Hi @janeym, Are you referring to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)? Because the majority of people on here are patients just like you, it's important to spell out initials and/or acronyms so other members can better understand the nature of the conversation and engage with you! 🙂
Are you having chronic back pain? Have you had a chance to read the book?
Hi@amandaa, I have had constant headaches for nearly 9 years (this June). I believe I have Tension Myositis Syndrome for which there seems to be NO medical cure. I believe I've tried nearly all of them. You mention Transcrainal magnetic Stimulation, which as I understand is believed to stimulate the creation of dopamine and other make-you-feel-good neurotransmitters. Are you aware of whether that type of therapy (the magnetic stimulation) might help with Tension Myositis syndrome? I am considering that now and would like any input you (or others) may have.
Thanks.
I am at 15 months post lumbar fusion surgery. L2,3,4 and laminectomy at L4,5. The surgery was deemed successful.
I experienced return of pain/weakness/
imbalance and feet neuropathy.
All of the TMS details seem to describe me.
Can TMS treatment help me even after surgery? My spinal stenosis was there for a long time. Am I facing permanent nerve damage?
Hi! I’m new to this group but saw your comment when I was googling TMS after hearing about it in a recent podcast dealing with chronic pain and how to break the mind body association. I had lumbar fusion of L5-S1 a year ago and while the surgery has been a success (I no longer have the same discomfort as before) I have recently discovered I’ve got some bulges in my thoracic spine as well as arthritis. My doctor said that surgery isn’t necessary but I find since my surgery I live in a state of fear and anxiety any time I get a new ache or pain that will not go away I am immediately thrown into an anxious state wondering if I herniated another disc and if life will always be like this. I know my anxiety is a huge culprit in this. All of that said, did Dr. Sarno’s book help you any?
Hi @janeym, Are you referring to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)? Because the majority of people on here are patients just like you, it's important to spell out initials and/or acronyms so other members can better understand the nature of the conversation and engage with you! 🙂
Are you having chronic back pain? Have you had a chance to read the book?
Hi Jane, I am a former patient of Dr. Sarno's. At the age of 23 after 4 back surgeries starting at age 12, I entered his in house two month program at IRM, NYC, NY., in 1976. While I personally don't believe everything he professes what I did learn was to get over the fear that activity cause me more pain. I don't think there is anything more paralyzing than that constant fear of making the pain worse. I went on to have two healthy boys both natural deliveries in '83 and "84. To be honest the childbirth classes where the most helpful thing I have ever found, aside from methadone, for dealing with the constant pain I will always have. Dr. Sarno had some good ideas but none of them were ever able to alleviate my pain. I also worked with Dr. David Tauben, now retired at the University of WA Pain Clinic. He took a different approach, PT and pain medication. Which has worked well for me for the past 35 years. Everyone is different and results vary. It took me many years to figure out what worked best for me. Never stop looking for answers. Best of luck to you. Linda
Cannot BEGIN to express my eternal gratitude for getting The Divided Mind, being an MS patient for 20 years you are familiar with the medical space, so when *really* started having sciatica problems in mid-50's with right leg/foot/hips/back, to the point of spending 3 days in ER, wife having to grab a transport chair to wheel me in, scans galore MRI's CT wanted to admit me to hospital surgeons lined up you name it, that was July 2024.
Will never forget as a daddy, the feelings of guilt and helplessness, watching your kids outside weeding the flowerbeds, whilst barely able to prop up at window sill inside to even watch, had already collapsed once which was scary when you're all alone in house sometimes.
And then the book.
Oh wow the book.
Apologies but agreed with so much already, just went directly to center of book, Chapter 6-9 where the doctors are talking about their patients, and there was SO much familiarity with what they were saying, that I grabbed a highlighter and started notating the parts that were 100% relevant, then left it with a doc that *had* been planning on a UT guided pain shot dead center of pelvis area, but then *The Book*.
Two weeks later called up and canceled the pain shot in office, now?
I can run/hop/skip/dance, doing things like driving/shopping/adventures without ANY thought as to "where is handicap placard" or "is my folding cane in car?".
The newfound freedom is in describable, and when did a follow up with that doc, she wholeheartedly agreed 100%, and there's no faking it in that place, they *see* the results firsthand, THEY told ME, "the patients always get worse not better",
and from the hobble-fest that is her office, that have been gracing for 4+ years I'd believe it.
I have several dates marked on phone calendar, at some point just woke up and not only got to ambulate and drive with nary a thought, but that insidious, debilitating PAIN was also gone, which had dominated to the point was taking 4 advils every 4 hours around the clock. DEBILITATING, and your mental state suffers alongside it, yes you *do* feel sometimes like you're losing it, pain+sleep deprivation= need help STAT.
Cannot state this more emphatically: the knowledge of TMS in the book, along with the scientific approach taken when addressing the hows and whys, and *knowing* how powerful the brain is, yes indeed YOUR PAIN IS REAL.
However, your brain also at times has a faulty defense mechanism, in this case it is shielding you from something with a mostly emotional component, along with concurrent PTSD masking as pain. Doesn't have to be a major traumatic event per se, maybe a breakup, or say childhood abuse or trauma and all points in between on that "life sucks" spectrum, regardless the doctor's offices should be doing a full psychological workup alongside the pretty pictures.
I've been hobbled and crippled up for at least 2 years, but the problems physically go back to childhood and our brains protect us in myriad ways.
Very first thing: STOPPED referring to self as disabled/crippled/old man, because it gets too easy to quit when the pain is so intense, you get panic attacks just driving to store wondering if you can make the trip. Or get a close parking spot.
Now? Could care less where parking.
Can run or walk and even walk backwards if talking with someone, as if nothing was ever wrong.
It literally changed overnight, after years of suffering the ONLY thing different that happened was *The Book*.
And it's FREE, best part. Just selling you your life back is all. Wife and kids can't believe it, neighbors know cause they saw me not even able to walk out and get mail, now am working on roof and house atop a 12 foot ladder.
Feels like life suddenly reversed to 6 years ago but even better in some ways.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Hi@amandaa, I have had constant headaches for nearly 9 years (this June). I believe I have Tension Myositis Syndrome for which there seems to be NO medical cure. I believe I've tried nearly all of them. You mention Transcrainal magnetic Stimulation, which as I understand is believed to stimulate the creation of dopamine and other make-you-feel-good neurotransmitters. Are you aware of whether that type of therapy (the magnetic stimulation) might help with Tension Myositis syndrome? I am considering that now and would like any input you (or others) may have.
Thanks.
I am at 15 months post lumbar fusion surgery. L2,3,4 and laminectomy at L4,5. The surgery was deemed successful.
I experienced return of pain/weakness/
imbalance and feet neuropathy.
All of the TMS details seem to describe me.
Can TMS treatment help me even after surgery? My spinal stenosis was there for a long time. Am I facing permanent nerve damage?
Hi! I’m new to this group but saw your comment when I was googling TMS after hearing about it in a recent podcast dealing with chronic pain and how to break the mind body association. I had lumbar fusion of L5-S1 a year ago and while the surgery has been a success (I no longer have the same discomfort as before) I have recently discovered I’ve got some bulges in my thoracic spine as well as arthritis. My doctor said that surgery isn’t necessary but I find since my surgery I live in a state of fear and anxiety any time I get a new ache or pain that will not go away I am immediately thrown into an anxious state wondering if I herniated another disc and if life will always be like this. I know my anxiety is a huge culprit in this. All of that said, did Dr. Sarno’s book help you any?
Hi Jane, I am a former patient of Dr. Sarno's. At the age of 23 after 4 back surgeries starting at age 12, I entered his in house two month program at IRM, NYC, NY., in 1976. While I personally don't believe everything he professes what I did learn was to get over the fear that activity cause me more pain. I don't think there is anything more paralyzing than that constant fear of making the pain worse. I went on to have two healthy boys both natural deliveries in '83 and "84. To be honest the childbirth classes where the most helpful thing I have ever found, aside from methadone, for dealing with the constant pain I will always have. Dr. Sarno had some good ideas but none of them were ever able to alleviate my pain. I also worked with Dr. David Tauben, now retired at the University of WA Pain Clinic. He took a different approach, PT and pain medication. Which has worked well for me for the past 35 years. Everyone is different and results vary. It took me many years to figure out what worked best for me. Never stop looking for answers. Best of luck to you. Linda
Cannot BEGIN to express my eternal gratitude for getting The Divided Mind, being an MS patient for 20 years you are familiar with the medical space, so when *really* started having sciatica problems in mid-50's with right leg/foot/hips/back, to the point of spending 3 days in ER, wife having to grab a transport chair to wheel me in, scans galore MRI's CT wanted to admit me to hospital surgeons lined up you name it, that was July 2024.
Will never forget as a daddy, the feelings of guilt and helplessness, watching your kids outside weeding the flowerbeds, whilst barely able to prop up at window sill inside to even watch, had already collapsed once which was scary when you're all alone in house sometimes.
And then the book.
Oh wow the book.
Apologies but agreed with so much already, just went directly to center of book, Chapter 6-9 where the doctors are talking about their patients, and there was SO much familiarity with what they were saying, that I grabbed a highlighter and started notating the parts that were 100% relevant, then left it with a doc that *had* been planning on a UT guided pain shot dead center of pelvis area, but then *The Book*.
Two weeks later called up and canceled the pain shot in office, now?
I can run/hop/skip/dance, doing things like driving/shopping/adventures without ANY thought as to "where is handicap placard" or "is my folding cane in car?".
The newfound freedom is in describable, and when did a follow up with that doc, she wholeheartedly agreed 100%, and there's no faking it in that place, they *see* the results firsthand, THEY told ME, "the patients always get worse not better",
and from the hobble-fest that is her office, that have been gracing for 4+ years I'd believe it.
I have several dates marked on phone calendar, at some point just woke up and not only got to ambulate and drive with nary a thought, but that insidious, debilitating PAIN was also gone, which had dominated to the point was taking 4 advils every 4 hours around the clock. DEBILITATING, and your mental state suffers alongside it, yes you *do* feel sometimes like you're losing it, pain+sleep deprivation= need help STAT.
Cannot state this more emphatically: the knowledge of TMS in the book, along with the scientific approach taken when addressing the hows and whys, and *knowing* how powerful the brain is, yes indeed YOUR PAIN IS REAL.
However, your brain also at times has a faulty defense mechanism, in this case it is shielding you from something with a mostly emotional component, along with concurrent PTSD masking as pain. Doesn't have to be a major traumatic event per se, maybe a breakup, or say childhood abuse or trauma and all points in between on that "life sucks" spectrum, regardless the doctor's offices should be doing a full psychological workup alongside the pretty pictures.
I've been hobbled and crippled up for at least 2 years, but the problems physically go back to childhood and our brains protect us in myriad ways.
Very first thing: STOPPED referring to self as disabled/crippled/old man, because it gets too easy to quit when the pain is so intense, you get panic attacks just driving to store wondering if you can make the trip. Or get a close parking spot.
Now? Could care less where parking.
Can run or walk and even walk backwards if talking with someone, as if nothing was ever wrong.
It literally changed overnight, after years of suffering the ONLY thing different that happened was *The Book*.
And it's FREE, best part. Just selling you your life back is all. Wife and kids can't believe it, neighbors know cause they saw me not even able to walk out and get mail, now am working on roof and house atop a 12 foot ladder.
Feels like life suddenly reversed to 6 years ago but even better in some ways.
Please get The Book thank you.