Update

[Ana321]

Hey all,

Just thought I'd give a quick update and ask for some advice.

The last month has been really bad with my right hip/leg just constantly hurting and stiffening up. It started after a 3 day wedding and consistent people pleasing followed by exams at my university, leaving the country I was studying abroad in, going back to Poland where my family from home has come to holiday (meeting up with my parents and sister again) as well as anticipating returning home to Australia at the end of the month. Anyway I've been unable to walk and my family has been really worried, somewhere along the way they started convincing me it might be structural again so my tms belief wavered and things have just been out of freaking control.

I came to Poland for a check up and once again shocked my doctors at thr state I'm in as In, the level of pain and stiffness. I had a scan done and aside from some joint space narrowing on my right hip due to... tight muscles and ...tension there is nothing wrong and they see no reason to operate.

Here's where I'm at. My doctors recognize I'm generating tension and stiffening up so they want me to start speaking to a psychologist whilst simultaneously doing physical therapy to move thr joint and so i don't seize up like I did the first time around with my left hip where I lost all mobility in my joint due to immobilization because of pain. I basically cry every time they start doing physical therapy coz I just cannot take it anymore but am also scared that if I don't keep moving I'll lose all function even though I'm bavk to thinking it's tms again.

I don't know what to do, I'm absolutely exhausted and can't take physical therapy but am worried I'm making a wrong decision in stopping it. I figure If I just do some light yoga and keep trying to exercise and maybe get into a pool while trying to journal, write, meditate and speak to someone it might be a better way to go but I'm unsure and just need some advice.

My family arrived this morning and I was literally shaking from anxiety until I took a pain pill and the pain settled as did my anxiety. It just feels like a never ending prison sentence. . Need some advice..

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, Ana. You certainly are a globe-trotter and that alone could give me aches and pains.

I think you have the right approach to your exercise dilemma. Light yoga and time in a pool will be great and you can always rejoin physical therapy anytime you feel up to it. There are some easy exercise videos on youtube. I'm 86 like the ones for seniors.

As for anxiety regarding being with your parents, try not to get into heavy discussions. Practice deep breathing to calm you. If you can find 10 minutes a day by yourself, maybe try meditation. I especially like the Relaxation Response...

Meditation is a time-honored way of relaxing the mind and relieving anxiety, mental stress, headaches, and even physical pain. There are many ways to practice meditation, but many consider the most successful to be a technique called the Relaxation Response (RR).

It is a wonderful way to practice TMS Mindbody Healing because it changes harmful thinking in the subconscious mind which Dr. John Sarno says causes pain that is not caused by anything structural.

The RR, practiced once or twice a day for 10, 15, or 20 minutes has a profound positive effect on the subconscious mind, relieving or curing everything from anxiety, hypertension, headaches, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, high blood pressure, insomnia, stomach problems, all forms of pain including backaches, abdominal pain, muscle pain, neck, arm, and leg pain, and relieves side affects from cancer and AIDS.

RR is like Transcendental Meditation which is taught by TM specialists who charge hundreds or thousands of dollars. But the RR is free and you can do it yourself.

It is practiced, before a meal, and works best if not practiced within two hours after a meal. I do it in bed before arising in the morning and again in bed before falling sleep. Often, I only do it 5 or 10 minutes and it works to calm me and put me to sleep.

Just sit in a chair (or lie in bed in the morning or at bedtime), close your eyes, don’t listen to any music, and try to avoid outside noises. Let your mind think of a word such as

"One " which has no real meaning or association. Or say a calming word such as “Calm” or “Peace,” or add the faith or spiritual element by saying a favorite religious word or prayer. Breathe naturally or incorporate Deep Breathing by breathing in through the mouth to inflate the stomach, suck in the stomach while holding the breath for a few seconds, then say the word when you exhale through the mouth.

Say the word silently over and over. At the end of the 10 to 20 minutes, picture and feel yourself as you were when you felt your best, and in a place where you felt that way.

When distracting thoughts arise during the RR, as they will, just tell yourself, “Oh, well,” and go back to repeating your chosen word.

My "word" is a prayer: "God loves me and is protecting me." I say it a few times and go right to sleep. If my mind wanders onto other things, I tell myself"Oh, well," and repeat my mantra silently while deep breathing.

There are several free videos on Youtube about the Relaxation Response. I especially recommend these two by Dr. Benson: