Are the muscles tense???

Right guys I know I keep posting loads on here but I have a question. I suffer from a chronic pressure sensation in the anus. It feels like the anal sphincter or other muscles are extremely tight. Sometimes I can feel them sort of flutter or spasm and very briefly the discomfort subsides. Mainly though it's a constant discomfort apart from when I'm asleep or drunk. I have had it for many years and have gotten over it twice but it returns after an 18 months gap. Anyway I'm rambling. I want to know are my muscles actually tight???? I have had scans and tests and all sorts and there is no actual physical cause for my pain. It's called somotaform disorder my gp says. It's definitely psychological. Anyway I spoke to someone who said maybe to go and see a pelvic therapist who specialises in that whole area. The therapist said he has seen alot of psychosomatic tension in the pelvis and he says he can help. Is this beneficial????? Surely anyway of relaxing those muscles down there is beneficial. I know alot of tmsers say to stop therapy and sort the mental side out instead but my mental side is caused by the tension and vice versa. Thanks guys.

 

You may find ways to relax the muscles temporarily, but unless you address the underlying psychological cause of the tension, it will keep coming back.

 

Pelvic therapy seems counter productive when it's tms. It's not going after the cause of emotional tension which is causing the physical tension. Have you read Dr sarno or steves books? Have you tried the SEP program on tms wiki?

 

I recommend you read a book called Teach Us to Sit Still by Tim Parks.

 

Yes I understand. Well I have made an appointment now so I may just go and check it out. Even if he shows me ways to relax that area. And I have ordered Steve o's book yesterday. Even if I go once. Surely if I know it's psychological that's a head start isn't it. My girlfriend just flipped at me for looking so depressed and glum. Maybe i need the tough love

 

And yes I know it's not fixing the main issue but surely something that can ease the problem can only be of benefit???? As long as I don't get obsessed by it.

 

It's a slippery slope because it can keep you focused on your body. The shift to focusing on psychological causes, and then on to living your life (outcome independence) is where recovery lies.

 

All I have read about levator ani syndrome is that it is caused by a subconscious tensing of the muscles. A guarding of the pelvic organs. It says it's aggravated or even caused by stress. But they say that massage can relax the muscles and there are ways to teach the patient to relax them. Yes it's psychological in cause. I fully agree that it keeps the focus on the area which is against mind body syndrome. But in the short term it may give me a little bit of relief. Or even relief knowing what exactly is going on with my body

 

Alf,

At this very moment, there are millions of people suffering from TMS. Be grateful your posterior vent is all that is happening to you.

Now Alf. How many times do you need to hear this....since you said your Doctors said you are healthy....It is up to you Alf!

You have made plain in explicit detail what the nature of your symptoms are. Congratulations Alf. Get in line.

Now Alf, seriously I am commending you for the bravery to uncloak the covert operation the dorky unconscious mind perpetrates on the body under the flag of trying to protect.

Gather yourself, because you are a man correct? If you were a woman, then I would expect even more. Women do have a lot of fortitude.

The tissue of the body when attacked by the mind, is alright, but painful. Do not worry about the tissue, nor the pain. Go do something productive, that makes you feel satisfied.

Use this time to examine your personality. This is time for growth.

 

I've got symptoms aaaaallllll over, and they change from day to day, patterns from week to week, and they fluctuate on a daily basis as well. Some days in certain weeks i'm bothered by fluttering muscles in the anal area, real real fluttering jiggery dance. it normally causes much distress, as it is one of those symptoms that pop up every once in a while for an additional scare....or rather....one of those symptoms that pop up when i'm particularly fragile and stressed or worried about something or other, which is much of the time. sometimes get the cramps too, or, i got those all my life from time to depressed time, before I knew they were TMS. Nowadays I get mostly the contractions/fluttering....along with everything else. Particularly when my girlfriend broke up with me, I had pain there, nowadays it's mainly jittery along with the entire nervous system all over. TMS FTW!!!

 

i can't consciously relax those muscles, but what I can do, is I can sit myself down in meditation for 30 minutes until I grasp the flavor of the thoughtstream/taste of consciousness running through my system, and the moment I sort of see through it I am able to stop it, and the fluttering may cease, if only for some minutes, because the flavor of the worried thoughtstream easily slips back into mind. Conscious relaxation of the mind, or those "aha! gotcha!" moments stops the contractions, momentarily. I've been thinking of doing a 10 day vipassana retreat in order to really nail the consciousness' behaviour

 

really, trying consciously to relax the area won't do it, because, as everyone says, it puts additional focus to the area. what needs to be directed focus towards is the flavor of your thoughtstream. if that flavor is nagging, laced with worry and with a touch of despair, boom, realize that consciousness has infinite potential and there are many currents of joy and bliss wafting along up there that one can rather tune in on. the moment you sit there with a big grin on your face because you realise all your needless worries...the contractions fade. only to come back when the OCD-flavored frequency yet again takes hold...because it's so ingrained....

 

It's an obsession I have. As soon as I wake up in feel the muscles contract and they stay like that until I go to bed.

 

I find amazing how the brain can cause my whole pelvic region to just lock up solid

 

It is amazing. I find it amazing how my mind could produce severe panic attacks and a sensation of pain in every muscle, tendon and joint and attachment site in my entire body, along with skipped heartbeats and illusory sounds of explosions and sirens that weren't there... hehe

 

We all just need some relief sometimes, and it is good to be kind to ourselves. Sounds like you are aware of the potential problems in seeking relief through the physical, so as long as you can keep that in mind it should be fine.

Hoping you feel better soon....

 

Thanks Ellen. I'm sure I will. It's just massively uncomfortable. Feel like I have a cannon ball inside my back passage

 

It's even a struggle to defecate I'm so tight down there

 

Alfaman, if I recall right, your pain stemmed from your marital difficulties. If it's TMS you would be better off focusing on emotional issues rather then your TMS symptom protector.

 

I'm wondering, struggling with anxiety, i find it difficult to focus on the emotional issues apart from my anxiety, as the anxiety itself seems to be my emotional issues? How does one cope with anxiety then, if it is a TMS symptom?