Can I really have TMS pain while sleeping?

[Jak]

I’m new and still trying to navigate this website and TMS/MBS. I’m standing in front of a fire hydrant right now trying to pick one thing to learn from instead of the 25 different programs and a multitude of authors and books. I haven’t seen this discussed anywhere but I have chronic lower back pain. I sleep on my sides and back but always a pillow under my knees if I’m on my back. If my pillow flattens and I’m laying too flat I wake myself and my husband because I’m moaning in my sleep. I can’t say that I notice actual pain in that moment but can TMS be active even while sleeping? Tia!

 

[Steve2]

Dr John Sarno who started the TMS diagnosis, and has written several books on the subject, wrote his first book called Healing Back Pain. So, it is the most common type of pain which TMS causes, back pain. He named the book after it, that is how common the pain of tms is with backs.
That is not the only area that Tension Myositis causes pain in. The tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves are areas that TMS wreeks havoc.
There are many many resources found on this website. There are two free programs that are offered on here as well. The Multimedian Pain Recovery Program and another program Structured Educational Program. I have done both of them and they have helped me greatly. Good luck to you.
Also, we have a chat session every Saturday at 3pm found on this site. It is a chat, like texting. It is open to anyone interested in learning more about TMS.

 

[Baseball65]

can TMS be active even while sleeping?

Oh yes ma'am.I just got over a nasty relapse bout and it ONLY bugged me when I tried to relax and go to sleep..and it woke me up multiple times a night.
I could work at heavy labor all day with only a little weakness in my hip, but as soon as I grabbed a book and went to bed it spasmed/ached/burned...
It was frsutrating because Years of beating this has taught me the quickest way out of this is Sarno's instuctions on Page 77 of "Healing Back Pain"...that is to turn your mind to a recurrent source of irritation..
"But I just want to relax and read a book and forget about my problems"!!!!

Well, I beat it again. I just kept focusing on what I was angry about that wasn't getting through. Took about two weeks of sitting through that exercise on pg 77 as much as I could bear instead of reading (which is my escapism)

 

[Jak]

Oh yes ma'am.I just got over a nasty relapse bout and it ONLY bugged me when I tried to relax and go to sleep..and it woke me up multiple times a night.
I could work at heavy labor all day with only a little weakness in my hip, but as soon as I grabbed a book and went to bed it spasmed/ached/burned...
It was frsutrating because Years of beating this has taught me the quickest way out of this is Sarno's instuctions on Page 77 of "Healing Back Pain"...that is to turn your mind to a recurrent source of irritation..
"But I just want to relax and read a book and forget about my problems"!!!!

Well, I beat it again. I just kept focusing on what I was angry about that wasn't getting through. Took about two weeks of sitting through that exercise on pg 77 as much as I could bear instead of reading (which is my escapism)

 

[Jak]

Wow!! Ok. I wasn'tl expecting that but I'm actually really relieved to hear it. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to answer and with the exact page numbers you are referring to. Truly fascinating!

 

[Jak]

Oh yes ma'am.I just got over a nasty relapse bout and it ONLY bugged me when I tried to relax and go to sleep..and it woke me up multiple times a night.
I could work at heavy labor all day with only a little weakness in my hip, but as soon as I grabbed a book and went to bed it spasmed/ached/burned...
It was frsutrating because Years of beating this has taught me the quickest way out of this is Sarno's instuctions on Page 77 of "Healing Back Pain"...that is to turn your mind to a recurrent source of irritation..
"But I just want to relax and read a book and forget about my problems"!!!!

Well, I beat it again. I just kept focusing on what I was angry about that wasn't getting through. Took about two weeks of sitting through that exercise on pg 77 as much as I could bear instead of reading (which is my escapism)

I'm only 8 days old to TMS and ordered some real books, some on Kindle and a few audiobooks. I prefer tactile books but the print is often too small. Sarno's 'Healing Back Pain' soft cover just arrived yesterday. I'm walking around with my head spinning but I see Hope. I hardly even recognized it. Thx again.

 

[Baseball65]

'Healing Back Pain'

Welcome. There was no forum (or internet for me)when I first got better.('99) I won't bore you with my story (it's posted around here somewhere) but of all of the TMS literature I have read, "Healing back Pain" was the most profound and explained it the simplest....layed out:
1.Problem
2. Most common diagnoses and why they are wrong
3. solution

I have read Sarno's other books and though they are interesting and helpful, they aren't written as compactly...."Mindbody Prescription" is probably my second favorite, though the 'solution' doesn't begin until the last chapter. It is very detailed in instructions there and the 'therapy' that he passes on via a Mr. Jim Campobello is nigh identical to what I did to get better.

There have been a lot of newer writers on this.. a lot of "learning to forgive yourself" and "self love" and so forth...things Sarno never even touched on. Maybe that works for some people. I was a working class Dad in my salad days and I was holding a lot of ANGER that I wasn't aware of. As I became aware of it (the anger) and realized the pain was there to camouflage it, I reconditioned myself and got rid of it 110%... I always add the extra 10% because now I no longer feared a variety of normal activities...like sleeping, sitting in car seats, the 'correct way to lift' and so forth.

I hardly even recognized it.

None of us did. We all were taught and believed we suffered from 'structural damage' and as we challenge that belief, the pain went away.
I still recommend "Healing back Pain" to anybody who asks. Not a sentimental thing. Just clarity

peace

 

[Ellen]

I also found the audio book version of Healing Back Pain very helpful. Dr. Sarno reads it himself, and there is something both reassuring and authoritative about his voice. I listened to it over and over, and especially when I woke up in the middle of the night.

 

[Tomi]

Wow!! Ok. I wasn'tl expecting that but I'm actually really relieved to hear it. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to answer and with the exact page numbers you are referring to. Truly fascinating!

Hi Jak, it's been awhile since you posted, but in case it's still helpful you can find Dr Sarno's reference to pain at night on p. 26 of Healing Back Pain. He explains it as a conditioned reaction. I have the same issue, which is improving very gradually in a non-linear way (it has taken years). I have come across many others who have pain at night too on various mindbody FB forums. Hopefully you are making progress by now or don't need this advice any longer.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

I just told my story in another thread about how I eliminated my night guard (prevents damage to teeth from clenching and grinding) by engaging in pre-sleep meditation and visualization for a few days - years ago. I've never put this into words but I think we might all agree that night guards exist because of nighttime TMS tension!

 

[Baseball65]

I just had a funny thought...think how long we have heard about night guards and other expensive 'solutions' to the problem.(MY first GF had one way back in the 80's)
Has anybody here EVER heard a Dentist say "We need to find out WHY you are grinding your teeth" ????

Also...that really expensive Night Guard looks awfully similar to the very inexpensive mouth piece we all had to buy for High School football. I think they came in two packs for less than 10 bucks.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

Indeed, I recall my dentist said that one of those OTC sports ones would do the job. But I have to say the custom one was way more comfortable. It's in the bottom of a drawer but probably wouldn't fit anymore. He was very much on board with the mindbody connection in general and the stress-TMJ link in particular, so he was pleased that I'd been able to do that.

 

[Mr Hip Guy]

I remember an ex-girlfriend from college whose mother used a nightguard and had a TMJ diagnosis. She was a wonderfully sweet woman, but in looking back I also recognize the classic goodist personality that Sarno talked about. Shocking I know, but she also had a host of other chronic ailments she was dealing with on a daily basis.