Pain Free!!

Hello everyone!

I apologize for my absence during the last months.. but I was busy getting my life back!
After more than four years paralised.. I haven't stopped doing things lately!

It's been a while since I was thinking it is time to write my success story and help get courage and motivation for those still struggling. Reading success stories was something that really helped me to keep the faith and be perseverant.

But with all the new changes.. Congratulatios Forest and all the wonderful Admin Group!!

... I am a bit lost so I might need some instructions as to where to go and write down my story.

With best wishes,
Sienna

 

Sienna,
I am so happy for you!!!! That is so encouraging to me.

May I ask what was the turning point for you? And did you find journaling helped?

Please, do write your success story because many of us can glean from it.

I am just overjoyed for you.
G.R.

 

Hi Sienna - it's great to see you again! And that is super-good news, I'm really happy for you

I also think it's good to have a profile story - let's see, you can go to your profile page, which is http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/members/sienna.521/, and click on the blue "My Story" link - it will open up a text box. You can put the same story in both places. I've also been using my profile page to store links to my favorite stuff - makes it easier to reference later on.

I can't wait to read all about your success!

Jan

 

Dear all,

I am glad to share my story with those of you still struggling and I hope it can help you to strengthen your faith in your recovery.
In my early 30s my life entered a parenthesis after a back spasm that appeared from nowhere while playing tennis. After 4 years of debilitating back pain, unnecessary surgery, constant physical therapy and other treatments and many unanswered questions, my life became very limited. I was skeptical, faithless and depressed.

When I say paralised.. I mean it! I stayed all day in the sofa and hardly went out for anything, just to visit doctors of phisiotherapist. I could not walk for more than 5 minutes, avoided walking the steps, stopped driving, cookin going out... I was totally paralysed!
I lost 10 kilos and became really weak and fearful of any simple movement... Had a hard time even to get my arms up to wash my hair when I was in the shower... not to mention bend or take things from the floor.

Last year I came across Dr. Sarno’s work and ordered all of his books. I started devouring Healing Back Pain and felt like I was reading my biography!! Finally, I had found answers to all my questions.. I started connecting the dots, everything made sense to me!!!

It took me only a few days to accept the approach and kept looking for help. Finding the TMS Wiki was a treasure for me, cause as Sarno says...“knowledge is Penicillin”. The site helped me to look for a practitioner in Europe. I was very lucky to hear about Georgie Oldfield in the UK, who helped me to reinforce the diagnosis and set the following challenges with confidence. Within a couple of months I started swimming and my instructor is was just amazed with my daily improvements. Time, perseverance and faith are taking me further.

I also followed Dr. Schubiners book which I highly recommend. I asked some questions by e-mail and he was always available and helpful.

Last summer I did my first trips, jumped into the ocean, went out dancing and experienced things I had not been able to enjoy during the last years.
Now I just came back from a long trip and I still had to punch me to believe I was there.
On my way back, as the plane was about to land in my city, I broke in tears due to the emotion it caused on me: I was there again! Travelling around the world and enjoying great experiences. I felt like a bird out of the cage, This is something I would have not even dreamt about a few years ago.

I am still on my recovery journey and enjoying every bit of it. As almost every patient says, ‘I am sure this work changed my life for the better.’

It is amazing to understand how powerful our mind can be.. so it is a question of rewiring and reframing all the "negative false nocebo" statements that were placed out there... Now it is very important to say to yourself: I am healthy and strong. "all the muscles of my back are strong and flexible" or whichever symtpom you have.

Now I know the power of strong self-dialogue, believe in yourself!!!
Because all our muscles are strong and we are always able to do much more than we think.

I had been wanting to write my story for long and this is what came out, but I will be reviewing it and improving it to offer helpful information.
The power for a healthy life is in our mind, we just need to learn how to teach it.
It is not difficult, it just takes many repetitions, wholehearted commitment and perseverance. As Dr. Schubiner says "it's like training a puppy".

Best wishes

 

Hi

Thank u for your wonderful story.

Right now I need lots of hope and direction.

Would you tell us more about what you did and thought and how long it took.

What do u mean you were paralyzed?

Thank u for the hope your story gives us.

Barbara

 

I am so glad my story will help to bring light into your lives!!!

You are right that I went just on my peeptoes regarding how bad I was (I have been avoiding negative words such as pain and all the odds I went through), but you are totally right that this is important for those under the same circumstances.

My life had become very limited. I stayed all day in the sofa and hardly went out for anything, just to visit doctors of phisiotherapist. I could not walk for more than 5 minutes, avoided walking the steps, stopped driving, cookin going out... I was totally paralysed!
I lost 10 kilos and became really weak and fearful of any simple movement... Had a hard time even to get my arms up to wash my hair when I was in the shower... not to mention bend or take things from the floor.

For those of you asking how much it took to recover.. I remember it really helped me to listen to Forest saying "it is different for each one.. each recovers at his own pace).
And this is so true!!
Try not to get obsessed with timings or try to heal overnight.. It is more adviseble to set small, realistic short term objectives. The joy and satisfaction of getting those goals will give you a big drive to keep going better and better.

The main change for me was the mindset.. I soon started giving short walks.. then it was driving.. and within 2 months I started swimming.
Then going shopping, social life.. even attending concerts (some of them 4 hours long), .. and I did recover my 10 kilos!
I am enjoying every day to the fullest and try to think positive and (maybe I am spoiling my inner child too much.. but.. after all that she went through... I think she deserves it doesn't she??
;-)
On my daily conflict as to what I should do and what I feel like doing.. I try to be responsible get some work done (cause I need the finalcial maintenance too), but.. I dedicate great part to the things I like which also take an important role on my recovery (such as sports, going out for longer periods etc..).

For those still working on their recovery, keep the following in mind:
1- Stay strong
2- Never give up
3- Always be grateful!


i will try to post more often and try to give you tips and information on what worked for me, but doing a program such as the Wiki Structured Program, the one from Dr. Schubiner and other specialist I think is paramount.. but you need to follow it with wholehearted commitment!!

I am so grateful to life.. 2012 has been a year full of good experiences, each month has had remarkable events or progresses.. I am even thinking about doing a calendar including photos of those good things every month!!!

As you can see.. nearly 4 years hadly going out from home.. and now I just crossed half world.. and thinking about crossing another ocean soon!!

ALL THE BEST
PD: I was trying to add a recent picture from my holidays but it was too bulky ;-/

 

WOWOWOWOW thank you so much for this! I am on my last day of the SEP and feeling a little discouraged. Again, the Universe is right on time for me! I am so, so happy for you. I cannot wait to write my own story like the one you've written.

 

Sienna,
Thank you for your amazing recovery. I am so happy for you!!!
Thank you so much for sharing.
G.R.

 

sienna-you are awesome-a great inspiration
your right where you thought you could be-bless you
for your story-cant wait to hear more

 

Coming late to the party here but I still gotta say...WOW! What a fantastic way to send the SEP program Sienna, you are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your story!

 

Sienna, your story is fantastic. Everyone is awed by it.
I hope everyone will write their recovery story and share it with the forum.

 

I am so very thrilled that you are well again, a very helpful experience for all of us. I wish you
the very best. You got the job DONE! Enjoy you life now and please keep posting, you are giving
to so many of us in need. Congratulations to you, you're a true "HERO". Nancy

 

Hello everyone,

I thought I would share part II of my story, as last year I faced another TMS symptom, chronic fatigue this time, and overcame it as well.. just but realising it was another tms symtom... tricky mind!

Part II- Recovery from chronic fatigue

Last year I was doing sports quite often (enjoying physical exercise more than ever after my Back Pain long period- you can read my story to know about it).
One day I was feeling very tired and nearly collapsed on the mat. I took blood test, and they told me I had anemya, as I had stopped eating meat one year before.
I resumed taking meat and went through a tough period trying iron tablets that would kill my Stomach.

The thing is that I felt tired all day, and as you mentioned, had this brain fog, severe fatigue that made me stop doing the thinks I like, sports, and going out because I didnt feel safe for driving and felt really weak, specially at night.

I wasted the whole summer believing I was sick. By the end of August I took blood test and my iron levels had increased and were fine...
But I still had the same symtpoms, so they asked me to take test for tyroids.

The thing is that I had planned a trip to my favourite island in September where I scape every summer and it is like my peace&feel good place... I had planned this in advance after a tough summer.. I missed trips, flights and even a good friend wedding in Italy thinking I could not make it...

This is the happy ending: I went on vacation without taking the tyroid test, thinking I will do it when I come back, I have had enough of Doctors this summer... I need a break.. I will go even if I have to stay lying on the hammack all day.

And you know what? Once I stepped on the island, arrived to the comdo with our beautiful swimming pool facing the Mediterranean....
I went in the water without thinking of my heart beat (which had lasted all summer, and did not "allow" me to swim, something that I love....
All the symptoms disappeared!!!
I would jump in the ocean every day, go out, walk... it was like magic...

My brain learned the symptoms of maybe one tiring day in spring, then whn I learnd I had anemya (very soft, friends with a higher level do a normal life).
My system learned how to create these fatigue symptoms and kept doing it until I broke the patterns by travelling no matter what....

This made me feel so misarable for having wasted all summer and so many good experiences, staying at home thinking I was sick....

After I had lost some years of my life due to "back pain".

We have to learn that our subconscious mind can send any symptom, and she does it quite well!!


Two weeks ago the symptoms started again.. I thought maybe my iron levels were low again.. took a blood test, they were fine.. so I went swimming, and all the symptoms disappeared!
The headache has tried to come back but by ignoring it it just left again.


I hope my story bring some light and helps you to overcome the symptoms.

Love, Faith & Hope to everyone