Hi all,
I have a question please with regard to the concept of Conditioning regarding my RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) which affects my arms typically and hence limits my computer use. In summary, previously this year (before I had read The MindBody Prescription and learnt that my symptoms are likely to be TMS), I had some pretty full-on physical therapy for a long period of time. At the end of the physical therapy, the physical therapist said that my body was 'now in very healthy shape' and that I just need to 'build up my resilience at the computer' and 'let my autonomic nervous system adjust over time'. My physical therapist and I deduced that 20 minutes using the computer is a good (i.e. safe) amount of time (for the time being) and that I should then take a 10 minute break before resuming computer use for another 20 minutes.
The thing is, when I try to work for more than 20 minutes and hence ignore the pain whilst using the computer (as per Dr Sarno's TMS rule: 'I will not be concerned or intimidated by the pain') which typically starts creeping up at the around the 20 minute mark, the pain just gets worse and worse (almost exponentially!) over the next 10 minutes or so and then it just spirals out of control which then leads me to be in pain for sometimes a good few days before I can use the computer at all again! It really freaks me out!
I know that to me, the above sounds like conditioning i.e. I've been conditioned to feel more pain after 20 minutes at the computer but could someone please, please clarify if this is indeed what is likely to be going on in my scenario? Could someone please point me in the right direction of what I need to do to be able to spend longer at the computer without feeling pain? It's hard for me to understand whether I'm dealing with just repressed emotions, conditioning... or both.
Grateful for your views please.
Many thanks indeed!
Paul.
I have a question please with regard to the concept of Conditioning regarding my RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) which affects my arms typically and hence limits my computer use. In summary, previously this year (before I had read The MindBody Prescription and learnt that my symptoms are likely to be TMS), I had some pretty full-on physical therapy for a long period of time. At the end of the physical therapy, the physical therapist said that my body was 'now in very healthy shape' and that I just need to 'build up my resilience at the computer' and 'let my autonomic nervous system adjust over time'. My physical therapist and I deduced that 20 minutes using the computer is a good (i.e. safe) amount of time (for the time being) and that I should then take a 10 minute break before resuming computer use for another 20 minutes.
The thing is, when I try to work for more than 20 minutes and hence ignore the pain whilst using the computer (as per Dr Sarno's TMS rule: 'I will not be concerned or intimidated by the pain') which typically starts creeping up at the around the 20 minute mark, the pain just gets worse and worse (almost exponentially!) over the next 10 minutes or so and then it just spirals out of control which then leads me to be in pain for sometimes a good few days before I can use the computer at all again! It really freaks me out!
I know that to me, the above sounds like conditioning i.e. I've been conditioned to feel more pain after 20 minutes at the computer but could someone please, please clarify if this is indeed what is likely to be going on in my scenario? Could someone please point me in the right direction of what I need to do to be able to spend longer at the computer without feeling pain? It's hard for me to understand whether I'm dealing with just repressed emotions, conditioning... or both.
Grateful for your views please.
Many thanks indeed!
Paul.
