Thursday, April 11, 2013

.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.

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