Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I'm 24 years old and have been experiencing mild back pain for the last 4 years. It's never too unbearable, and it doesn't even hinder my sleep. However, since it's always there, I get frustrated sometimes. It has persisted for 4 years, and I don't know why it started. Last year, I decided to have an MRI (attaching one of the pic here), and it revealed a "Generalized posterior bulge of L4–L5 intervertebral disc, with posterocentral/left paracentral herniation, causing mild to moderate compression of left traversing and indentation of right traversing nerve roots." I got scared after reading this and avoided bending for 3-4 days. I researched this condition on YouTube and the internet, which I think made the pain slightly worse. Doctors recommended physiotherapy, which provided temporary relief, but the pain stayed the same in the long term. I came across TMS on YouTube and watched some videos. Just by consuming the information, the pain was relieved. However, it hasn't completely gone away because I think the MRI findings match my pain, especially since it indicates compression of the left nerve, and I feel the pain on the left side. Am I thinking correctly? I hope I am wrong since 90% of the pain cannot be predicted by looking at the MRI. It would be helpful to receive some guidance. Thanks in advance.
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Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
Not able to convey myself that there is nothing wrong with my body.
- Thread starter garp
- Start date
JanAtheCPA
Beloved Grand Eagle
Hello @garp, and welcome. We are not medical professionals, so we're not going to look at your MRI or comment on your diagnosis. We do need to know that you've been medically checked out, so the great news is that if you had something urgently wrong, you would be in some kind of significant treatment, right?
The fact that the only prescribed treatment was some physiotherapy, which provided temporary benefit, is a good indication that you are suffering from the primitive survival-based brain mechanism that Dr. John Sarno MD called "TMS" At the time of his early work, he was only looking at back pain, and was concentrating on muscles - thus the "Myositis" in "Tension Myositis Syndrome". These days you will also see references to MBS: Mind-Body Syndrome, or PPD: Psycho-Physiological Disorder. It's all the same thing, and that thing is that our brains will distract us from disturbing emotional distress by creating pain, which they are perfectly capable of doing for no physiological reason whatsoever (look up Phantom Limb Pain to learn about a perfect example of this phenomenon in action).
You have nothing to lose at this point by taking the plunge and obtaining knowledge about how this works. You don't need 100% belief to get started - the purpose of the books and programs is to learn and to build belief.
1. Read at least one book by Dr. Sarno. Since you have back pain, you can read any of them. Mind Over Back Pain is pretty old, and I think that most people read the second one, Healing Back Pain. The MindBody Prescription addresses the many other symptoms and conditions that Dr. Sarno came to believe are also TMS, and The Divided Mind, his last book, includes six chapters by five other mindbody medical practitioners and one psychologist.
2. Start doing our free Structured Educational Program which is on the main tmswiki.org. There is no signup or registration needed. Just don't rush through it. Do one "Day" per day, read your book, and explore posts on our Success Stories subforum. Hang out here, see what people are talking about and recommending. Keep your mind open, be willing to be emotionally vulnerable and honest when you do the exercises in the SEP, and give yourself plenty of credit for being willing to try something completely different, You need to know, and to accept, that your fearful brain will fight back - with lots of doubt and probably with more symptoms (which, if this happens, is GOOD news, because it's proof that the symptoms have an emotional, not physical source). Don't overthink it - but do remember to think psychologically, not physically.
We're here to help - good luck!
The fact that the only prescribed treatment was some physiotherapy, which provided temporary benefit, is a good indication that you are suffering from the primitive survival-based brain mechanism that Dr. John Sarno MD called "TMS" At the time of his early work, he was only looking at back pain, and was concentrating on muscles - thus the "Myositis" in "Tension Myositis Syndrome". These days you will also see references to MBS: Mind-Body Syndrome, or PPD: Psycho-Physiological Disorder. It's all the same thing, and that thing is that our brains will distract us from disturbing emotional distress by creating pain, which they are perfectly capable of doing for no physiological reason whatsoever (look up Phantom Limb Pain to learn about a perfect example of this phenomenon in action).
You have nothing to lose at this point by taking the plunge and obtaining knowledge about how this works. You don't need 100% belief to get started - the purpose of the books and programs is to learn and to build belief.
1. Read at least one book by Dr. Sarno. Since you have back pain, you can read any of them. Mind Over Back Pain is pretty old, and I think that most people read the second one, Healing Back Pain. The MindBody Prescription addresses the many other symptoms and conditions that Dr. Sarno came to believe are also TMS, and The Divided Mind, his last book, includes six chapters by five other mindbody medical practitioners and one psychologist.
2. Start doing our free Structured Educational Program which is on the main tmswiki.org. There is no signup or registration needed. Just don't rush through it. Do one "Day" per day, read your book, and explore posts on our Success Stories subforum. Hang out here, see what people are talking about and recommending. Keep your mind open, be willing to be emotionally vulnerable and honest when you do the exercises in the SEP, and give yourself plenty of credit for being willing to try something completely different, You need to know, and to accept, that your fearful brain will fight back - with lots of doubt and probably with more symptoms (which, if this happens, is GOOD news, because it's proof that the symptoms have an emotional, not physical source). Don't overthink it - but do remember to think psychologically, not physically.
We're here to help - good luck!
Did you watch the old Sarno segment from the 20/20 show? I think that will answer your question.
Like Jan says, it doesn't really matter if you are sure or not. You've got nothing to lose by doing the TMS work.
Right now your brain is focusing on that MRI and focusing on your pain. Pain doesn't go away when you do those two things. But it does go away when you shift all that focus to your emotions and getting out whatever unconscious crap is lurking inside of you.
Good luck. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for the detailed information and much-needed help. I'll definitely read "Healing Back Pain." I have completed the Alan Gordon pain recovery program, but I think I rushed it. I was thinking of redoing it at a slower pace. Since the structured educational program will include some parts of it, I'll try the Structured Educational Program as you suggested, at your recommended pace. The information on this forum is pure gold, and people like you are no less than angels. Thanks again!
Just saw the video you mentioned; it's truly mind-blowing. Another proof like millions of others why Dr. Sarno was a genius. I will try to focus on the emotions. Thank you so much for the help.
Watching how the brother is willing to try all those bizarre contraptions to stop the pain but not willing to deal with emotional issues really brings the message home.
TG957
Beloved Grand Eagle
It is my absolutely favorite story about mainstream medicine's response to Dr. Sarno. The negative power of mind on full display!
I always feel if that won't convince you, nothing will.
I am a PT. I recently saw a patient who came in with a left drop foot and when they did his MRI it showed a disc herniation completing compressing his L4 nerve root ON THE RIGHT SIDE. Even the Neuro NP didnt get it. He had no symptoms down the right side at all. I also saw someone else recently with another nerve compression from disc herniation and they had no symptoms at all. If you have a disc herniation compressing a nerve root you would also expect to see numbness, tingling, and weakness. With a nerve compression you would expect to see symptoms go down the leg especially with lower nerve roots. Local back pain is not a sign of pain from a herniation.
Hello, thank you so much for the reply. This information means a lot to me
sure anytime!