Ten Year PTSD Sufferer Reaching Out

[Iam]

HI AJ......Well believe or not after many years of constant spasms I no longer have them. I believe it was the PT that really helped me. I went in 2x a week for 6 months. After doing my exercises they would do electical stimulation on my muscles, ultra sound massage and actual hands on massage, with some chirpractic work as needed. So it was pretty intense PT for 2 hours 2x's a week for 6 months and it worked! I do take muscle relaxants, flexoral, and an anti inflamatory, Mobic which helps.

Something I just learned that blew me away is that anti-depressants can cause muscle pain and spasming.....I am off mine now simply because my therapist wants me to be able to access my feelings due to being emotionally numb for so many years. I don't know how much that is helping considering after PT I was fairly well pain free.

PiYo really works on the core strengthening which helps keep your pelvis in the right position. I tend to arch my lower back which compresses the spine more. Think about it, when you lean forward in a chair doesn't your lower back feel better? Rotating your pelvis forward does much the same thing. To keep your pelvis in that position all the time you need to strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Man...I need to get back to working out! Your post is an inspiration to me to get started again!

 

[pandora]

I was just talking to a friend about yoga. I have 5 herniated discs and 3 torn discs, degenerative discs basically that is causing my spinal cord to kink so I do suffer from chronic pain as well. With your back injuries were you able to do the yoga? I am not sure if I could physically do it.

 

[Iam]

Yes I am able to do both yoga and PiYo Pandora. My back condition is serious, I have virtually no discs left and bone spurs on my vertebrea. The key is don't do anything that hurts. Usually the instructor, or at least they should, gives both the advanced and beginner moves for each exercise. I would certainly talk with your dr. and the instructor before beginning. Yoga is a very passive, meditative exercise that stretches tight and strengthens the core muscles. When I was doing it I couldn't believe how much better I felt!

 

[sarha]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I have seen other postings from survivors of car accidents, and know you are not alone in your struggles. I myself survived a car accident, and though it was not nearly as devastating as the one you have survived, it certainly traumatized me. I was stopped in my car when hit from behind by another vehicle going between 40-50 mph. My car was totaled and my back and neck were injured.

What was enormously helpful for me, as far as overcoming the emotional trauma, was EMDR. I know there is a lot of information on this site about it. I had I think 5 sessions of it, and I couldn't believe the difference it made. It was hard going through the actual sessions. I have a friend who describes it aptly as 'drinking through a fire hose.' But I am behind the wheel now feeling almost as relaxed as before the accident. Things that were totally freaking me out, like cars coming up behind me quickly when I was stopped at lights, are next to no problem now and have remained that way for nearly a year now since the EMDR. Basically I only get as nervous as I would have before the accident. I just could not believe how effective it has been for me as far as the car accident goes. With my childhood trauma which was more long-lasting and devastating for me, it hasn't had nearly as powerful a result so far, and it sounds like your car accident was a lot more serious than mine, but I thought I'd mention it anyway, since I had such a good result.

I admire your courage and determination. It seems like you are taking really powerful steps towards helping yourself overcome your tramatic experience. I wish you the very best luck with this!

 

[Aj]

Iam: I just started PT on Thursday for the second big round this year. It will only be a month but I really want to try yoga. Most of my problems stem from my spasms. I want to be truly healthy. I feel that will be a big benefit to me. As for the antidepressants...I am really at a tough point of late: if I take them I suffer the side effects but get the benefit of being able to be less anxious (or as I see it, coming up for air). If I don't take them I fear the spiral of physical manifestations that will arise. After trying to take a single zoloft after a few (3ish) months of being zoloft free, I found myself spacey and more forgetful than usual. I truly hate that feeling.

sarha: I am trying hard to get back into EMDR with my doctor. I had two doctors (as I lived in two different places) and one of them did EMDR with me and I found it especially and uniquely beneficial. My present doctor knows of it and does it but doesn't have the equipment and follow the same protocol. Thank you so much, by the way, for your words of encouragement and support. I am truly grateful.