Degenerative disc disease

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Ismail.2025

Newcomer
Hi all I been diagnosed with Degenerative disc disease about a year ago, I get back spasm occasionally over the last four months it's been getting worse where I've had more frequent back spasms.
I have been to physio and they gave me exercises to do which I have done but my problem is I still fear that pain of back spasm to the point where I could only sit on certain chairs, and I have not sat on my comfortable leather sofas for about one year.
I came across the book on TMS by Dr sarno and it got me very interested there was one time the first time I went to physio or rather should I say I went to a Cairo practitioner if I told him I'm getting back spasms and the first thing that he said to me to stop thinking about it he done the massage and he done other various things. I came home I stopped thinking that I'm going to get a back spasm and remarkably for the whole like week I did not get no back spasm, when I did get the back spasm I did not fear it just like he told me but after some time it comes and goes the pain but after some time the back spasm came again
I started to fear again doing certain movements so I just take painkillers every day but I don't have a lot of pain, I just take the painkillers in case I get pain because of the fear of the pain and the pain is not that bad I don't have any pain that goes to my leg only just above my buttocks that is where the pain is the lower back and the pain is for two seconds.
 
Ismail.2025 said:
I started to fear again doing certain movements so I just take painkillers every day but I don't have a lot of pain, I just take the painkillers in case I get pain because of the fear of the pain and the pain is not that bad I don't have any pain that goes to my leg only just above my buttocks that is where the pain is the lower back and the pain is for two seconds.
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want to emphasize this. This is something you’re really going to have to work on, because this fear is just going to perpetuate your situation. If you’re not in pain then what is the point of the pain killers? If you believe you have TMS and you aren’t in pain, what message is taking pain killers conveying to your brain. there is nothing wrong with taking meds to get through rough patches and pain. But they should be used out of inner kindness and because you need a little help to get through this early stage. But you’re taking them solely out of imagined fear of some awfulness that isn’t guaranteed to come.

What is your TMS knowledge like? How strong is your belief that what you have is TMS?
 
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Thank you for your reply I believe after reading about Tension Myositis Syndrome, I believe I have that very much.
I had a very bad childhood with physical abusive from my father from the age of 6 to the age of 17 where I ran away from home never to come back again the trauma of that carried till adulthood of cause now I'm married with 3 kids i have a much happier life.
The childhood experiences I had has taken away a lot of confidence away from me and when I went to the chiropractitioner and told him i fear getting back spasm a lot the first thing he said stop thinking that i will get it and don't fear it and for 3 weeks I did not fear it and nothing happened so I must have TMS I believe which can be hopefully fully cured over time
 
Okay, that's helpful to know, @Ismail.2025. And, welcome!

There's a free self-assessment test you can take for what Dr Sarno called TMS, although other terms are being used now - but they are all the same thing. The worldwide professional group for mindbody practitioners (doctors, psychotherapists, physical/physio therapists, coaches, etc) is currently known as the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (previously the PPDA) and their quick test is at https://www.symptomatic.me/quiz

The importance of your family background is addressed in another quick self-assessment test which you can learn about in this forum post: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/aces-quiz-online-printable-versions.27061 It's really helpful to put your childhood experiences into a therapeutic framework as you begin this work.

I highly recommend that you spend a little bit of time, several days a week if you can (it sounds like you have a busy life with a young family!) with our free Structured Educational Program which is on the main TMSWiki.org. Be sure to read the introductory material and the guidance for getting the most out of it. There's no rush to get it done, in fact, the slower the better so the information can sink in.

And, we are here to answer questions and support you. Good luck!
 
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