Well, it’s back - big-time

Yep, TMS reared its ugly head the last few months, but I thought I could beat it like I did before; however, I’ve now added leg cramps to my list, which sometimes wakes me from a dead sleep or first thing in the morning. I was treadmill walking, which seemed to make it worse, so stopped it for a while, which did help. Now, it’s because I’m not walking enough. I just can’t win here.

I’m wondering something about Sarno’s idea of completely gtting rid of the helps. How many of you who’ve healed 100% had to put away the crutches used with TMS once pain started subsiding, i.e., the meds, creams, patches, hot, cold, natural remedies, etc....in order to fully heal? And, did you notice pain came back after you flared and started using the crutches to help get you through the rough patches?

Can your brain be addicted to pain, just as it can be addicted to drugs? Do I need to go through a withdrawl period?

Those who’ve gone down this road, what changed? What got you back to being pain-free, and how did you eliminate TMS for good? @Steve Ozanich @Ellen @plum @FredAmir @JanAtheCPA @Alan Gordon LCSW

 

Hi Jules,

I hope you hear this deeply: You are not failing!

You developed a sense of not caring, and this helped you. You've dipped deeply into effective self-treatment. This experience/learning is with you now. Know that you are well, deep down, and that what you're experiencing lately is part of an ongoing, natural learning process for you.

You're learning, not failing, and none of this is linear! Sending confidence!

Andy B

 

Hi Jules,

Well this post is also my wake up call. Been just reading lately not posting.
One year ago i thought i was heading for the finish line with my footpain but tms found abother spot.

I was wondering about the ‘completely healed ‘ part a long time already.
And already noticed this would be ‘never’ sadly
I was aiming for ‘painless’ etc
But that seems not an option :i think
i have to face a new reality:
stuf will keep popping up when i get tensed:
the real problem is : my obession and fear about that. Ofcourse this was obvious but i am shocked to find myself in that same trap ‘ again.
Maybe : the flares are normal : the goal is to not let my reaction on that flare spin out of control ?
That’s my guess
And also the ‘loop’ i get stuck in : i know how bad it can get : so the fear is greater. Also the ‘anger’ did i work so hard for so long to go back into
pain and fear?
So i get you Jules. Hope you get back on track soon
@JanAtheCPA thanks for your insight on this.
I can also learn from your approach.

 

Jan,

As always, wise words. Thank you.

I'm not fearful of the pain per se, I'm more fearful that it's affecting my work. I quit around the same time as my old job (7 months) but really like this job, so not sure why it's creeping up now. What's interesting is that when I got home yesterday, my whole arm was aching, but as soon as I started playing with my mutt and literally running up and down the hall with him, the pain disappeared?? Distraction maybe? In fact, in the summer last year and even into the fall, I did so well. I kept active and busy, but that's not realistic to always be moving. I only work 6 hours a day, so it's an ideal situation. It does seem every winter, the pain comes back with a vengeance. Granted, I hate winter, but come on, the pain decides to hit me then?

I really am trying to figure out these triggers but have no clue, but it does seem like it's a pattern in four areas: right shoulder, which radiates down the arm and into the wrist, head, right ribs, and left leg. The pain moves nearly daily. Now, this is a vast improvement. The pelvic, hips, back, jaw, and digestive issues, dizziness, and balance issues are gone, for the most part. It's just why is it still sticking around? I've been therapy for three plus years and we have worked very hard on processing traumas and changing my thought process.

I also wonder if my crutches are keeping the pain around, so the brain thinks I need it, so it gives me more pain which keeps me distracted with the pain and I keep using therapy to eliminate it. The vicious cycle continues. It's like the Thailand trip reset things, which was great, but then my sister was diagnosed with celiacs and eagle's syndrome, among other things, and she keeps pestering me to get checked out because it's "genetic." My mother had shoulder surgery 6 months ago and may need a complete shoulder replacement. I found out my former LDS bishop was arrested on sex trafficking. Now, the pain resurfaced before these things happened, except for my mother's surgery. Of course, subconsciously, my brain has latched onto it, I'm sure, even though I have basically plugged my ears so I don't hear it. Still, when family around you are in pain and suffering, it's hard to ignore.

I did get a hold of a TMS therapist for some more help, and would really love to see an actual TMS doctor, but there's none in my state. I feel if I actually got diagnosed with TMS, it may get my brain to finally let go.

 

Karina,

I would even be happy with mostly gone (the pain) which did happen for several months in the summer and fall, but winter hit and the pain comes back. It's like the barometric pressure is in sync with TMS and happily uses to keep things going. I'm jealous that so many people have healed, even when it took them a couple of years. This is year 6 and it's still here. My brain, it seems, is very stubborn or just so conditioned, it feels like it may never fully leave. Do I want to hear that? NO. I accepted TMS 100%, still do, but starting to wonder maybe I'm the small percentage that it doesn't completely work for. And yet, it left for about 6 months, so what triggered it to come back?
So many questions.
Hope we can both figure it out and beat this once and for all!

 

Thanks Andy.

You're right, I did stop caring, and for the most part, I don't, but this latest flare is affecting my work and I can't keep taking meds and creams to get through my day. It's quite frustrating.

Thanks for your confidence in me and support.

 

That’s my strugle basicly now too : what triggered it again? I had a ton of stress last year, sick mother and other sibling extremly sick. Now things are calmer, but i am not. Strugle hard with ibs.
Working with a therapist , but so
far i am not really seeing progress
. My work situation, not being able too right now, is also stressful and frustrating. Just want to ‘move on with life and leave this pain and frustration behind me. I think i learned about tms i n 2015. Need the final ‘klick’

 

Hi Jules - I hear you, I too struggled with relapse. Check out this Podcast, it very well could help. Best of luck!

https://audioboom.com/posts/7173184-057-kevin-martillo-viner-phd?fbclid=IwAR3rNp4jPCIHqRjPfRXEK1ekHSGJHmHPcu6pJUEPAEq6-f8m1dXoCOKk_ng (Audioboom / 057 - Kevin Martillo Viner, PhD)