Hi Everybody,
I just finished the SEP. I consider myself another success story, although my journey isn't over, yet. Am I pain-free? No....but, there is more to this program than just the goal of being pain-free. Let me explain....I am writing this on my most stressful day since starting this program. I won't go into details, but I'll just say, I have been up since 1:00am, and after a full days work, I have mowed the lawn and helped my wife deep clean the entire house, and dare I say, found out my teenage son got into some serious trouble (hence, why I have been up since 1:00am).
Let me start off by giving you all a brief synapse of my "pain" background
I am 56yrs old, and I broke my neck playing Football for a local semi-Pro Football Team in 1992. I had broke several vertebrae and flattened my spinal cord in 3 places. This required a 14 hour surgery. Since that time I have literally seen and tried every single therapy, drug, or specialist the medical field has to offer. From being on 500mgs of morphine daily, along with the maximum dosage of Lyrica for 2 years (try going thru that withdrawal cold turkey) to having an Intrathecal Spinal Pump implanted. At the beginning of the program, I was on 200mgs of Tramadol daily with 5mgs of Dilaudid delivered thru the pump daily. So yes, I really have seen it all the past 24yrs.
Now, about this program. Why do I say I am a success? Well, because I followed (as best as I could understand) the program as written, and I really learned some valuable lessons that I am 100% confident will lead to being pain-free eventually. Here are some things that have solidified my belief in TMS. I immediately stopped the Tramadol upon starting the program, as well as had my Doctor (Pain Specialist) reduce the Dilaudid in my pump (so far he has reduced it by 50%), And guess what? My pain didn't increase. This gave me the confidence to continue with another major fear I had to overcome. That was my fear of over exercise or over-training. I have been an avid Fitness/Sports guy my whole life. This has ALWAYS been a major part of my identity. After my accident, I had reduced my training (strength training and conditioning) to one hard workout every 5-7 days. That was all I could handle without debilitating fatigue and pain. Well, after starting the program, I immediately increased it to once every 3 days (2-3 days a week). Not only could I handle the stress without undue fatigue, but I actually increased my strength. Only this morning, I Deadlifted 405lbs for 5 reps and Benched 320lbs for 5 reps. Remember though, I have worked out consistently since I was 11yrs old. These were the most weight I have lifted since before my surgery. Ok..OK....I 'll stop bragging Seriously though, my point is that this is just incredible to me. I am 56yrs old. This would not had been possible if not for this program. I have tried to do this in the past, and I would just get weaker and feel exhausted, and this would increase my pain. Another fear I had with exercise was running. Not jogging, but really trying to run. Now, I don't think I have actually tried to run in over 10 years. Notice..I said tried to run. Well, I have done this a few times over the last several weeks, and to be honest, I am not setting any records, but I have seen improvements. Again, the point is progress. Any progress is progress, and that means you are improving and becoming better. I have also overcame some other fears, such as journaling the "TRUTH" and nothing but the truth about myself. I have never done the journaling thing, and I am impressed with what I am learning about myself. Again, honestly, I didn't like some of the things I was seeing, but I understand we all have so-called weaknesses or things we may need improvement on. Journaling helps us strive to be better and to show us things about ourselves we may have never really realized or understood. I always knew I had lots of underlying rage, but I never realized all the underlying sadness. I've always thought of myself as a happy optimistic person, and I am....on the outside.
The reason I feel that this program was a success is I feel I am learning to overcome my fears. With practice, you always get better. I am learning to identify my stressors. This gives me some control over how my body reacts and to what it may react to. I understand that the goal isn't just to get rid of your pain. Trying too hard can actually exasperate it. But, to learn to manage it by using the tools this site is giving us. THIS is what will eventually lead to being pain-free. I am going to go thru this program again. I am sure I will pick up some new things the second time around.
Before I forget, here are some things I have accomplished since starting the program:
1) reduced oral medications to zero
2) reduced pain meds in my spinal pump by 50%, and I will be off completely soon
3) reduced my fear of exercise and physical activity
4) I am actually learning to overcome all my inner fears
5) I am learning a great deal about myself
6) I haven't tried to find a TMS Dr yet, but I am working with the Pain Psychologists at the Hospital/Medical College I am a patient at: I am surprised at their openness about TMS.; they have offered to make me a case-study, for free services, and to look over this web site. I am not sure why they have been so receptive, but I get the feeling it is because I must be one of the few, if not the only patient that has a goal of reducing pain meds. This all just sort of fell into my lap, because I talked about this program, then asked for some help.
Anyway, I hope I was able to articulate my thoughts well enough for all to understand. I am looking forward to my journey to recovery. To anyone that may be feeling stuck or just not getting the results you expected, just remember, any progress is PROGRESS, and you are getting closer to your goal the more you learn about yourself.
I just finished the SEP. I consider myself another success story, although my journey isn't over, yet. Am I pain-free? No....but, there is more to this program than just the goal of being pain-free. Let me explain....I am writing this on my most stressful day since starting this program. I won't go into details, but I'll just say, I have been up since 1:00am, and after a full days work, I have mowed the lawn and helped my wife deep clean the entire house, and dare I say, found out my teenage son got into some serious trouble (hence, why I have been up since 1:00am).
Let me start off by giving you all a brief synapse of my "pain" background
I am 56yrs old, and I broke my neck playing Football for a local semi-Pro Football Team in 1992. I had broke several vertebrae and flattened my spinal cord in 3 places. This required a 14 hour surgery. Since that time I have literally seen and tried every single therapy, drug, or specialist the medical field has to offer. From being on 500mgs of morphine daily, along with the maximum dosage of Lyrica for 2 years (try going thru that withdrawal cold turkey) to having an Intrathecal Spinal Pump implanted. At the beginning of the program, I was on 200mgs of Tramadol daily with 5mgs of Dilaudid delivered thru the pump daily. So yes, I really have seen it all the past 24yrs.Now, about this program. Why do I say I am a success? Well, because I followed (as best as I could understand) the program as written, and I really learned some valuable lessons that I am 100% confident will lead to being pain-free eventually. Here are some things that have solidified my belief in TMS. I immediately stopped the Tramadol upon starting the program, as well as had my Doctor (Pain Specialist) reduce the Dilaudid in my pump (so far he has reduced it by 50%), And guess what? My pain didn't increase. This gave me the confidence to continue with another major fear I had to overcome. That was my fear of over exercise or over-training. I have been an avid Fitness/Sports guy my whole life. This has ALWAYS been a major part of my identity. After my accident, I had reduced my training (strength training and conditioning) to one hard workout every 5-7 days. That was all I could handle without debilitating fatigue and pain. Well, after starting the program, I immediately increased it to once every 3 days (2-3 days a week). Not only could I handle the stress without undue fatigue, but I actually increased my strength. Only this morning, I Deadlifted 405lbs for 5 reps and Benched 320lbs for 5 reps. Remember though, I have worked out consistently since I was 11yrs old. These were the most weight I have lifted since before my surgery. Ok..OK....I 'll stop bragging
Seriously though, my point is that this is just incredible to me. I am 56yrs old. This would not had been possible if not for this program. I have tried to do this in the past, and I would just get weaker and feel exhausted, and this would increase my pain. Another fear I had with exercise was running. Not jogging, but really trying to run. Now, I don't think I have actually tried to run in over 10 years. Notice..I said tried to run. Well, I have done this a few times over the last several weeks, and to be honest, I am not setting any records, but I have seen improvements. Again, the point is progress. Any progress is progress, and that means you are improving and becoming better. I have also overcame some other fears, such as journaling the "TRUTH" and nothing but the truth about myself. I have never done the journaling thing, and I am impressed with what I am learning about myself. Again, honestly, I didn't like some of the things I was seeing, but I understand we all have so-called weaknesses or things we may need improvement on. Journaling helps us strive to be better and to show us things about ourselves we may have never really realized or understood. I always knew I had lots of underlying rage, but I never realized all the underlying sadness. I've always thought of myself as a happy optimistic person, and I am....on the outside.The reason I feel that this program was a success is I feel I am learning to overcome my fears. With practice, you always get better. I am learning to identify my stressors. This gives me some control over how my body reacts and to what it may react to. I understand that the goal isn't just to get rid of your pain. Trying too hard can actually exasperate it. But, to learn to manage it by using the tools this site is giving us. THIS is what will eventually lead to being pain-free. I am going to go thru this program again. I am sure I will pick up some new things the second time around.
Before I forget, here are some things I have accomplished since starting the program:
1) reduced oral medications to zero
2) reduced pain meds in my spinal pump by 50%, and I will be off completely soon
3) reduced my fear of exercise and physical activity
4) I am actually learning to overcome all my inner fears
5) I am learning a great deal about myself
6) I haven't tried to find a TMS Dr yet, but I am working with the Pain Psychologists at the Hospital/Medical College I am a patient at: I am surprised at their openness about TMS.; they have offered to make me a case-study, for free services, and to look over this web site. I am not sure why they have been so receptive, but I get the feeling it is because I must be one of the few, if not the only patient that has a goal of reducing pain meds. This all just sort of fell into my lap, because I talked about this program, then asked for some help.
Anyway, I hope I was able to articulate my thoughts well enough for all to understand. I am looking forward to my journey to recovery. To anyone that may be feeling stuck or just not getting the results you expected, just remember, any progress is PROGRESS, and you are getting closer to your goal the more you learn about yourself.
