Joy! 10 April 2013

 Here is the news about my walk.   I jogged, I ran then I leaped.  At first I leaped to experiment and no pain occurred.  By the end of my walk I was leaping out of pure joy.   I am so glad to have kept in shape with push ups, light weights and walking daily!    I used to be an aerobic/Pilates instructor before my back went "bad".  I bicycled through most of the summer and hiking had become a huge part of our lives in the years before pain entered the picture.
   I came home and with much joy, drove out to where my husband was working.   I called and told him I had something to show him.  He replied that he was on the roof of a house and wouldn't be able to come down right away.   I told him that that wasn't a problem.
   I drove up to the house he was working and got out of my vehicle walking into his line of vision.  I then called to him and when he looked at me I began leaping and running yet again, while all of the employees gaped.   
   My husband DID get off the roof and came down to hug me while tears of joy ran over my cheeks.  
   I wanted to run and leap down Main St. as well, shouting to everyone the good news.  But I didn't.   I got scared and thought, "What if it doesn't last?"   Then the realization that most people would think of me only as a hypochondriac, or just nuts came to mind.   
    I began to think of the bible story where Peter and John heal the beggar at the gates.   Acts 3:1-10 where the beggar arises; walking, leaping and praising God.  He then goes with Peter and John into the temple and there people were filled with amazement and astonishment.   But I'll bet later, after the excitement, people were skeptic.  It's just our nature. 
   Dr. Sarno does say in his book that it's very important for the people close to the T.M.S patient be educated about T.M.S.  So buy the book. 
   To get the most therapeutic effects Dr. Sarno's book should be read from all the way through.  He feels that education to T.M.S is the best way to combat it.  Buying the book is a very minimal investment compared to surgery, chiropractic and acupuncture visits.  All of which I have done.
   But as amazing as my new found freedom from sciatica pain sounds.   I have to work at it.   Dr. Sarno says to give it four to six weeks before complete freedom, and even then you can't forget in case your mind sees another area of your body as an easy mark.
   During my walk, run, leaping time.   I would feel the pain threaten and I had to be stern with my mind about it's habit of directing stress to that area.    At one time, my knee began to ache powerfully and again, I told my mind that I was onto its games and the pain ceased.
   I took the walk midday and it is now evening and I'm feeling no discomfort.    If I had tried something like this before educating myself about T.M.S. I would have needed Vicodin for a week.  
   Tomorrow, I will work out on the step and perform one of my aerobic routines and then report back.     
   

.My Journey with Dr. Sarno and Tension Myositis Syndrome 9 April 2013

      

This blog is more of a journal that I am keeping to document my use of Dr. Sarno’s medical advice.

   If you are reading this blog I'm assuming you must have heard of Dr. Sarno and or are looking for information on his medical diagnoses of Tension Myositis Syndrome.  The book I am familiar with is entitled Healing Back Pain, but his advice can be used for many physical issues that he talks about in his book.

    My sister had some friends who were finding amazing relief from chronic back pain by using his Dr. Sarno’s techniques.  She immediately thought of me as I had been suffering chronic back pain for more than two years.  I had surgery two and a half years ago and before the surgery I could barely walk and I had learned to live with my new limitations and manage pain quite well.  Please notice that I said “I had been”.

    Before buying one of Dr. Sarno’s books, I listened to him speak in a You Tube interview and immediately put into practice his techniques.  Which is simply,to tell your mind there is nothing wrong with that part of your body.  Every time I felt my back twinge I would say: “No, there is nothing wrong at all with my back.  Forget about it mind.” And instantly the pain left.  Next I tackled the pain of sitting which has been very uncomfortable for me.  I did this by sitting however I wanted and for as long as I wanted.  My back would start to complain and I would again repeat my new mantra with success.

   I immediately ordered Dr. Sarno’s book Healing Back Pain on my Kindle and began pouring over it.  In my reading I felt like crying.  Examples of me were everywhere.   I had to keep putting it down because as I read my arrhythmia would start up and I’d have to tell it to stop, then as Dr. Sarno stated in his book, my mind would try to send the pain somewhere else in order to distract my attention and because my mind is used to directing tension and stress to different parts of my body this was very easy for it to do.  

     As I sat there reading the book my hips would begin to feel sharp little stabs of pain and I would tell my mind, “No.” and then my shoulders would start scrunching upwards to my ears, “NO.” then I would begin to clench my jaws.  It was unnerving and extremely educational to see all the ways my mind and body expressed my tension, and anxieties, which at that moment was seeing my self in Dr. Sarno's book. 

   I had to put the book down and calm myself  my two left over arrhythmias were acting up.  This was a lot of self awareness and education to take in all at one time.

    The next day we went to finalize the purchase of a new vehicle at the local dealership.   My neck began to tighten and pinch as we waited and filled out forms.  I said to my mind, “I acknowledge this tense situation but do not play this game with me. No.” and the muscles quit tightening.  Amazing.

   It’s sad to see how my life and body has been ruled by T.M.S. But at the same time I am excited by the prospect of being free of it.

   Today I am going for my usual daily walk with the dog.  Generally, I walk as briskly as possible, keeping strides short so as not to irritate what I thought was a damaged sciatica nerve. 

  Today I will walk as fast as I can with intermittent jogging and come home and report back.