I’m sure I have TMS...but...

Hello, I’m new here.

I’m very glad that I found this site.

I’ve read two of Sarno’s books and I think I definitely have TMS. I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my L4-L5.

Since reading his books I’ve felt a lot better.

I just have a few concerns.

Before the book I couldn’t stand for 20 minutes without getting intense pain in my lower back area. Since I’ve read the book I can stand much longer but the pain still comes back. Not quite as bad, but it’s still there. Something else that still happens is if I’m sitting and I straighten my legs out I get an intense pain in the same spot.

These two things still make me worried that the herniated disc is causing some of the pain.

Are these normal occurrences?

Any anecdotes or information is greatly appreciated.

 

What you describe is normal and typical. You have already made amazing progress it sounds like! Sitting and straightening are triggers...mental associations your brain has formed with innocuous activities and pain. It's a neural circuit loop of trigger-fear-pain-trigger-fear-pain. The trick is to lose the fear of the trigger and see it for what it is: harmless. It's not the activity...it's your FEAR and your thoughts about the activity.

 

Happy for you!