TMS
Tension Myositis Syndrome
TMS stands for
tension myositis syndrome,
sometimes also called tension myoneural syndrome. This is a pain condition named by
Dr. John Sarno
of The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Manhattan, NY. Tension myositis is not only the topic of Dr. Sarno’s many books, but is also the man’s life work. Although trained in physical medicine, Dr. Sarno has certainly contributed far more to modern psychology than he has to the rehabilitation department at The NYU Medical Center.
What is TMS?
Tension myositis syndrome is a very real and seemingly physical pain syndrome caused by repressed, suppressed and internalized emotional issues. In this condition, the subconscious mind uses physical symptoms as a distraction from threatening psychological/emotional feelings. These repressed thoughts and feelings are kept under strict guard by the subconscious mind. Unfortunately, these unpleasant issues are constantly seeking to make themselves known to the conscious mind. The subconscious is trying to defend the consciousness from experiencing the full negative effect of these emotionally charged issues. The subconscious uses PAIN as a means to keep the conscious mind focused on the PHYSICAL BODY, rather than the threatening emotional issues. In essence, the underlying goal of the symptoms is to act as a distraction from emotional sensitivities. Got all that? Hmmm… yes. It is a bit complicated. The full story on psychological pain syndromes can be found on my page dedicated to
PSYCHOLOGICAL BACK PAIN.
Mechanics of TMS
Ok, so tension myositis syndrome is caused by psychological issues. But how do those issues cause physical pain? And why?The subconscious mind has great power over the physical body. One of the systems that it can influence is the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This system controls many of the bodily functions that we take for granted. The ANS controls the heart rate, pupil size, perspiration, digestion, salivation, and the diameter of blood vessels, among others. The last one is what we are concerned with in TMS… THE DIAMETER OF BLOOD VESSELS. When the subconscious mind chooses to start a pain condition, it simply orders the circulatory vessels to contract in the affected area. This slight contraction of blood vessels decreases the circulation to the affected region. The muscles have a difficult time metabolizing lactic acid and other waste products. The muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and other tissues, all suffer reduced oxygenation. This
oxygen deprivation
is what causes the pain in tension myositis syndrome. This is just one of the theories used to detail the causative processes for TMS symptoms. There are surely more, most likely involving the endocrine system for some expressions and other aspects of the autonomic system for others.
TMS Symptoms
Reduced oxygen in a muscle will cause pain and even
spasming.
This is the same effect as a leg cramp experienced by a distance runner. Nerve tissue is extremely delicate and is affected almost immediately by the reduced supply of oxygen. Nerve involvement can cause pain,
tingling,
numbness
or
weakness.
Tension myositis back pain is only one of many expressions of psychological pain. There are actually many varied types of
psychologically induced pain syndromes.
TMS back pain is often mistaken for other physically caused chronic conditions. The symptoms may resemble other types of common spine problems. Due to the virtually universal occurrence of conditions such as
herniated discs,
spinal arthritis
and
degenerative disc disease,
TMS is most often
misdiagnosed.
It is no surprise that treatments designed to resolve a physically caused problem usually have little or no curative effect on tension myositis pain.
Recommendation for TMS Pain
I have a lot of experience with tension myositis syndrome. I was under the care of Dr. John Sarno for this very condition. Of course, I suffered with horrible back pain for 18 years, all the while blaming it on my 2 herniated discs and degenerative disc disease. None of my literal horde of doctors,
chiropractors
and therapists, ever even speculated that my pain might have a psychological cause. I never would have believed it was possible either… Well, it is no wonder that all my attempts at treatment were utter failures. I wasted so much time in my life suffering. I spent a FORTUNE $$$ trying everything to find relief. Nothing worked for me. I learned the truth of my condition through
knowledge therapy.
I read about the true cause of my pain and then simply cured myself. HUH? Cured himself ??? NO WAY !!! What a joke… It’s true. No one can cure you of TMS, but you. It is that easy. I reversed my desperate condition in a matter of months. I became pain-free. Tension myositis symptoms are very real. I know. The cure for it is also VERY REAL. Too bad for me that this cure did not endure. I suffered a relapse a few years after my original symptomatic resolution and this new version of chronic hell has been tormenting me ever since. The cause is likely to be partially mindbody and partially purely structural, since I am older and more injured now than ever. Decades of full contact martial arts have truly taken a toll on me and my poor body… Nevertheless, I still advocate learning about tension myositis and the potential cure, knowledge therapy. There is nothing to lose here, since the cost is free, there are no health consequences and you might just find partial or complete relief from your efforts.
TMS to Back Pain
7/1/06 Revised 11/10/11
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