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GeorgeM
USA
4 Posts |
 Posted - 07/23/2010 : 21:21:57
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Hello, I'm in my late 20s and have had constant back pain and stiffness for the past 7 years. Literally, my back has felt as though tightened into a vise or in a straightjacket, and there is nothing that has relieved the stiffness. I've been to many doctors and specialists. After my chiropractor could not help me, I went to my family practitioner, who referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist said nothing was neurologically wrong with me. I then was sent to an osteopath, who took X-rays. No tumors and he said there was nothing structurally wrong with my spinal bones (except a minor scoliosis). I then went with a spine specialist/neurosurgeon, who did MRIs on my back. The radiologist results (which I read from the MRI folder) said that the discs looked fine. He noted a few whorls or something like that, and he said that my diagnosis likely is epidural lipomatosis. The spinal specialist, however, did not even mention this. When I asked what the problem was, he said that it was disc degeneration in the thoracic area of my spine. He gave me epidural injections which did not help at all. He moved to Florida, so I went to another spinal specialist elsewhere. He too said something about disc degeneration, and responded to my inquest that it was "genetic." This time I had trigger-point injections, which also did nothing.
During and after this time, I tried glucosamine/chondroitin (in expensive liquid form), but to no benefit. The doctors prescribed me anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, which made me light-headed and super-sleepy, respectively. They did not loosen up my back at all. I tried physical therapy several times, to strengthen my back muscles, but my thoracic muscles were very tight and the exercises did not seem to help. The tightness has since reduced my range of motion, with rotating my torso and even extending my arms. It's very frustrating and painful to move around. I used to run 5 miles a day; now I am in pain just walking across a room.
I went to a homeopath for a year, and the homeopathic medicine did not seem to help. Sometimes, as with herbal medicines, the first week I would feel mentally better, but the pain and stiffness in my back remained, and afterwards the almost anti-depressant effects wore off.
My back pain was preceded by extreme stress in my life. I had social anxiety that developed into depression, and I took several SSRIs, which gave me extreme headaches and did not raise the depression at all. Since that time 7 years ago, I've wondered if perhaps the SSRI's damaged a part of my brain, or if the fact that I've never truly recovered from depression has led to the worsening state of affairs with my back. Since the stiffness and pain has been getting worse over the years (now extending down my left leg and my arms, sometimes), I thought that perhaps the degeneration in my disc material were making the pain and stiffness more intense.
I read Dr. Sarno's Healing Back Pain, finishing it on July 14 of this month. Immediately afterwards, I read the Mindbody Prescription. In reading Dr. Sarno's books, I believed that he hit what I always thought the case--that what I was experiencing was influenced by my psychology, by my feelings of anger, anxiety and so forth that I have held within. I probed myself for these feelings throughout my life, and wrote them down. I'm wondering though, how long does it take for the back pain and stiffness to go away? I've read reviews that peoples' back pain went away even before finishing the book, in other cases within a few days. It's been about 10 days since I finished the first book, and my back is still stiff as ever.
Do you think what I have provided similiar to the descriptions of TMS? One thing I wonder is that my back pain and stiffness is constant and is in the thoracic area of my back. It also has radiated around my shoulders and chest. I thought most TMS-related back pain was in the lumbar area.
Thank you!
G |
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GeorgeM
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 21:23:41
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I forgot to mention that I also went to a Rheumatologist who conducted blood work and found no rheumatoid condition. No arthritis indications in his opinion. When I asked why then my back was constantly stiff and my back cracked at every movement, he said, "muscle spasms."
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Capn Spanky
112 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2010 : 08:39:38
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| Sounds like it could be TMS. Tension can create stiffness and tension starts in our head. It's good that you've had everythng checked to rule out other medical issues. |
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tennis tom
USA
4746 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2010 : 19:28:47
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quote:
Originally posted by GeorgeM
I forgot to mention that I also went to a Rheumatologist who conducted blood work and found no rheumatoid condition. No arthritis indications in his opinion. When I asked why then my back was constantly stiff and my back cracked at every movement, he said, "muscle spasms."
G
You did what Dr. Sarno says to do, get checked out by a physician to exclude anything serious. Sounds like the rheumatologist even confirmed TMS as the dx, when he said it was "muscle spasms", although he may not be aware of the theory. "Cracking" sounds are normal sounds that joints make, like popping your knuckles, nothing to worry about.
Joints have things called bursaes, they produce synovial fluid to lubricate the joint for activity. The more activity, the more lubrication. I regularly feel my neck muscles cracking or rubbing until I do rotations of it and the synovial fluid lubes it and the "cracking" stops.
By the rules of TMS, you are highly tuned into this normal bodily function and fearful of it. It is performing its TMS duty to DISTRACT you from the emotional issues that your subconscious has decided would be more painful to deal with head-on and is doing its TMS job to PROTECT you from.
It took your mind a long time to develop this defense mechanism and it's probably not going to go away overnight. If you feel that the TMS answer resonates then that a good sign.
From having read your previous post, you need to read and study the Good Doctor's books more thouroughly. One point you are incorrect on is that TMS is mostly "lumbar". It can hit ANYWHERE. The location has to do with the socially acceptable body location of the day--when you talk about your pain will people "buy it"?
A few years ago stomach ulcers were the popular local, then they were found out to be stress related. Recently plantar fascitis, RSI, whip-lash, and lower back have become popular TMS talking points. TMS body sites will change like hem lines.
Now that you have let the genie out of the bottle, you will have to decide if you want to deal with your emotional issues head-on. Or, continue being protected from them by your primitive sub-conscious mind, creating bodily distractions. It's in your ball-park.
Good Luck!
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 07/24/2010 19:42:11 |
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Wavy Soul
USA
779 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2010 : 23:56:34
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George, my back pain is thoracic.
Funnily, because chiro's are so used to lower back pain, when I used to go to them they would seem to almost expect it there. Or claim to diagnose it there.
But the thoracic tightness and pain is TMS too. How I know it's TMS is that it goes away when I get shoulder pain, or when I feel very intense feelings (because it has failed to do its job of protecting me from them, so I don't need them any more).
Hmm. I've been having that thoracic pain all day. What am I not feeling. (checking in) Ah yes, I'm pissed off and sad and scared. I guess that would buy me some TMS.
Keep reading here, George. The good news is that my back pain doesn't bother me nearly as much and I don't worry about it. In fact, not worrying about it is better than not having it!
Good luck.
Love is the answer, whatever the question |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 10:09:16
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quote:
Originally posted by GeorgeM
I read Dr. Sarno's Healing Back Pain, finishing it on July 14 of this month. Immediately afterwards, I read the Mindbody Prescription. In reading Dr. Sarno's books, I believed that he hit what I always thought the case--that what I was experiencing was influenced by my psychology, by my feelings of anger, anxiety and so forth that I have held within. I probed myself for these feelings throughout my life, and wrote them down. I'm wondering though, how long does it take for the back pain and stiffness to go away?
It's good that you are reading Dr. Sarno's books and they are resonating with you. However, I suggest you keep reading and forget about that last question.
Trying to put a schedule on recovery just does not work. It is counterproductive. You need to take a long-term view and trust that if you believe the diagnosis applies to you and commit 100% to treatment, relief will come. Whether it be in weeks, months, or years, it does not matter. If you try to track your progress and get frustrated with lack of results, it will shake your belief in the diagnosis and make recovery an even longer process.
You've taken the right first steps. Now begin the life long change in the way you think about and react to the symptoms. |
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Darko
Australia
387 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 18:54:51
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George,
My situation was almost identical to yours. I'm now 33 and got my first serious pain attack at about 21. Also had some major stress at the time. I'll try and keep this brief so if something doesn't make sense ask and I'll get back to you when I can. First things first.......you have to stop stressing about when you will be pain free, this is important. I know you might think life sucks right now but it's important that you learn to accept life. I'm currently on my third episode after healing twice before....and I believe I will heal again soon. TMS is a result nothing more or less, do not focus on the result because that's NOT where the problem lies. I proved this one night when I was young, by not going out with my mates cause I was in too much pain and instead stayed home. I sat back drank a nice bottle of red and enjoyed a movie, woke up the next morning in less pain. This got me thinking.....emotional perhaps? What I have discovered over time is that my thoughts are the problem, secondly I didn't know how to handle my negative emotions, which were building up....thus the pain.
It will serve you better to commit 100% to the theory, which should be easy for you considering you have tried almost everything. Secondly you must release some steam from the pressure cooker in your head. Search the success stories for a post I authored, subject is something like "painfree 80-90%" this will help you I believe. Thirdly you must stop adding to the pressure cooker by changing the way you think. There are people who believe you don't need to change but I think this is rubbish. You must change what you think about or you will have the same result!
You said quote:
extreme stress in my life. I had social anxiety that developed into depression
This crap has to stop, don't think you need to go and dig up your stuff from the past, it's your day to day thinking that is causing most of the pain.....
I addition to all of this DO NOT see anyone about the physical pain ever again, otherwise you are just confirming to your mind the belief that it's a backpain issue. However DO seek ASSISTANCE in the emotional area. DO NOT think that someone or something is going to cure you, because they won't but you can use people to help you. I'm currently having some NLP done which seems to be helping, as this helps me change the way I think and not put so much crap into my head. It also removes some of the negative beliefs stuck in my mind.
You need to learn how to connect with your feelings......constantly. It would help you to change the way you think about all of this and see it for what it is..........a blessing!
I am now a very different person as a result of TMS, I have been forced to change because the feedback my body has been giving me isn't pleasant, and I have to say I like how I am today much better. You're on a journey mate, and it's a good thing......enbrace it with gusto and begin to move forward.
One more thing that will help you in the short term. I have been taking '5HTP' and 'L-tyrosine' 5HTP come from a plant and has shown to be as good or better that anti-depressants. The body takes it and produces serotonin, which helps with stress, moods and sleep to name a few and L-tyrosine, is an amino-acid used to help convert the 5htp and also helps with mood and stress. ( Vitamin B also helps with stress) Ensure to take them both. Google them and I'm sure you'll be really excited about them. I have been taking them and I can say the results have been great. They help me stress less, on top of that I am changing the way I think and getting in touch with my emotions.......do these things and I'm sure you'll be in a much better place. I'm sorry if this is all over the place but wanted it include everything. Oh, a really hot bath and some stretching helps me in the short term if I get too stiff.
Now get cracking :-)
D
P.S. It''s not that I disagree with Sarno, because I think he's right on the money. He just doesn't teach us how to deal with our emotions, and seems to think it's more from the past....where as I have found day to day thinking more important. I did heal from just reading the book first time around, but that only lasted a year or so and then the pain came back because I didn't really change my thinking. As the saying goes....nothing changes if nothing changes |
Edited by - Darko on 07/25/2010 19:39:33 |
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Whoaday
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 10:02:09
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Hey I think you meant anxietycentre the r and the e are different cause they are Canadian based but that is the one the others have written about that one is different that you wrote...
Whoaday |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 12:04:48
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George--I seriously doubt there is anything wrong with your back. I'm speaking from experience here. You sound very much like me. Starting in my mid-20's (30 yrs ago) I would also get excruciating pain and stiffness in my thoracic area and did the rounds of chiropracters for the next 10 yrs. They actually made me feel worse and when my insurance stopped paying, I stopped going, and that was the end of the back pain. Since then, I have had many recurrences of it, but not as chronically or as bad as that first time. The past 5 yrs have been pretty much pain-free despite being extremely active physically. Coincidentally, the past week, after a gym exercise where I hyperextended it I have had some mild pain in that area that I am trying not to overreact to.
George, the fact that one doc gave you some technical sounding diagnosis doesn't mean a thing. Remember, docs a) are under pressure to provide some sort of explanation, and b) any plausible abnormality will serve the purpose. If you read Sarno's books you know that beyond the teen years, every back shows some wear and tear or even some abnormality. So what? Most of these are normal and have no symptoms.
There's no doubt you have pain and stiffness, but like mine, it is most likely muscular stiffness related to your anxious personality. All the things you have been doing--doctor shopping, chasing down symptoms, worrying...are all feeding it, making it worse. As someone else here said, you've got to stop all tht immediately. Look for ways to relax. Get into a jacuzzi or sauna, get a massage (but only for general relaxation, not with the idea of helping your back). Go out for a run, a swim. Hey, if it already hurts, how much worse can it get? You have nothing to lose. |
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hsb
149 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 13:25:24
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| hey wrld - that's what i was thinking - can't hurt worse so why not run. well i've been running and man my achilles hurts. hurts all the time; always had but i think i had a reprieve for a bit and when i decided to start running again after 4+ months, it has gotten progressively worse. but i am really going to try to continue to run and gut it out if i can. try again tomorrow . . . . |
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GeorgeM
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2010 : 13:39:08
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Thank you for your responses.
I picked up Fred Amir's book on 9 steps to rapid healing. He mentions Dr. Sarno's 2-6 weeks of time before healing.
I'm frustrated because today my back was extremely rigid and I was very angry feeling.
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Capn Spanky
112 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2010 : 11:49:35
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| It took months for my back pain to go completely away. I wouldn't get hung up on someone else's time frame. Even Dr. Sarno's. |
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GeorgeM
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2010 : 21:12:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Capn Spanky
It took months for my back pain to go completely away. I wouldn't get hung up on someone else's time frame. Even Dr. Sarno's.
Thanks for this helpful advice. 
G |
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Thoracic Back Stiffness: TMS?
