Date 25: Flare Up

I had been doing really good up until two days ago. I was surfing and mountain biking again and my pain felt like it was diminishing a lot . I was only getting up twice a night for about 20 minutes each, instead of 3 to 6 hours of sleep a night with level 8 pain. The past two nights have been bad again. I only slept about three hours each night, and last night the pain was back to level eight again. I've been trying to figure out where this flareup is coming from. My only guess is that the TMS doctor that I have an appointment with tomorrow, referred me to go to a physiatrist. I had the appointment with the physiatrist today. I think that I had been freaking out about going. I felt like the TMS doctor should not refer me to any specialist. I think I had fears of what the physiatrist might find. Fortunately, he had heard of Dr. Sarnos work, and didn't find anything structurally wrong with me except for normal wear and tear for someone my age, not enough that would cause the level of pain I'm in. He said that I could get a Cortizone shot if I wanted, but didn't think it would be necessary. He also said that all normal activity was fine, especially the surfing and mountain biking. Now I just have to figure out a way to get the pain to diminish again. I've been rereading over the books and TMS success stories in this forum.

 

I don't think you need to see a psychiatrist. You have been given a structurally okay diagnosis so the pains that come and go
must be TMS.
While you continue journaling to discover your emotional TMS causes, maybe do what Steve Ozanich did... he played golf despite the pain. Between that and learning he was repressing anger about his wife's botched operation, he healed from back and other pain.

TMS therapists suggest not focusing on wanting the pain to go away. They instead suggest keeping active and positive and believing totally in TMS.

You're doing great by surfing and mountain biking. Just live in the moment as you enjoy those activities. Thank the Lord you can do both, pain or no pain during or afterward.