I am posting to give hope to anyone that thinks they may have TMS pain. I have had symptoms due to TMS since I was 13, looking back however of course they were diagnosed as something else. Each time it gets easier and faster to recover now that I have the tools. I recovered from back and shoulder pain off and on for 10 years plus a bunch of other ailments thanks to the work of Dr. Sarno.
What I want to share is how the pain can trick you and make you think its due to an injury or illness. Mine, in this case was menopause. 18 mos ago I start having terrible female burning pain and urinary urgency. I thought it was due to some antibiotics I took. When it didn't go away I remember thinking it might be TMS but then it was dismissed and I was told I had IC combined with hormonal changes when I ended up in the ER with pain. None of my tests showed anything wrong and no medicine helped. My Dr. took me off some of the hormones creams I was taking and the pain gradually went away. I chalked it up to hormonal imbalance and thought it was the hormonal cream. When it returned with a vengeance this past February I freaked out because I was off the hormone cream. I started obsessing about what could be causing it, stopping vitamins, afraid to wear jeans, afraid to drink caffeine, afraid it would never go away or get worse, etc. Terrible female pain and my bladder felt inflamed even though all tests came back negative. Had to go the bathroom all the time so I was obsessing about that too. I decided it had to be hormonal and started reading anything I could find on the subject.
More tests, my hormones were normal for post menopause. I can't reiterate enough, that FEAR exacerbates the pain and in my case urinary urgency. Last week after having another exam and finding nothing, my Dr. said "your pelvic muscles are tight" That was all I needed to hear because I know tight muscles can cause all kinds of terrible pain. I knew deep down it was TMS and my body was screaming for me to pay attention. I guess I didn't want to admit it because I knew I would have to deal with the emotions and situations that were causing the pain. I told her I thought this was stress related and she responded as most doctors do, skeptical and prescribed physical therapy instead. I cried all the way home and then for another 2 hours at home. An incident from 10 years ago surfaced that made me realize that I had some grieving that I needed to process that I thought I was over.
Within hours I started to feel better, less than a week later my pain has diminished significantly. I don't have to go to the bathroom as much. I still feel it sometimes but I give the pain no attention. Instead I ask myself what is going on in my life? I canceled my physical therapy appointments (which made my pain flare up but I ignored it-trying to trick me that I am really sick) and I tell myself the pain won't ruin my life and I am getting better everyday. I told the people at the p.t. dept. I wasn't needed therapy, this was all stress related and the woman congratulated me on being so insightful and knowing what I needed (rare!) I drink coffee and wear my jeans again. I scheduled some therapy to work through the anger that is hurting me that I ignored. Lots of times anger causes burning pain. I must thank the person who said the body will do whatever it can to scare the crap out of you and make you think there is something seriously wrong. My biggest fear was that it will come back while I'm on vacation and ruin it but I already decided I don't care. I will ignore it and have fun anyway which takes away the power. Our minds are powerful and are desperately trying to get our attention that there is some work that has to be done. We are not sick, we are healthy people that just have advanced brain function!
You must be 100% convinced that it is TMS or the pain will creep back in. That is the work, to ignore it and keep going. Your brain tries very hard with all these aches, pains and weird sensations to convince you its physical. But we are smarter than that. I think we TMS people are the bravest, most courageous pioneers and are learning to help others. I reread the Sarno books, Dr. Schubiner's "Unlearn your Pain" book and CD and I wrote healing affirmations on note cards that I keep with me and read when I am in traffic in my car. I expect a full recovery and encourage you not to give up. I had back pain for 10 years off and on and am fully cured and very active. This is just the latest symptom that has cropped up to remind me to pay attention. Don't give up, don't be scared, you will get better! It's only temporary and I am grateful for this forum and support it provides!
What I want to share is how the pain can trick you and make you think its due to an injury or illness. Mine, in this case was menopause. 18 mos ago I start having terrible female burning pain and urinary urgency. I thought it was due to some antibiotics I took. When it didn't go away I remember thinking it might be TMS but then it was dismissed and I was told I had IC combined with hormonal changes when I ended up in the ER with pain. None of my tests showed anything wrong and no medicine helped. My Dr. took me off some of the hormones creams I was taking and the pain gradually went away. I chalked it up to hormonal imbalance and thought it was the hormonal cream. When it returned with a vengeance this past February I freaked out because I was off the hormone cream. I started obsessing about what could be causing it, stopping vitamins, afraid to wear jeans, afraid to drink caffeine, afraid it would never go away or get worse, etc. Terrible female pain and my bladder felt inflamed even though all tests came back negative. Had to go the bathroom all the time so I was obsessing about that too. I decided it had to be hormonal and started reading anything I could find on the subject.
More tests, my hormones were normal for post menopause. I can't reiterate enough, that FEAR exacerbates the pain and in my case urinary urgency. Last week after having another exam and finding nothing, my Dr. said "your pelvic muscles are tight" That was all I needed to hear because I know tight muscles can cause all kinds of terrible pain. I knew deep down it was TMS and my body was screaming for me to pay attention. I guess I didn't want to admit it because I knew I would have to deal with the emotions and situations that were causing the pain. I told her I thought this was stress related and she responded as most doctors do, skeptical and prescribed physical therapy instead. I cried all the way home and then for another 2 hours at home. An incident from 10 years ago surfaced that made me realize that I had some grieving that I needed to process that I thought I was over.
Within hours I started to feel better, less than a week later my pain has diminished significantly. I don't have to go to the bathroom as much. I still feel it sometimes but I give the pain no attention. Instead I ask myself what is going on in my life? I canceled my physical therapy appointments (which made my pain flare up but I ignored it-trying to trick me that I am really sick) and I tell myself the pain won't ruin my life and I am getting better everyday. I told the people at the p.t. dept. I wasn't needed therapy, this was all stress related and the woman congratulated me on being so insightful and knowing what I needed (rare!) I drink coffee and wear my jeans again. I scheduled some therapy to work through the anger that is hurting me that I ignored. Lots of times anger causes burning pain. I must thank the person who said the body will do whatever it can to scare the crap out of you and make you think there is something seriously wrong. My biggest fear was that it will come back while I'm on vacation and ruin it but I already decided I don't care. I will ignore it and have fun anyway which takes away the power. Our minds are powerful and are desperately trying to get our attention that there is some work that has to be done. We are not sick, we are healthy people that just have advanced brain function!
You must be 100% convinced that it is TMS or the pain will creep back in. That is the work, to ignore it and keep going. Your brain tries very hard with all these aches, pains and weird sensations to convince you its physical. But we are smarter than that. I think we TMS people are the bravest, most courageous pioneers and are learning to help others. I reread the Sarno books, Dr. Schubiner's "Unlearn your Pain" book and CD and I wrote healing affirmations on note cards that I keep with me and read when I am in traffic in my car. I expect a full recovery and encourage you not to give up. I had back pain for 10 years off and on and am fully cured and very active. This is just the latest symptom that has cropped up to remind me to pay attention. Don't give up, don't be scared, you will get better! It's only temporary and I am grateful for this forum and support it provides!
