Day 1 The nagging doubt holding me back

Hey everyone,

I've suffered with constant back pain for last 2.5 months, which I appreciate is a short time around here, but it's been very unpleasant all the same.

It started in my lower back and got really bad after a long drive. I assumed the cause was a combo of my terrible posture, 6 month old baby and increased weightlifting.

It usually gets worse through the day - I pretty much always feel pain on my lower spine but also it randomly pops up elsewhere on my back, and on my shoulders, neck, even my chest.

After reading Sarno (and this incredible website) I believe in TMS, and am committing to the program. I've even suffered from what I believe are psychosomatic illnesses before (intense itchy skin when stressed, IBS, tinnitus).

BUT I have this one nagging doubt. Before I discovered TMS, I read Stuart McGill's book, which focuses on physical causes - spine hygiene and posture etc. It's in direct conflict with Sarno.

And as committed as I am to TMS in my conscious mind, I find it hard to fully shake the question: considering I've only had 2.5 months of pain, am I sure that my lower back isn't still physically injured?

This doubt is holding me back from fully embracing the TMS diagnosis which I know I need to do to recover. I have an MRI in a few days and I even have an appointment with a McGill master clinician booked in four weeks. I'd be v reluctant to cancel it because the wait is so long for an appointment.

I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that any injury I got 2.5 months would have healed by now and therefore it must be TMS... can anyone provide it?

Thanks!

 

I think the biggest mistake often cited is that you have to believe it's TMS.
I don't think this is the case. If you think it's possible that its TMS, that is enough.
Once you do the work and the pain goes away, you'll believe!

Believe that it is a possibility. Switch your focus from your symptoms to your emotions. Write out all the things that you are angry about that you have no idea that you are angry about. Go live your life. Rinse and repeat. Every day for awhile.
Don't think about the pain during this process - as in -- don't check or ask yourself "is it working?"
Just do.
The pain ends up going away when you least expect it.

Enjoy the journey!
It's a marvel to see all the weird muck hidden inside.

 

Thank you so much that’s even better to hear than what I was hoping for. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Off I go!

 

That’s a v good question Jan and of course the answer is: I don’t know I’m injured. I just have pain.

What I do know is I just went for a 7km run and have less pain than I did before! Which I’m not sure would happen if I had a back injury.

thank you for asking that question: v thought provoking. I’m on to day 3 of structured program today.

im going to do the mri. I’ve got no faith in it as a way to diagnose my pain but obviously I want to check there’s no serious disease.

we’ll see about the McGill clinician…

thank you again

 

Personally I wouldn't get the MRI because -- why?
A few months of back pain after: " terrible posture, 6 month old baby and increased weightlifting."
Seems pretty darn normal to me!!

For me if I was in your shoes I'd focus on writing stuff down and getting any unacknowledged emotions out.
A six month baby must cause all kinds of inner hidden turmoil, among the joy of the sweet baby.

 

Doesn’t Dr Sarno recommend getting one to check there’s nothing sinister at work?

Am doing lots of journaling- really enjoying it!

 

I don't know what Dr. Sarno recommends but MRIs are fairly new. I'm not a doctor but for back pain unless someone is having serious complications and other symptoms that would point to something dangerous then I don't think they make sense, except for being able to BILL the insurance company for big bucks.

 

Just to update you guys, I cancelled the mri and the McGill specialist!

had an amazing few days where the pain was right down and almost gone and then a bit of a recurrence but just going to focus on the program.

 

*clap *clap *clap

That must feel good!

 

I just read the whole thread. Good call.

...and being a parent of a young child is one of the most common profiles of TMS sufferers... My 'injury' (sic) happened right after my second son was born and I became sole bread winner in the family. After the 'posture/surgery/core' people failed me I read the book over and over, did what it said and have enjoyed years of bad posture and terrible habits pain free. I'm sure you will too.

 

@Booble, I’m putting this on my fridge.

 

Oh, how I love this and look forward to this!

 

haha....we all need that reminder -- myself included.