Day 3 Day 3: physical activity (gym/golf/tennis)

Yesterday evening was the first time in forever that I went to the gym and had a basic workout without the main focus of the workout being back strengthening or mobility (even though some of it was - just because I think those exercises are good in general) it made me feel good to have this kind of exercise and I actually felt like I got something out of it mentally, to pump some weight.


Still I am having a bit of a hard time deciding that I am ready to go for a tennis session or most importantly for me go play golf. Feels like I should not be doing those things as I feel fatigued and fragile in my back.


Any thought, encouragement and experience is well appreciated.

 

You can always just hit a tennis ball against a wall or do some practice swings in your house. You don’t have to jump in the deep end right away. Everyone’s different and some can right away totally resume their activities/outlets, some people break it into steps. The only wrong thing to do is to panic if there is an increase in symptoms during the activity. Just stay calm and treat yourself well!

 

I would counsel baby steps. This is a marathon and most people dont just go back to doing everything they used to right after reading a book

 

Are you doing so out of desperation/frustration or are you coming at it from the assured and logical place of "well I know there's nothing wrong with me, so why not'? Given your comments about the fragility of your back, maybe it's the former, but it depends on your belief and your assurance that your back is fine (despite the feelings and sensations).

Some people are genuinely ready to rip the band-aid off and just need someone else to tick it off for them (I was like this), whilst some want to do so out of impatience and because they just want it all to be over. Let me know which resonates more - it all comes back to the strength of your evidence and in turn belief that your back is fine

 

I am more and more convinced each day that my lower back pain and upper back and tension headaches are due to TMS but I am not at that point my body beliefs me I think and also since I am a bit toast in the low back after the last few days of more “normal” activity. But maybe it is as you said I need to just take one step at a time. Go to the gym a few sessions, swing some golf swings on the weekend and hit a tennis ball against a wall to start with to gain some confidence.

 

Just to clarify, your body is fine and it's not the body that needs to believe you, it's your brain - as assuming it's TMS, it's coming from the brain. It's being felt in the body, but your back is no different to someone's back with no pain. This reframe should help your confidence in your body