I never realized how frequent the finding of tenderness on the outside of the thigh is in patients who have chronic low back pain. In Dr. Sarno’s experience, this correlation is approximately 80 percent. Tenderness in the gluteal and lower lumbar region is almost universal in TMS, as is tenderness at the top of both shoulders. Many patients have paraspinal tenderness throughout the lumbar spine, extending sometimes into the thoracic area as well. The tenderness most people have with chronic low back pain is usually present over a very widespread area.
