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klc183
11 Posts |
 Posted - 10/10/2004 : 20:06:11
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| I have a question/thought. Two years ago, I "hurt" tendons around my knee while running. I realized last year that it was TMS as it happened while I was fuming angry at my boyfriend, but stuffing it. Anyway, I wore a knee strap under my knee while I worked out and ran for over a year, gradually stopping wearing it when I was on the elliptical machine, and then finally 6 months ago stopped wearing it when I ran. I did not have any problems when I stopped wearing it. however, I developed a whole new set of symptoms involving my glutes, IT Band, pelvis/groin, and adductors/hip flexors. It is uncomfortable, not unbearable, to run, something I am passionate about (marathon runner). I love to run. I stopped running for over a month, resumed it, with the IT glute pain subsiding, but the hip flexor/adductor/groin pain lingering, sometimes bad, mild, or non-existent. I work on ignoring it, but it really makes my runs "no fun" even though I feel so good everywhere else. My point..when I first started running again that tendon pain in my knee returned, and I was able to quickly say - whatever..I know this is TMS and it literally disappeared, popping up occasionally but I simply say I will not pay attention and it is gone. Now, when I first had this symptom when it first strated, I never bent my knee going up or down stairs (I protected it), and it evoked worse anxiety and fear than this present pain. However, I cannot seem to get rid of this present problem, and I don't understand it, no matter how much I run through it, ignore it, journal about it, etc.....Does anyone know if Sarno talks about this? I don't recall from reading his book anything like this... KLC |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2004 : 10:57:57
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You're on the right track; you can't expect quick results.
Once you accepted the knee pain as TMS, it was replaced by different symptoms. Treat those symptoms in exactly the same way: ignore them as much as possible and accept their purpose. Some symptoms are harder to shake than others. Accept the process and don't get frustrated if it takes weeks or months to get measurable relief.
Your point about bending your knee is important. You have been conditioned to fear that the pain will return if you bend your knee going up and down stairs. Even though you now accept the knee pain as TMS, the fear of that specific physical activity still exists, and that activity is a trigger for the pain. The fear and anxiety is often harder to banish than the pain itself. Just keep up the process and have confidence that eventually, you will prevail. |
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menvert
Australia
133 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2004 : 19:51:10
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hi klc183,
Pain moving to new sites is usually regarded as a positive progression for TMS .
I know for me my older pain, which I have lived with for longer is a lot easier to ignore and desensitise. Any of my new a pains tend to be harder for me to banish, because they are newer and less familiar . my original RSI based symptoms, I pay them very little heed, but sometimes when my back(my newer symptom) hurts . it is near impossible for me to ignore and deal with , but now I am getting very good even dealing with that as you kind of have to learn your technique for each individual symptom (at least that's how it seems to work for me)
it can sometimes take awhile to build up your confidence for a specific symptom... particularly newer ones, you are yet to convince your brain that you know they are not physical in cause.
For me focus is one of the biggest issues. For instance, when you're running, I suggest you find something you can focus on, which has nothing to do with your pain... it can be anything: observing in detail the scenery, working out your finances, dreaming of that holiday you want to go on etc. etc.
usually, it is suggested that it is also good to focus on your internal rage, whatever it might be(imagine it even) or the emotional situations related to when you have flareups...(although personally, I sometimes find focusing on the emotions surrounding pain and flareups is another form of focusing on the pain for me, so is not always useful)
Find something that works for you personally... and don't be afraid to play with it a bit... ie , if you are going to do a triggering event, then don't avoid it BUT instead say to yourself 'this is a triggering event and due to TMS will probably cause pain'. In a way you are showing your brain, you know it's trick and you can even predict it. Then you can move onto Knowing that you can start doing the event without pain.
Anyway that's a few ideas from my personal experience.
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My TMS = diagnosed with fibromyalgia - forearm & hand tendonitis - vocal cord muscle tension dysphonia - bad back/knee also IBS & acid reflux |
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Differing abilities to resolve
