In the beginning of 2004, I was 26 years old. I had recently acquired a Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, gotten a job, a promotion, and a new boyfriend. I was looking forward to moving out of my mom’s home, once again, and establishing my financial independence. After the first month, or so, of my new job position as Assistant to the Director of Marketing, I suddenly got a sharp, stabbing pain over my right ovary. The pain persisted and began cramping my entire pelvic region. Soon the pain evolved into a constant pelvic ache with stabbing shots of pain. I rated my constant pain level on a scale of one-to-ten at a range of seven to nine. I saw three different specialists, a gynecologist and two urologists. I was diagnosed with endometriosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, with vulvar vestibulitis. To get through the day I required large amounts of narcotics, and relied on a T.E.N.S. stimulator. Nothing stopped the pain; it always ‘broke through’. I could barely drag myself to work, and couldn’t prepare my own meals, clean up after myself, or socialize. My pain began to flare up every night and I even developed a low grade temperature at times. My pain woke me nightly and prevented me from getting back to sleep often. I eventually became so debilitated that I was unable to work.
A life of chronic disability seemed inevitable for me. A doctor I had recently began seeing in early 2007 had mentioned that Dr. Schubiner had a unique way of looking at chronic pain and the stressors that activate it. I was interested in any alternatives, but I did not believe that the pain would ever go away. After meeting with Dr. Schubiner, I began reading Dr. Sarno’s The Mindbody Prescription. I was about half-way through the book when I began feeling a decrease in my pain. I began to realize how the stresses in my life and the emotional reactions to them had caused my severe pain. I began to dialogue with my unconscious mind whenever a twinge of stabbing pain came on. I was amazed to find that upon completion of the book, I had very few painful cramps throughout my day. I met with Dr. Schubiner to share my success. He gave me a guided meditation CD and his Daily Study Program for Patients with the Tension Myoneural Syndrome, developed in consultation with Dr. John Sarno.
Today, I am a vibrant 29-year-old who is pain free and looking forward to her 30s. I have many short-, and long-term goals I would not have considered only four months ago. Now my future is anything I put my mindbody to. I cannot thank Dr. Schubiner and Dr. Sarno enough for giving me back my young adulthood.
Sandra B.