MindBody Syndrome (TMS) & Treatment
What should you do when you've tried everything?
Dr John E. Sarno (born 1923) was, at the time of writing, still working as Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, and attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center.
After decades of clinical experience, he and his team originated the concept of a condition known as Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) which has since been named MindBody.
We are all familiar with the placebo effect and also of the changes in blood pressure and hormones such as adrenalin that occur in milliseconds when we are startled or frightened. It shouldn't surprise us therefore that the mind has huge control over our bodies, how they perform and even what pain we may or may not feel.
Why might this relevant to Computer Posture and RSI?
Dr Sarno and his team have had incredible success in 'curing' people with chronic RSI conditions. By cure, we mean...pain free, able to work and play as though the condition never existed!
He is a physical doctor, not a psychological one, and so takes time to understand the patient's physical condition, review x-ray and MRI scans and analyse their pain scenarios etc. Generally he finds that patients do have some physical abnormalities but insufficient to explain the degree of pain felt or disability.
Dr Sarno believes that the mind latches on to physical problems that the patient have encountered and then for its own purposes (which he explains), it actually causes further pain around that area of the body.
His treatment takes the initial form of a two hour lecture on physiology and its interaction with the mind, his documented experiences and the discoveries by other great minds, such as Sigmund Freud, which underpin Dr Sarno's theories. Interestingly, the findings are that certain personality types are more succeptable than others to chronic pain conditions such as RSI.
Does it work?
He finds that the process of teaching people about the processes that go on in their bodies in the context of his theories cures 20% of his patients within a month. A further 60% are cured through this process after further exercises at home. The last 20% typically need clinical assistance but are mostly cured within a year.
The founder of Computer Posture has himself followed this treatment for his chronic RSI condition cervical osteoarthritis (neck arthritis). Within two weeks, he considered he was 75% cured and now after a pain free three months during the high risk period of winter, he feels 90% cured by the Dr Sarno technique! He will be writing a blog post on this subject shortly.
Getting Treatment
In the New York area you are best advised to contact Dr Sarno's clinic directly. For the rest of the world, however, thankfully it is quite feasible to carry out Dr Sarno's approach at home.
His books take you through the process and explain how to self-treat. Any one of his books will give you what you need to treat yourself, they are all on the same theme which he has revised slightly and rewritten over the years.
His latest and most complete theories are in the book "The Divided Mind" which is available by Audiobook download from Audible at reasonable prices. You can either buy it as a one-off or join their club and get good discounts (you can leave at any time so you're not tied in).
