment about multiple things. What did you do? Did you buy his book, or did you just read everything on the website? I don't know how to give up some of the resentment I feel. I feel like my pelvic issues have ruined my life.

 

Hey Marco yes I do and it's something i hadn't given much thought to until reading your comment...I've used many other descriptions but not resentment!

 

You know what @TG957 when it comes to my neck I don't think I'm convinced. My one evidence is belief in a TMS Dr who examined me and saw my xray...speaking to myself out loud I went to see him for a definitive diagnosis which he indeed gave me as TMS, now to fully believe.
Thank you for the evidence reminder.
Yes let's stay in touch.

 

Its what makes the most sense to me .....ROY MASTERS as had a big significance in my healing in such a short time...give him a listen or you tube him...or goto fnu.com

 

Thank you @Boston Redsox I will do that! So glad you're doing better.