Repudiating the physical

B

BillFoster

New Member
I am having difficulty repudiating the physical. I have been diagnosed with "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome". I sit at a desk 14 hours/day and am crushed by a massive workload.

When a put my hands atop my head, they go numb. My shoulder snaps and pops all the time. My arms hurt when I raise them up. How could there not be a physical/structural problem? I've been fighting this for three years. I've been worsening lately despite my getting into Sarno.

I ran on the 15th. On the 17th, I had a debilitating headache and neck pain. Are these things related? Does such a delay make sense?
 
Hi, Bill. I sure wish you could work even half that long each day. Did someone lose their job and you get their workload?
What do you work at?

Can you take even short breaks? Just stand and move your arms and body and do some deep breathing at least every half hour?

I never heard of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome but it seems to me there is no doubt your symptoms are TMS from work stress that is
probably making you very angry. At your boss, for sure.

Your subconscious knows this and gives you pain so you try to find a way to deal with your work
situation.

Don't attribute your headache and neck pain with having gone running. The exercise is important in your healing and over-all good health.
Don't let running become a conditioned reflex associated with your symptoms. Running has nothing to do with them.

Your symptoms are psychological... TMS... tension developed into anger... because of your heavy work situation. If you can't resolve it, can you quit?
 
I couldn't resolve my work problems forty years ago and just quit. My headaches stopped, having the shakes at work stopped.
I became a self-employed freelance writer of magazine articles and books and have been happy in my work ever since.
 
Hi Bill, I was in a similar state late 2013 when I had to take six weeks off work due to "RSI" (according to the doctor, when it was actually TMS in overdrive). By some small miracle I discovered Sarno, and quickly accepting his teachings I booked a session with Australia's one and only TMS therapist (who thankfully lives five minutes away). He told me to read and re-read Sarno until it really sank in, and to identify some boundaries on my return to work. I realised I couldn't quit my job, but identified how I could change my reaction to the stress at work. I made a list of areas causing me great stress, and identified a response - either by delegating more or resolving a difficult relationship.

You really need to accept 100% that it is TMS. Read Steve Ozanich's book "The Great Pain Deception" to solidify your belief if you're struggling with this.

The number one goal for you right now is to lower your tension and stress levels, because this level of high tension is perpetuating your symptoms. I highly recommend you read Claire Weekes "hope and help for your nerves" and start some evening relaxation session with CD's from Dr Emmett Miller. That's what got me through that stressful period, and my pain left me in a number of weeks. I'm in a very stressful job again at the moment, but have been able to keep my TMS in check, as I have a daily routine of an soothing my mind after work with the help of Dr Miller.

Good luck Bill - you will get there.
 
BillFoster said:
I sit at a desk 14 hours/day and am crushed by a massive workload.
Click to expand...

I can just imagine how this would affect someone psychologically. Have you considered how your working day impacts on you from this angle as opposed to a physical perspective? Pay attention to some of the dialogue running through your head. What are you saying to yourself apart from this or that hurts? Your focus seems to be on the physical aspects of your condition, your numb hands, the shoulder snapping and popping. I will grant these things are pretty scary but that is their whole purpose. If you are thinking about all of these symptoms, you can easily avoid addressing what's really important, your overall happiness and wellbeing.

In contrast I used to work a 25 hour week. Sometimes I would go out and meet with people. I worked in a helping profession. Most of the time I sat at my desk scratching around for tasks to complete, bored to tears literally. One day I sat at my desk and cried silently so as not to attract attention. I eventually resigned from the job after two years of hoping it would get better. Two weeks into my notice period those old familiar physical symptoms crept up on me and by the time I left I couldn't start a new job due to complete physical incapacity. My new 'job' was finding a way to rid myself of the physical pain which served it's purpose of avoiding all the emotional pain. At my last job I felt invisible, rejected, unwanted, useless and unappreciated. One of my colleagues had been cold-shouldering me for weeks and when she left for her vacation just before I finished my notice period, even though she knew I wouldn't be there when she got back, she couldn't muster up the maturity to say good-bye, let alone make eye contact with me.

Most people don't have the luxury of resigning. I could have faced all those feelings, taken steps to address personal issues and lack of work but I chose to cut and run. Happily I am in employment again but under completely different terms. I'm still working on those emotional issues too.
 
During college vacation one summer I worked in a factory, on the electric frying pan assembly line, and one of the
women said she was going to spend her week's vacation in the hospital, just resting up before returning to work.

What a life!
 
All of you have encouraged me. I deeply appreciate the time you spare for strangers. I do not yet have the luxury of resignation as I have no savings. I work in mining and am in a high testosterone, high demand environment. There's no time for wimps, emotional nonsense, or pain. I want to slap myself for even considering "inner child" or any kind of emotional problems. "You pussy, real men are not affected by such nonsense." Clearly this attitude is not healthy.
 
Walt Oleksy said:
Hi, Bill. I sure wish you could work even half that long each day. Did someone lose their job and you get their workload?
What do you work at?

Can you take even short breaks? Just stand and move your arms and body and do some deep breathing at least every half hour?

I never heard of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome but it seems to me there is no doubt your symptoms are TMS from work stress that is
probably making you very angry. At your boss, for sure.

Your subconscious knows this and gives you pain so you try to find a way to deal with your work
situation.

Don't attribute your headache and neck pain with having gone running. The exercise is important in your healing and over-all good health.
Don't let running become a conditioned reflex associated with your symptoms. Running has nothing to do with them.

Your symptoms are psychological... TMS... tension developed into anger... because of your heavy work situation. If you can't resolve it, can you quit?
Click to expand...
You are a caring individual. Your diligent input to this site is inspiring many people. We will overcome.
 
Hi Bill,

One thing that I think would be hugely helpful to you would be to see a physician who understands TMS. Because we aren't physicians, we can't know for sure whether any given diagnosis is TMS. However, a TMS physician knows the anatomy of the thoracic outlet and can give you a real diagnosis. Hearing a diagnosis from an MD, in an office visit, is probably the most helpful steps you can take. Even if there isn't one in your area, no one should have to live with pain, so I think it is fully worth hopping on a plane to visit someone good. Here's our list of TMS doctors:
http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Find_a_TMS_Doctor_or_Therapist

TOS was actually my own diagnosis from around '99 to '03. I think I had about 3 or 4 doctors who gave me the diagnosis (though, when I was at a teaching hospital in Augusta, GA, they called it "Droopy Shoulder Syndrome," which is supposed to be a subtype of TOS). That was just one of many many diagnoses I received, including tendonitis, "RSI," myofascial pain syndrome, TOS, tendonosis, tenosynovitis, GERD, irritated vocal folds from improper speech, and Chondromalacia Patella.

You can read my story by clicking on my picture, clicking My Story, aned clicking the links to my video success story (if you're patient, that is). I don't recall whether I mentioned TOS in the video, but it was definitely in the mix! It just never made sense to me, personally, and I had another doctor tell me I didn't have TOS, so it's not one that jumps to top of mind. In my case, I think that some physicians give out a TOS diagnosis because they are fundamentally compassionate, but don't know about TMS, so they don't know what else to do.

Despite my personal experience, I still think it's worth seeing a TMS physician to rule out any genuine structural causes. Obviously, I'm not a doctor, but when you describe numbness that can be rapidly turned on and turned off by an activity (putting your hand over your head), that seems like something that is especially important to check out with a licensed physician who understands TMS. Your health is tremendously valuable, and it is worth taking proper care.
 
Forest said:
Despite my personal experience, I still think it's worth seeing a TMS physician to rule out any genuine structural causes. Obviously, I'm not a doctor, but when you describe numbness that can be rapidly turned on and turned off by an activity (putting your hand over your head), that seems like something that is especially important to check out with a licensed physician who understands TMS. Your health is tremendously valuable, and it is worth taking proper care.
Click to expand...

I concur, sir. I've been to a number of doctors, I've had XRay, Blood Test, MRI, physical therapy, etc. No abnormalities. One of the docs said to me point blank, "Are you stressed out?" I went to see Dr. Wladislaw Ellis, Thoracic Outlet Specialist having served over 1500 patients. Take a close look at his website, he has a few quotes you will find interesting:

Regarding Diagnosis:
"More important, over 90% of the individuals I have examined are highly motivated perfectionists in the prime of their life and can be characterized as having type A personalities."

Regarding treatment:
"Regardless of the modalities used, the individual afflicted has to go through a significant characterological change and become much less of a type A personality and more of a tai chi practitioner, who practices all activities slowly, smoothly, and gradually. This change usually takes several years."

Regarding causes:
"Interestingly, this is not the only disorder in which this sequence of events occurs. Asthma, chronic regional pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, possibly multiple sclerosis (as well as a number of others) are all initiated and maintained by this cascade of abnormal nerve reactivity and inflammation (neurogenic inflammation)."

What does that sound like to you?

I wonder if my allergy shots have accelerated this nervous irritation. I think perhaps not because I had other TMS symptoms (gastro-intestinal, anxiety, etc.) long before I ever got allergy shots.
 
BillFoster said:
... One of the docs said to me point blank, "Are you stressed out?" I went to see Dr. Wladislaw Ellis, Thoracic Outlet Specialist having served over 1500 patients. Take a close look at his website, he has a few quotes you will find interesting:

Regarding Diagnosis:
"More important, over 90% of the individuals I have examined are highly motivated perfectionists in the prime of their life and can be characterized as having type A personalities."

Regarding treatment:
"Regardless of the modalities used, the individual afflicted has to go through a significant characterological change and become much less of a type A personality and more of a tai chi practitioner, who practices all activities slowly, smoothly, and gradually. This change usually takes several years."

Regarding causes:
"Interestingly, this is not the only disorder in which this sequence of events occurs. Asthma, chronic regional pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, possibly multiple sclerosis (as well as a number of o thers) are all initiated and maintained by this cascade of abnormal nerve reactivity and inflammation (neurogenic inflammation)."

...What does that sound like to you?
Click to expand...

Sounds like TMS !
 
I agree with Dr. Sarno that allergies can be a symptom from TMS, especially if one is a perfectionist.

Maybe try letting up on your own expectations and also try believing 100 percent that the allergies are from TMS
repressed emotions and your perfectionist personality.
 
Bill, what Tennis Tom said! That description sounds like textbook TMS. From my little corner of the world, I see TOS as another variation of TMS. I also found it interesting that you described your work load as "crushing" (and rightly so!)….isn't the mechanism behind TOS considered to be a nerve being crushed, as it were?

I have a good friend who had surgery for TOS. And sure's shootin', after that surgery the other shoulder was deemed as having TOS. Again…a classic TMS sign - the symptom imperative.

There's lots of great info around here Bill so be sure to grab yourself a cup of glass of whatever and sit down and stay awhile! welcomea
 
BillFoster said:
I am having difficulty repudiating the physical. I have been diagnosed with "Thoracic Outlet Syndrome". I sit at a desk 14 hours/day and am crushed by a massive workload.

When a put my hands atop my head, they go numb. My shoulder snaps and pops all the time. My arms hurt when I raise them up. How could there not be a physical/structural problem? I've been fighting this for three years. I've been worsening lately despite my getting into Sarno.

I ran on the 15th. On the 17th, I had a debilitating headache and neck pain. Are these things related? Does such a delay make sense?
Click to expand...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TosSupport/ (Log into Facebook | Facebook)

Join this group TOS is very real, good crowd on this group. Yes TOS IS a physical problem, it is trapping of things near collarbone and first rib!
 
foxylady said:
Yes TOS IS a physical problem, it is trapping of things near collarbone and first rib!
Click to expand...

As blushing is a real physical response to an emotional condition. I could go on and on, as you know.

TMS symptoms are absolutely real. But they are caused by our brains for emotional purposes.

Don't ever forget, our brains are in charge of every physiological process in our bodies.

Did you read Bill's post above? Very affirming confluence with Dr. Sarno's theories, by a TOS specialist:
BillFoster said:
I went to see Dr. Wladislaw Ellis, Thoracic Outlet Specialist having served over 1500 patients. Take a close look at his website, he has a few quotes you will find interesting:
Click to expand...
 
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