In The Divided Mind, Sarno says, “With respect to physical activity, while some of our patients never cease being physically active, the majority are intimidated by their pain and are fearful of most physical activities. This fear must be overcome, and I tell them that for years we have been advising our patients to engage in unrestricted physical activities when the pain is gone and that there has never been a report of physical trouble as a consequence.” (p. 141). He also says, “When the pain is gone, or almost gone, start to do physical things you have been afraid to do.” (p. 145).
I interpret these statements to mean that one should resume activities as much as possible up to the limits of significant pain. I do not interpret them to mean that one should “push through,” or do activities that produce, significant pain.
In the Great Pain Deception, Steven Ozanich describes a process in which he repeatedly forced himself to engage in activities, such as running or hitting golf balls, that caused him excruciating, knee-buckling pain. (“I knew that I loved golf and that it hurt very much to twist and turn when I swung the club. So, I decided to begin hitting 500 golf balls each day. I didn’t care how much it was going to hurt, I would “just do it.”) (p. 105.)
Alan Gordon, in his Pain Recovery Program, says that “Graded exposure is a technique that can help us unpair pain and fear in a safe and gradual way,“ and that the goal is to “let your brain know that it’s safe through multiple channels simultaneously.” (Day 11.). But then, somewhat inconsistently, he tells a story about forcing himself to go for a walk despite significant heel pain: "I invited the pain in. I said with a positive feeling of enthusiasm “Bring it on, ramp up the pain as much as you want.” And I meant it. I was enjoying taking such a defiant stance. I was excited that the pain wasn’t dictating my mood - let it increase, let it decrease, let it do what it wants. I was feeling empowered, and when you’re empowered, there’s no room for fear." (Day 14.)
It seems to me that Sarno (and the gentler side of Gordon) has the better approach here, and Ozanich may have delayed his recovery by punishing himself in the manner that he did. From my perspective, pushing oneself into activities that cause significant pain most likely will (1) strengthen the mind’s association between motion, pain, and fear; (2) punish the id in favor of the ego, which is the opposite of what Sarno recommends; and (3) put oneself into a further state of inner conflict.
My question is this: does anyone on the TMS Forum know, definitively, if Sarno ever recommended engaging in activity despite significant or excruciating pain, or did he only recommend engaging in activity up to the point of significant pain?
Thanks.
I interpret these statements to mean that one should resume activities as much as possible up to the limits of significant pain. I do not interpret them to mean that one should “push through,” or do activities that produce, significant pain.
In the Great Pain Deception, Steven Ozanich describes a process in which he repeatedly forced himself to engage in activities, such as running or hitting golf balls, that caused him excruciating, knee-buckling pain. (“I knew that I loved golf and that it hurt very much to twist and turn when I swung the club. So, I decided to begin hitting 500 golf balls each day. I didn’t care how much it was going to hurt, I would “just do it.”) (p. 105.)
Alan Gordon, in his Pain Recovery Program, says that “Graded exposure is a technique that can help us unpair pain and fear in a safe and gradual way,“ and that the goal is to “let your brain know that it’s safe through multiple channels simultaneously.” (Day 11.). But then, somewhat inconsistently, he tells a story about forcing himself to go for a walk despite significant heel pain: "I invited the pain in. I said with a positive feeling of enthusiasm “Bring it on, ramp up the pain as much as you want.” And I meant it. I was enjoying taking such a defiant stance. I was excited that the pain wasn’t dictating my mood - let it increase, let it decrease, let it do what it wants. I was feeling empowered, and when you’re empowered, there’s no room for fear." (Day 14.)
It seems to me that Sarno (and the gentler side of Gordon) has the better approach here, and Ozanich may have delayed his recovery by punishing himself in the manner that he did. From my perspective, pushing oneself into activities that cause significant pain most likely will (1) strengthen the mind’s association between motion, pain, and fear; (2) punish the id in favor of the ego, which is the opposite of what Sarno recommends; and (3) put oneself into a further state of inner conflict.
My question is this: does anyone on the TMS Forum know, definitively, if Sarno ever recommended engaging in activity despite significant or excruciating pain, or did he only recommend engaging in activity up to the point of significant pain?
Thanks.
