1. Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
    Dismiss Notice

Trigeminal Neuralgia Relief via Dr. Sarno

Discussion in 'Support Subforum' started by candysworld, Dec 16, 2018.

  1. candysworld

    candysworld New Member

    I began following Dr. Sarno's treatment plan by myself for trigeminal neuralgia symptoms of pain & numbness on the right side of my face, nose, lips and teeth. I re-read the Mindbody book. The numbness is severe at times, but intermittent. MRI showed some sinusitis. Going for CT scan just to rule out nerve damage.
    I'm journaling & self-talking every day, for about 3 days now, but it's not helping. I'm keeping track of the onset of numbness. I actually yell at my brain to stop the numbness! I've made lists of all issues in my past & present that may be contributing to the symptoms. I think I'm fairly self-aware of my psychology problems, as I've been in therapy numerous times in my life.
    Why am I not getting any results? Why am I still experiencing symptoms? What more should I do?
     
  2. Roxygirl577

    Roxygirl577 Peer Supporter

    I suffered from Trigeminal Neuraligia for around 2 years. At it's worst point I had around 20-30 episodes a day, I couldn't eat, let wind, water, clothing, etc touch my face. I know it was definitely a TMS symptom. The only thing that worked was when I stopped fearing it. I know it's easier said than done, but i finally gave up I guess. I said, fine you win, and let it happen and stopped caring. It went away in about a week. I have only had about 5 episodes since and that was 3 years ago.
     
    Aria, Lola111 and candysworld like this.
  3. Andy Bayliss

    Andy Bayliss TMS Coach & Beloved Grand Eagle

    Hi candysworld,

    Welcome to the Forum and Wiki. Roxygirl577's post sounds very encouraging. What will be helpful is if you imagine this is you and read it every day. What you're hearing is that there is no reason why you can't have the same experience, and have symptoms resolve.

    We recommend the free programs at the Wiki, including the Structured Education Program. This gives long-term support, and you can post your responses/reflections as you go through the prompts.

    I suggest patience, perseverance, and self-understanding.

    Andy B
     
    candysworld and Roxygirl577 like this.
  4. candysworld

    candysworld New Member

    Thanks for your encouragement! But what do you mean about stop fearing it? I'm not sure how to do that. When I feel symptoms, I try to ignore them, or tell my brain I know it's TMS. But that doesn't work. I'm thinking of seeing a TMS therapist to help me. I've been following Dr. Sarno's treatment.
     
  5. Roxygirl577

    Roxygirl577 Peer Supporter

    I really had to think about how to explain the 'no fear' thing. The only way I can describe it, is by a complete change in mindset. Ignoring the pain, or the episodes, never worked for me. That actually never worked for any of my TMS symptoms, although I do know they work for others, but I had to find a different way that worked for me. In fact, it wasn't even something I did on purpose...I was going through a major life crises at the time and I guess at some point I just said, you know what? I don't even care anymore. I accepted that this was a part of me now, and that there was nothing I could do about it, so I just stopped caring. I didn't try to ignore it, or get mad at it. I just accepted that it was there, even if that meant forever, and I just let it be. I didn't even expect it to go away. But it did.

    ...Looking back, I'm amazed it worked, but at the same time, it reminded me of meditation, and I understood it a lot better through this analogy. During meditation, people complain that they can't clear their minds..they try to ignore the thoughts and that usually doesn't work. So then they get frustrated, or even angry that the thoughts won't go away...well that usually never works. But they teach us to just let the thoughts happen, just let them be there and don't judge them. Watch them come and go...and eventually they subside. It also reminds me of a book years ago, I can't remember the name right now, but I believe it was by Louise Hay, where she said that all sensations, especially pain, is just trying to send us a message. If we listen to it and let it have a voice, then it will give us that message and not have a reason to be there anymore. Again, I know this won't work for everyone, but it seemed to be the best way for me. Acceptance.
     
    Aria and readytoheal like this.
  6. Roxygirl577

    Roxygirl577 Peer Supporter

    I also agree with Andy B, that you should try the structured education program on this site, it is an excellent tool.
     
    candysworld likes this.
  7. Andy Bayliss

    Andy Bayliss TMS Coach & Beloved Grand Eagle

    Thank you Roxygirl 577 for such natural expression of this truth for you. I hope you might put this quote up under its own thread and get some other responses. Something like "How I quit worrying about symptoms" or other. Very well said. I really hope many people read this.
    Andy B

     
    Roxygirl577 and candysworld like this.
  8. candysworld

    candysworld New Member

    I'll be fine all day, and then I'm watching tv at night, and onset of symptoms start up. So how does acceptance relieve the onset of pain and numbness?
    I'm still not understanding.
     
  9. Roxygirl577

    Roxygirl577 Peer Supporter

    Thank you Andy, I appreciate that. i will do that soon :)
     
  10. Roxygirl577

    Roxygirl577 Peer Supporter

    Acceptance is not going to relieve the pain right away, it's a process; but when you have the pain you just need to accept that it is there at the time and not fight it. Self love and care are most important during this time.
     
    candysworld likes this.
  11. Lola111

    Lola111 Newcomer

    Thank you both for sharing. I'm just learning about TMS and hope for Trigeminal Neuralgia suffer's, that fear that you mentioned about washing face, touching the face, wind blowing, taking a shower, talking, eating is one of the most scaring feelings. Anything that could possibly be in contact with the face is overwhelming. I'm glad someone pointed to me about this forum. I need to read about success stories and support in this subject.
     
    Aria likes this.
  12. Andy Bayliss

    Andy Bayliss TMS Coach & Beloved Grand Eagle

    Welcome Lola111,

    I encourage you to make an introductory post with its own title if you like, telling why you are here. We highly recommend the Structured Education Program at the Wiki as a free program to investigate and undo your symptoms. Good luck in the process, and take hope. Being afraid of symptoms is part of what perpetuates them. It serves a great distraction according to Dr. Sarno, or as Alan Gordon suggests, staying afraid helps us feel safe because a state of alarm helps protect us, or may have in the past. In any case we are enthralled with fear!

    Reading any success story, and substituting your "condition" for the one being discussed is powerful. TMS is TMS, and it goes by a thousand names and symptoms. Trigeminal neuralgia is one of them. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, Tarsal Tunnel and could hardly walk for years. Many physicians suggested surgery. Now I ski and climb mountains. Have courage.

    Andy
     
    Aria likes this.
  13. Patrisia

    Patrisia Peer Supporter

    Hi @Lola111 !

    Welcome! I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia last summer and was recommended medication and surgery (MRI showed the artery touching the nerve). I stopped medication (it was not even helping) and went on the TMS journey. I also never got the surgery. It took me 5 months to get rid of my original pain. I am now dealing with crazy symptom imperative but that's nothing compared to the feeling of helplessness when I was diagnosed and the fact that doctors could not help me. I thought my life was ending and I was suicidal (hence why they call it the Suicide Disease). I had to quit my job and spent a lot of money at the dentists/neurologists. My true answer came in the form of this forum, Sarno's book (which helped me before when I was going through years of back pain), Dr. Hanscom's book and @plum!!

    Either way, ask away! We are here to help and rest assured that TN is indeed treatable (both TN1 and TN2) :)
     
    Aria, paula58, plum and 1 other person like this.
  14. Klimentis

    Klimentis Newcomer

    Hello there,

    Im a new member. Sorry form my english, Im from Bcn. I began with syntoms of TN 4 months ago, coming with a severe neck pain period with TMJ.

    I overcomed CFS 2 years ago following Sarno’s techniques and I’m absolutelly free from synthoms of that.

    So Im looking for some success storys of TN relief; I think (for my experience in pain syndromes) that TN is a SMT syntom, basically because my Neurologue told me it could come for a “stressfull period”, and that as more relaxed I was, more quickly it would disapear. Is not easy and the pain in intense but Im not taking any pill. Also in George Orfield “the chronic pain” book, she mentions it in the list of TMS syntoms.

    I’m the kind of person propense of getting “pshycosomathic syntoms” and so I never get “incurable illnesses”. So I think this time is not different.

    Although, I would like to have the opinion of an specialist and other members what they think about this pain and read some successful stories. This will help us a lot.

    Hughs,
    Klimentis
     
  15. paula58

    paula58 New Member

    Hi there, it is great to find a thread on TN. I have a question and would be grateful for advice. I am just at the point of weaning myself off meds which I did successfully a coupla months ago but symptoms returned within three weeks and I started taking drugs as I was finding it impossible to eat or speak. i was aware of being very very afraid of the pain even tho i know it is tms. My question is this, the fear is made worse because I believe that i cannot avoid it by not eating for a day ir two or sticking to soup or something that doesnt require chewing because then I would be confirming to my brain that there is some danger. I then feel in a huge double bind and it is this bind that sent me back to the medication. It has only been a short period and I am nearly off them again but I can feel myself gearing up for pain which I know only makes everything worse. I can,t stand being out with a friend and having to stop what I am saying while a spasm passes through. It is only when I speak, brush teeth and eat that it kicks off, its not sensitive to touch or wind tho it has been in the past.
     
  16. Klimentis

    Klimentis Newcomer

    Hi Paula, I don’t think you are “failling” for having drugs now if you need them this time. I think that if you are conviced of the causes of your synthoms (TMS) and you are working on it, you will stop taking drugs any day. Moreover, if you have the will to do that you will do it no mather when. Its hard to do without medication with TN as the pain is hard but I think the jey is our knowledge of this pain and that it’s curable using bodymind techniques. As for the advice, I try to do as much normal as posible, so not avoiding things like chewing etc. So I send a message to my mind that there is no dnger and no thing to avoid or fear. And if it has to come, welcome. It will not be forever. Acceptance. But I see your synthoms tend to move (to produce now for different reason and not for wind etc) which I think is a good pronostic. I guess i could help. Im on my way to heal. Love.
     
  17. Lizzy

    Lizzy Well known member

    Search for Plum and read her story and posts, she is a wonderful comfort to anyone, but her success story is recovery from TN.
     
    Klimentis likes this.
  18. Blue Oleander

    Blue Oleander Newcomer

    Hi all. I am really struggling with the concept of the Sarno system curing TN. From what I gather this is a cyclical condition, with attacks coming months or years apart. How can we know we have conquered it, and are not just in the lull between the crises? TIA for your replies
     
    RobOptimist likes this.
  19. JanAtheCPA

    JanAtheCPA Beloved Grand Eagle

    Hello @Blue Oleander, and welcome.

    The answer to your question is that you have to turn it around 180 degrees. In fact, one of the keys to doing this work is to change your entire way of thinking around - a full 180 degrees.

    TMS, in all of its many manifestations, including TN, is not an illness to be cured. Our chronic physical suffering is the result of an unconscious brain mechanism that prepares the body for fight or flight in times of danger. This mechanism needs to be managed when it is constantly being engaged and wearing out our physiological processes and structures.

    We still call this TMS in honor of Dr. Sarno, but the reality is that the manifestations go far beyond the simple muscle tension and oxygen deprivation that he theorized decades ago. The science has come a long way since then, as he acknowledged himself in his later years.

    In any case, your mind shift needs to understand that this is a very old, very primitive mechanism which exists in all human brains (and I suspect animal brains as well) and that it was designed to keep us alive in the primitive world. This was a world in which we only lived a few decades at the most, in which there were only a few tangible sources of real physical danger and stress to worry about, and in which our only job was to survive long enough to breed and raise the next generation of humans.

    It's a mechanism which worked pretty well for millenia when life and survival were simple. Unfortunately for us, it works for shit in the modern world with our long lives, constant focus on the future, and the seemingly infinite number of intangible things that we stress about all of the time. The problem is that our brains haven't caught up - these modern stressors are still interpreted by our primitive TMS brains as physical danger, but they are CONSTANT - which means we are constantly in survival mode.

    We also can't ignore the fact that our intangible modern stressors have become even more numerous and out of control in the last two decades, never mind the the last five+ years.

    So what is the 180-degree opposite of this question? What you are doing here is giving all of the power to the crises, and living in fear during the lulls.

    Your mind shift requires acknowledging and always visualizing the lulls as your norm - and being willing to know that you have the power to get back to that state, no matter how long it lasts. And, perhaps even more importantly, to accept that any crises you experience are temporary setbacks - they are not a failure to "conquer".

    Your goal is not to "conquer" TN. That will only lead to frustration. Your goal is to go far deeper, examining your emotional motivations for living in fear and anxiety, and ultimately learning to manage your personal manifestations of the TMS mechanism. It is learning to approach each setback with curiousity, and a willingness to examine, without judgement, what is going on right now. Asking yourself what are the stressors that you are (consciously or unconsciously) avoiding dealing with. It's learning to live with mindful awareness of your mental state of mind, and to accept that sometimes mindfulness will fall through the cracks, but to remember that it can be recovered, along with your equanimity.

    If you need TN-specific information, follow this advice:
    plum's story is here with lots of great resources: plum | TMS Forum (The Mindbody Syndrome) (tmswiki.org)
     
  20. Blue Oleander

    Blue Oleander Newcomer

    Thank you for taking the time to reply to me in such detail!
     

Share This Page