When Physical Pain doesn't have a Physiological Cause
Maybe I needed a reminder, again?
Western Culture and more specifically Western Medicine has long understood/managed/treated physical pain with the belief there ALWAYS is a physiological cause for the pain, and thus surgery, pain meds, or physical therapy most certainly are included in that plan.
What if there isn’t?
My pain history began over a decade ago during what was my 2nd of 5 full marathons. Shooting/Burning/Excruciating pain began to radiate down my right leg down to my toes, at mile 8 out of 26.2 miles. I finished the race.
Afterward, I returned home to start my journey from doctor to doctor to doctor to doctor to …. with very little relief. By chance, grace, or a miracle, I found a local doctor over a decade later who not only helped me better understand my pain through a new lens (TMS or MBS) but enabled me to “mostly” have pain-free days.
TMS (tension myositis syndrome) is a concept developed by Dr. John Sarno, MD. In his theory, the brain actually creates pain symptoms in order to aid in the repression of subconscious thoughts and feelings. From his original theory, a newer treatment modality known as MBS (Mind Body Syndrome) has emerged offering a radically effective way of not only managing the pain but healing it at its source (which is not always physicological).
I have spent the past few years not only seeking this therapy for myself, but learning it more so I can offer (which I have done with increased frequency) to clients. While I know it is remarkable and the only explanation for any reduction of pain that had been plaguing me for over a decade, I still forget and need reminders. Thank you to my very persistent brain…… thank you.
2 weeks ago, I felt pain starting in my neck and attributed it to something I must’ve done during weight training with my trainer. I quickly went into pain mode, canceled my next training session, became hesitant to practice yoga until the pain subsided, scheduled a therapeutic massage, slept with a heating pad or iced my neck, and started taking anti-inflammatories whenever I was able to take them.
Every single one of these decisions made the pain worse. And spread throughout my body.
Every.
Single.
One.
Why?
Damn…I know why and I didn’t even see myself doing this, until last night. We are so conditioned to see pain primarily through a physiological lens, it is difficult to re-train the brain, but that is exactly what we need to do if this is the scenario with one’s pain experience.
I started with pain in my neck. Now, I have pain in my neck, my shoulders, my one arm, and both hips. NOT because I have done something to further injure myself, but rather I have given my brain the EXACT ingredients it needed to make the connection that I’m in danger and need to fear what is happening, and thus my brain does what it does and CREATED MORE!
Oh, joy!
It was never about what happened during a training session, if it was it would’ve long subsided. Rather, this is something that happens with me (and many others!) when I’m ignoring what is happening around me or inside me (emotionally/spiritually) as a very friendly way of my mind getting me to pain attention. Ok, very friendly is overselling it, it doesn’t feel friendly at all.
Using tools learned from TMS/MBS encourage people to do totally the opposite of what I have been doing- and I KNOW THIS and did it anyway.
Instead of:
Taking a break from my trainer- I should’ve continued and adjusted “slightly” my workout with my trainer observing and having an awareness as to what is happening with me.
Ignoring or pushing down my emotions, I should’ve found more effective ways to express my worry and fears, and hurt that I keep inside, as they are tremendously effective kindling for my pain cycle.
Having a massage when I was in pain, a better plan would have been to NOT! It is so triggering as that is in large part how I learned to “manage” my pain in the past. It gives my brain a very clear message, I AM IN DANGER! PAY ATTENTION! And so more pain I get.
Used the tools I have learned of specific meditations, challenging the pain, using my breathwork and mantras, and all the stuff that has worked so well for YEARS……
But, I didn’t….I fed right into the old pattern and it wasn’t until I was trying to get up off the couch yesterday and had to gingerly lift myself up like I was some 99+-year-old woman that I gasped…..
OMG! Why didn’t I see this again?
I am now. I am now. I am now. I practiced yoga again today, practiced meditation, went for a walk in the woods with my sons, and recommitted to doing the work. I’m still in pain, but not in fear of it, and know this is the space that gives my brain the acknowledgment it is seeking- and then it subsides in the firing of the pain receptor/s. This is how I eventually live- mostly- pain free.
Our culture desires a quick fix and while I totally understand western medicine views “illness” through that lens, I also know there is a world beyond what our traditional medical doctors know, and when we are told we have to “manage” or “deal with” pain, they become part of the problem. They are giving us and more directly our BRAINS the clear message this is our life, this is our broken body, and we will not be pain-free, ever! I know this isn’t true. And….I know I can no longer ignore all the painful stuff in my life (any of our lives, we all have pain) that I simply didn’t want to look at right now. Or ever. I can’t…..because I know this to be true…..And I am tired of an no longer need to pain to look at all the areas in my life I simply don’t want to look….
For me…the ONLY way for me to be pain-free and heal from my pain is to face all the stuff… the good, the bad. The joyful and sad. With indifference. With curiousity but not judgement.
If you want to know more about Dr. Sarno’s work or the connection with our minds and our bodies, these are great resources:
“Healing Back Pain” by Dr. John E. Sarno, MD (available on Amazon)
or Unlearn Your Pain for a comprehensive understanding of this program (there is also a book with the same title available on Amazon)
Wishing you all health, peace and the ability to continue to explore and seek understanding ESPECIALLY when it challenges all that you “thought” you knew to be true.
Peace……
