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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
 Posted - 09/22/2009 : 13:54:56
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hello everybody, I started the same thread a few days ago on the RSI Association forum website, but this forum seems to get more traffic:
I thought that this might be interesting for other people, and give some structure to my own attempt.
There was quite a bit of stress going on in my life at the time of the initial onset of symptoms, I would be spending about 16 hours plus (pretty much every waking hour) either playing the guitar or on the computer. I'd also got somewhat addicted to Internet poker, so a typical day would be eight hours at work on the computer, come home, switch on the computer, play pretty much continuously until past midnight, then go to bed. My ergonomic set up was pretty much non-existent, a stretched arm with a bent wrist making tens of thousands of clicks every day. I had just decided to take a computer course qualification when I first got a tingling sensation in my right hand. It was suddenly uncomfortable to click on the mouse, indeed even uncomfortable to hear the sound of it clicking (a bit like hearing nails on a blackboard). I could type but anything more than about 30 minutes at one stretch would lead to short-term aching in both hands and wrists.
This continued for about 12 months before a completely sudden deterioration of the condition. I had some reports to type and as result was pushing my body through the aching from typing too much. Suddenly it felt as though something had just "gone". Both hands were completely inflamed, as though from really severe pins and needles. From that moment on I was unable to type at all or even write a couple of sentences without going flares up of pain often lasting an hour or more.
Since then there has been a gradual deterioration in symptoms. Persistent levels of pain in both elbows, occasional pain in both Achilles heels, a consistent level of low-level pins and needles in both hands and wrists. I found that going swimming brought on symptoms in a completely different way. Unlike typing or writing which would bring on symptoms instantaneously, I felt fine immediately after the swim, and yet over the next few hours both elbows became more and more inflamed. To the extent that by the evening I was unable to sleep due to the pain.
After reading "it's not carpal tunnel syndrome" I started to try some of the stretches recommended, though this seemed to make things even worse. I started waking up with the whole of my arm numb from the elbow down to my fingers, and with numbness and grip strength severely diminished continuing throughout the day. Thankfully this has only happened a few times
then at the weekend after three years since the onset of initial symptoms, and over a year and a half after they significantly deteriorated, I bought a copy of Dr Sarno's "mindbody prescription". This will be a log of how I get on.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2009 : 13:56:51
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I have to say that after two days I am already cautiously optimistic. On encouragement from the book I had tried to conquer my fear of further injury which has become pretty much all pervasive, to the extent where I can't even begin to name all the things that I've stopped doing in case I aggravate the symptoms any further.
I have typed more than I have done in the last two years (without using voice recognition software like I'm using now). I hadn't typed more than a couple of words free hand in the past year and a half, but with some trepidation I sat in front of the keyboard with the classic keyboard finger spread (and not the singledigit one letter at a time I had occasionally employed when absolutely essential). Over the weekend I worked up to typing two paragraphs in one go, without the level of significant pain/discomfort I had been expecting. There were some mild aching but even this dissipated relatively quickly. It was pretty incredible. Also incredible was just how hard my heart was beating when I sat in front of the keyboard ready to type for the first time. I had to close my eyes and take deep breaths for several minutes just to calm myself down. It was also noticeable that the tingling/pain increased almost in anticipation.
I have also picked up my guitar for the first time in three years. Considering that I used to play it every single day I have really missed this. I found that I could play for several minutes at a stretch again with nothing more than mild tingling.
I've started running on my exercise bike (yet another activity I had discontinued), and have run three or 4 miles over the weekend.
And I have also started to write with a pen again, managing about two paragraphs with just some discomfort in my wrist and elbow.
Now, whether this is an "improvement" based on an implementation of TMS theory, or whether I have been able to do more than I thought for some time, and have simply been underestimating my ability due to fear of further injury it is too early to tell. But I am cautiously optimistic. Which makes a nice change.
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2009 : 13:59:55
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Right, I'm typing this without Dragon......
I thought it would be interesting to list all the medical contact i've had over the past 3 years;
6 different GPs
1 hosptal doctor
2 occupational health professionals
2 rheumatologists
1 neurologist
2 pysiotherapists
2 MRI scans; brain and neck
2 courses of phsyio
steriod injections in both wrists
chest x ray
nerve conduction studies
blood tests
urine tests
(at least it's all free on the NHS )
(damn, medical spellings are tough - pysio, physio, pshyio ahhh....)
It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2009 : 11:43:48
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Today I booked an appointment with the pain relief clinic in Huddersfield for this Saturday. It seems to be the only TMS clinic in the North of England. My initial appointment is for 1 ½ hours, so I will see what they say. At £120 it isn’t especially cheap, but given that I would willingly pay £100,000 (if I had it!) to cure RSI, I figure that at £100 odd pounds even if it has only a 1% chance of helping, it’s worth paying for.
I have typed over 100 words today, played guitar for about 30 minutes with breaks and run about 2 miles on my running machine. All of this is a massive improvement from what I was (or rather wasn’t) doing last week. Whether I have been able to do this level of activity for some time and have simply been too afraid to try is quite puzzling. With both the guitar playing and typing I can't say objectively because I haven't tried either for well over a year. Writing using a pen does however seem to provoke less pain than previously.
"The divided mind" just arrived from Amazon and I've started that as well. |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
816 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 11:48:28
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Hi Gibbon,
Thanks for writing this. I think it will definitely help others. It sounds like you're doing well - keep it up and don't rush things.
quote:
damn, medical spellings are tough - pysio, physio, pshyio
I know what you mean. I can never type the word therpaist correctly 1st time around and always have to go back and correct it.
It felt a bit strange for me going back to typing initially after so many years of using Dragon.
Have you read the RSI Success Stories on the wiki?
Good luck with your appointment on Saturday. Georgie seems a really nice person and I don't think you'll regret making the appointment.
Hilary N |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 12:36:11
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Hello Hilary,
yes, after such a long time using Dragon my spelling ability seems to have declined somewhat. 
it's probably good advice about trying not to rush things, although I am both quite impatient and a little bit obsessive, so it could be something of a challenge...
I'm looking forward to speaking to Georgie at the weekend, I think it was thanks to one of your recommendations on another thread that put me in touch. |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 18:43:07
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Congratulations, Gibbon, on your wonderful progress. I couldn't even use Dragon since it made my throat hurt! Now I type all I want...
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 12:05:08
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Thursday:
Today the Rsi seemed less than previously, but my knee was aching throughout the day. This may be because I have been running a few miles a day on the running bike, whereas previously I had done next to no exercise. The injury is initially from a number of years back, when I was playing basketball. However it flared up when hillwalking several months ago, and seems to ache after any significant exercise. Is this because of displacement? Or because of a structural injury?
Friday:
My knee pain has gone today, and I was even able to run without pain, is it really TMS too? My RSI is a little worse than yesterday, it was a bit stressful at work, and when I came home I noticed there was aching in my wrist/pins and needles even before any aggravating exercise etc. for the first time this week.
Thinking about other improvements over the week however - I've noticed that my elbows aren't "clicking" with any regularity now. Previously after sitting for any length of time i would have to stretch my elbows straight two or three times to "click" them, sometimes quite bone-shudderingly. This seems to have stopped pretty much overnight.
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Edited by - Gibbon on 09/25/2009 12:54:48 |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 18:49:00
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Congratulations on your progress!
While it may help you to record your progress, and doing so requires you to talk about your symptoms, don't forget that the TMS approach is about thinking emotionally rather than physically. That's hard if you've been diagnosed with RSI for a long time, but it is vitally important with TMS. If you want advice, mine would be to avoid trying connect activities with symptoms. Rather, connect emotions and stresses with symptoms.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
Edited by - forestfortrees on 09/25/2009 18:50:16 |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 15:53:32
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Thanks Forest for your support. Probably good advice, i'm not too great on emotional stuff, guess i'll have to learn.....
Today I went to the pain relief centre, having taken two hours to get there (an hour longer than it should take due to a number of unwanted detours in Huddersfield) I needed something just to relieve the stress of the journey. It was a pretty helpful session, basically just talking about RSI, when it is painful, what was going on in my life when it first started etc etc. Anyway, I’ve signed up for the 6 week course, which is basically 3 more face-to-face sessions along with a book to help with journaling and a CD with TMS stuff…..I wasn’t sure whether or not to sign up, or whether it would be just as good to try and do it myself, but I think that this will at least lend some sort of structure to my attempts, as well as providing additional support if necessary.
I went home and started filling in the journal provided, answering questions about the condition, all in all probably writing about 200 words by hand – more than I have done previously. I’ve also dug out my old songbooks and had a good long play on my guitar. And now I’m typing all this by hand, with just minor tingling in my fingers. If you’d told me there would be such an improvement in 1 week I would have thought you were crazy. I’m pretty amazed myself. But not getting carried away just yet. Well, maybe just a little bit.
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2009 : 02:26:13
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Just in case my last post made it seem as though everything is "cured", I should probably make it clear that there is probably quite a long way to go. My objective measures of "cure" will be:
1. Regularly using normal typing rather than Dragon. Able to type 1 page of A4 without any residual pain or tingling.
2. Going swimming with no after effects.
3. Being able to write free hand as much as necessary with no pain.
4. Being able to play guitar with no pain.
5. Playing a game of badminton with no after effects.
Of those there has definitely been progress for 1, 3, 4. 2 will be a big test because the last time I went swimming both elbows were in very severe throbbing pain for several hours. |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
816 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2009 : 09:30:17
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The other good thing about joining the programme is that you will be able to talk to other TMS sufferers and recoverers which I think is very helpful.
Hilary N |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 09/27/2009 : 18:48:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
Thanks Forest for your support. Probably good advice, i'm not too great on emotional stuff, guess i'll have to learn.....
I have the same problem... You might find that this is why you are in this mess in the first place...  (Getting in touch with your emotions can go a long way to curing TMS.)
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
Today I went to the pain relief centre...
For other people who are reading this thread (I noticed that there are a bunch), you can read more about the program by following the links in the TMS Wiki's Structured TMS recovery programs and Georgie Oldfield, MCSP pages. Most everyone knows about Howard Schubiner's program, but there are actually 4 other programs out there, and you can read about all of them there. If you want to ask questions of Georgie, you can post them at the bottom of her profile page at the wiki--she's offered to respond to questions posted there. She's also a member of the wiki's panel of experts for its Q&A with an Expert program. Scroll down to see the questions she's answered.
Sorry if I got a little out of hand, there, but I'm a big fan of Georgie's and I'd consider her a friend of mine.
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
If you’d told me there would be such an improvement in 1 week I would have thought you were crazy. I’m pretty amazed myself.
It's a wonderful feeling isn't it? I struggled for 19 years, and my life was turned around in just the space of a couple of weeks. I'm not saying that there isn't more work to do--most likely there is a lot--but accepting the diagnosis and starting a program like this is a vital step. Congratulations!
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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HilaryN
United Kingdom
816 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2009 : 01:42:54
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Yes it is wonderful! I'm doing it less now as time goes by, but I still occasionally look down in wonder at my hands as I'm typing - I couldn't do that for 13 years.
One time at work I was typing away and I suddenly heard this voice behind me "What are you doing?"
I looked round to see a former colleague staring at me. He'd only ever seen me using Dragon voice recognition when I sat near him. "You're typing!"
I grinned and explained.
Hilary N |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2009 : 12:54:12
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At the moment I'm really enjoying being able to play guitar again....I've probably played for about 1 1/2 hours today with no thoughts of pain (beyond the fast developing blisters on the top of my fingers. After such a long time not playing all my string-hardened fingers are far too soft and delicate. ). I've promised myself that I'm going to go guitar shopping at the weekend if i continue to improve. the TMS program seems to be a good excuse to be self-indulgent.
Unfortunately i can't make the TMS support group this wednesday in Huddersfield, I have an school open day to attend....however i'm definitly penciling in the date for next month. The biggest help so far has been reading "survivor stories" so to speak. To actually know that people with symptoms like my own (and often much worse) have fully recovered with no long term damage has given me the confidence to actually push my body rather than wrap it up in cotton wool in case i do any further damage.....
so a massive thanks to everyone who helps by posting here and on the associated wiki-links.....
(and i've just typed all this by hand....yay!) |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 12:24:09
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A quick update:
i would say i have (tentatively) achieved 2 of my 5 objectives - i've played guitar for over an hour non-stop with barely and noticeable symptoms. Equally today i played badminton for over an hour - an absolutely amazing feeling. With regards to typing, i typed about 600 words in one go a couple of days ago, but provoked a bit of pain which persisted into the next day. Obviously i was pushing a little too fast.
i noticed an old knee injury flared up again during badminton, but i ignored it and it has now gone. TMS displacement i guess.... |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 13:07:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
A quick update:
i would say i have (tentatively) achieved 2 of my 5 objectives - i've played guitar for over an hour non-stop with barely and noticeable symptoms. Equally today i played badminton for over an hour - an absolutely amazing feeling. With regards to typing, i typed about 600 words in one go a couple of days ago, but provoked a bit of pain which persisted into the next day. Obviously i was pushing a little too fast.
Congratulations! It's a great feeling. Personally, I try not to worry about pain persisting the next day. I think that this is especially important for us with RSI, because we are conditioned to think that all of our pain is from activity. I played squash last Wednesday and was sore for the next 3 days! But then I played it again yesterday and now I feel fine! As someone who had lived with RSI for many years, learning to not listen to my body so much was hard, but it was a crucial part of my recovery. I'm not saying to rush out and go crazy typing all day, but just that it can be healthy to not worry about it too much...
... Congrats again on your progress.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 13:14:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
Unfortunately i can't make the TMS support group this wednesday in Huddersfield, I have an school open day to attend....however i'm definitly penciling in the date for next month. The biggest help so far has been reading "survivor stories" so to speak. To actually know that people with symptoms like my own (and often much worse) have fully recovered with no long term damage has given me the confidence to actually push my body rather than wrap it up in cotton wool in case i do any further damage.....
so a massive thanks to everyone who helps by posting here and on the associated wiki-links.....
(and i've just typed all this by hand....yay!)
Reading other people's stories was a vital part of my recovery as well. We typically call them "success stories," because we didn't just survive--these ideas can actually help us overcome our pain and learn something about ourselves in the process.
If you can't make the support group in Huddersfield, I'd definitely suggest the online success stories live panel on October 11. At least one other person diagnosed with RSI will be presenting (most likely 3 others diagnosed with back pain will be), and you'll have a chance to ask questions as well. I'll be there, and if you like, we can talk on Skype afterward. Hilary might be willing to join as well.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 16:19:15
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Hiya forest,
it's quite difficult to get used to not listening to your body when there's pain - i guess i've had a lifetime of conditioning - pain = stop what your doing....I played badminton for an hour today, non-stop in quite a competitive doubles match againt some of the PE teachers at school (i'm a teacher btw...)....i was completely shattered by the end, it's probably the most exercise i've done for about 3 years! My knee keeps flaring up but i keep ignoring it, and it seems to disappear again.
I'll definitly try to log on on Oct 11, though i'm afraid i'm a bit of a techno-luddite, so no skype....
I've also just booked a short 3 day break to Barcelona in half term (3 weeks time) as a reward to myself for progress so far. I'm working up to getting in the pool to go swimming, but don't think i'm ready just yet.... |
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Gibbon
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 15:22:54
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Another update:
I joined a health club at the weekend on a week's trial, and have been swimming for the last 3 days. The first day i swam about 100 metres, and got the same slow-onset tingling/pain in the elbows that i had got previously (though nothing like as severe). I decided i was just going to ignore it, and went swimming the next day, again only for about 100 metres. And...nothing! No pain! I've been again tonight, probably doing about 150m. This is really my first absolute objective measure of difference relative to just a few weeks ago.
The last time i went in water was in Italy over the summer, where i just paddled and swum a small amount of backstroke (consciously avoiding breaststroke or any strenuous swimming), and yet after that i had very severe pain throughout the night, persisting throughout the following day - to the extent where my arms felt heavy as though i was dragging 2kg weights around all the time....
i love swimming, and being able to do it again is wonderful....
my current positive mantra is "every day i will achieve more than yesterday", and so far i'm seeing progress day on day. |
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forestfortrees
206 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2009 : 16:44:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
i love swimming, and being able to do it again is wonderful....
my current positive mantra is "every day i will achieve more than yesterday", and so far i'm seeing progress day on day.
Isn't it wonderful? Congratulations! Moments like these it can feel like you are finally getting your life back again. And they are so empowering because you didn't have to rely on any surgeon or drugs.
My story is very similar. I had problems with my right knee, and kept off of my feet as much as I possibly could. When I decided that I was really going to do this, I decided to walk to school. Previously, if I had done half as much walking, my body would feel it the next day. This time I did twice as much and actually felt better the next day. That is when I knew that it must be real.
Keep us updated. I'm so busy with the wiki and my job that I can't always come back to check very often, but I will definitely keep checking.
quote:
Originally posted by Gibbon
I'll definitly try to log on on Oct 11, though i'm afraid i'm a bit of a techno-luddite, so no skype....
Alternatively, we could just conference in your phone line. It would only cost about $.63 for 30 minutes, and I'd be happy to spring for it. You could promise to write a book review for your favorite TMS book for the wiki to make it up to me (I am always dying to get more book reviews). We'd both feel like we got the better end of the deal.
Forest
tmswiki.org |
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Diary of an RSI sufferer's application of Dr Sarno
