Do I have TMS?

hello guys! i haven't read it but i will now. I wanted to know if i do apply for TMS. I have depression, stress, anxiety over my herniated l4-5 and s1. i have tried during this 7 months 6 pt, water therapy, spine specialist, chiro and even skype calls with coaches. nothing has worked. everytime i do something im scared of making it worst. right now im in no pain, but every wrong movement makes me feel the pain for hours and sciatica comes back. does this apply to my situation? im depressed and stressed because i can't do stuff that i like, but at the same time im in such little pain if i avoid everything that hurts. but i do want to go back to my original life.

 

Hi Stevow7,

We aren't doctors, so we can't diagnose you. Based on what you write, fear is a big factor in your symptoms and that is exactly what can keep those symptoms alive at the intensity that you are experiencing. TMS works that way too, so yeah, you do apply for TMS. But if everything that you suffer from is TMS should be answered either by a TMS-practicioner with a medical degree or you have to decide yourself to take the plunge. We cannot do that for you.
Read a good TMS-book by Sarno, Ozanich, Schubiner, it's up to you. Read some stories of people who have had similar experiences. Once you have gathered enough info you can start applying the techniques to recover and see if it helps. I advise you to start reading the recent posts of Alan Gordon's new program. He has wise words about fear and chronic pain and how to conquer it.

take care, hope you find relief

 

"Does it apply to me? Probably not!"

That was the doubt that was in my head when I first discovered TMS.

It can't apply to me because...

... The pain is so freaking intense.
... A doctor told me I had ____ (problematic hips, Piriformis Syndrome, an auto-immune condition...)
... Sarno says the pain can be "burning, sharp, or tingling,"... MY pain is stabbing and shooting. Must be different : )

Doubt is what keep the TMS alive.
Complete faith in a highly flawed medical system is what keeps the TMS alive.

Being willing to look inwards, face your fear, and see what's beneath. That heals so much. It certainly did for me.

Here's the thing (and yes, I can't diagnose you. I'm not a physician and we've never met). AND... If you've tried these things for 7 months and they aren't working (and they aren't because you're not hurting but your terrified of more pain coming back out of nowhere), then are their diagnosis correct? Are their treatments really effective?

I'd say dive in my friend. Pick a few TMS books (as mentioned by Gigalos) and read them or listen to them on repeat. Again and again.

In my experience, healing from TMS requires indoctrinating ourselves in a new mindset. Break out of the one we've been heavily conditioned to believe: our bodies are weak and fragile, emotions have no effect on the body, and doctors have magic potions and procedures that can heal us instantly...

Good luck!

Love,
Aziz

 

thanks a lot guys! i was wondering, when dr sarnos says to "continue physical activity" "it takes around 2-6 weeks" does he mean to do it gradually?
example if i sit down and it hurts at 5 minutes and i know its because im thinking that sitting down causes pain and realize this and tell myself that i don't have anything in my back. will it go away the first time or i need to progress? like instead of getting up in 5 minutes ill stand up in 6?

 

I feel the same way...movement causes the pain ...but what I have done is to MOVE anyway and eventually the pain becomes less. I think that creates a new neural pathway ? I am not a therapist or doctor just in the same boat as you. I feel my best at night and in the middle of the night...go figure and that is even with moving around.

 

aaaa i see! so basically you keep moving thro the pain and just think of something else?

 

That something else is the emotional/psychological dynamic, which is underlying the TMS/psychosomatic physical or affective pain. Ultimately, the goal is to be in the present, enjoying movements and emotions that create positive life distractions, rather then the need for the TMS defense mechanism for negative pain distractions from the present.

 

ok im sorry for my english, I'm trying MY BEST to understand this, because if I do im ready to face it all and follow the road to recovery (english is my second language). so to understand correctly, lets say I'm conditioned to not sit down because it causes pain. i have fear to sit down. I sit down and 5 minutes in i feal the pain in my lower back with sciatica, but it's because of fear and programmed that i was told that sitting causes pain. the ultimate goal here is to remember the 12 sentences sarnos said to remember + say the most important one, this is all tension caused by repressed emotions and not from an abnormality in my back? and that sitting down DONT cause pain, its all in my head, now i will continue typing in TMS forum because I like the people here and I want to see recommendations. or should i think of other problems that are causing me pain? like family discussions and just say "okey i had this with my family but its all better now" and just think of beautiful memories that i had with my gf?

thanks for your time and sorry for the stupid questions >.<

 

Yes

 

Those are all good questions and there is no such thing as a "stupid question". I have an appointment I have to get to and I will get back to you later--in the meantime maybe others can give you some answers. Also, all the answers are in the good books, even the shortest one. Read your TMS book(s) several times each--slowly--it may take sometime to change thinking patterns that have been with us a long time, maybe from the womb.

g'luck!
tt