| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| windy |
Posted - 10/05/2005 : 10:18:28
in myself right now (yes, I know that sentiment is enough to drive tms).
Because my foot pain is worsening and spreading to both feet and the knees I broke down and saw a doc who referred me to a podiatrist. I have such a sinking feeling right now to be going down this familiar slope. It's like my past success with tms a few years ago means nothing. I can't seem to re-encapsulate that drive, that digging up of emotional conflicts to journal properly and my belief that structural = bullcrap.
Any guidelines from repeat offenders? Thanks so much. |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| windy |
Posted - 10/12/2005 : 09:21:11
Well, the meeting last night (about 40 attendees, led by 3 former patients who've had great success) was a great shot in the arm in terms of laughing away any structural issues. Espec. since I was told by a p/t to walk with my stomach sucked in to take pressure off the feet. LOL. |
| Andrew2000 |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 18:09:14
Hi Windy, am glad you touched base w/ Dr. Sarno, sounds good; maybe a few meetings will help you decide, one way or the other, that TMS is as real a diagnosis as any "structural problem" another MD can offer ... as I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not where I want to be yet either, but have noticed some real improvements over the past few weeks, as well as some "oddities" in the symptoms (like when the pain switches from one foot to the other) that seem to defy ordinary logic ... One doctor told me that happened because I was "favoring" the other foot -- I don't buy into that theory anymore. I think it's all TMS. And the more I understand about it, the less 'panicky' I feel when I do experience discomfort or pain ... I literally force myself to shift my focus away from it and into something that I may be thinking (or not thinking) about in the back of my mind ... i.e., do anything that prevents the pattern of dwelling on the symptoms. I can well understand the doubt that it could be TMS (really) ... but when you think about it, if it were truly structural, and assuming you haven't been running cross-country marathons inbetween, the problem should've healed a long time ago ... Our bodies (like our minds) are very strong. |
| windy |
Posted - 10/10/2005 : 14:04:00
well, I've touched base with Sarno and I really wish I'd done so sooner. I'll be going to some kind of meeting with a group of tms'ers. However, I just started more, uh, conventional treatment as well and am having a hard time letting go of that b.s. to pursue the pure TMS path of treatment. |
| Andrew2000 |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 18:18:30
"Yes, for years in yoga I've been balancing on one leg at a time while my feet strongly grip the floor with all their might yet now I have these completely irrational fears with the pain that ligaments will snap and tarsal bones will go flying."
Hi Windy, boy does that sound familiar ... for me, it was years of various types of athletic activities (running, biking, cross-training) that I thought led to the sudden onset of foot pain that began in one foot and then mysteriously spread to the other about six months ago ... it took me five months of trying to do what I thought was the "right thing" to heal the problem (seeing a podiatrist, getting orthodics, cutting back on certain exercises, etc.) - but a few weeks ago I began a more serious 'soul search' into what was really going on inside through hearing about TMS and learning more ... I'm not 100 percent there yet, but over the past few weeks I've noticed a big difference ... I'm not wearing the orthodics anymore ... am doing more exercises ... feeling hours at a time where the pain disappears ... I didn't have one grand "a-ha" experience necessarily that made me realize why on an emotional level the pain began ... there were some changes at work going on, with a demanding boss, lots of pressure ... but in retrospect I think it was a cumulative effect of a lot of things that built up in a way that tipped the scales the wrong way ... work, relationship stuff, family stuff, and so on ... As you begin re-discovering the source of the anger or anxiety you're feeling now, realize that it could represent a lot of things (some of which may appear small at first glance) that can accumulate over time and reach a boiling point ... Feel good. |
| windy |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 08:48:57
Thank you everyone for your support. I do have a hard time discounting the structural when it comes to my feet because, well, hey look funny and are very flat. Yes, for years in yoga I've been balancing on one leg at a time while my feet strongly grip the floor with all their might yet now I have these completely irrational fears with the pain that ligaments will snap and tarsal bones will go flying.  So hopefully acceptance of tms will prevail as well as emotional access. Like I said earlier, when I look at my early tms journal from my success a few years ago I'm astounded at what I was able to draw out of myself and spit onto paper. Not sure why those aren't accessible now, why everything seems to be on lockdown.... |
| gioux |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 08:20:04
Windy - I have been dealing with the same thing recently. After a few years of successfully dealing with TMS, I have had what I believed were "real" structural issues in my shoulder and knees - due to regular intense exercise. But guess what? After 11 weeks off my bike and pretty hopeless shoulder progress, it has been reaccepting the TMS diagnosis that has moved me forward. I actually, believe it or not, have come to see the return of pain as a good thing. I had gotten lazy and never really "got it" like I am beginning to now. I now thank the pain for reminding me to check my head and am slowly but surely getting back to my old athletic self.
Good Luck! |
| n/a |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 08:08:05
Podiatrists, along with chiropractors (lie-ropractors), in my opinion, are some of the most clueless people on earth. I am sure they mean well- but I honestly feel they are bull-sh****ing their patients. Many real doctors do this also, that is why their reputations are becoming like that of used car sales-people, lawyers and televangelists. Luckily, there are still a few good docs out their that can rise above what they are being taught in modern day medical schools and see the role our emotions are having on our physical health.
I too have had fitted orthodics, refitted three times to no avail. If they ever do work it is the placebo effect kicking in, but for those with TMS they will never be effective. Save your money and your time and stay away from these crackpot, pseudo-scientific, modern day snake-oil peddlers. |
| chicago |
Posted - 10/05/2005 : 18:20:14
Windy, my experience with podiatrists is that they want to fit you with orthodics. I have five pairs sittting in my closet. They all think its structural and that their orthodic will do something the others didn't. I read a report once that said that patients improved just as much with store bought inserts. I do believe orthodics do help some people but for me they led me down the wrong path. I think common sense is the best approach. The trouble with common sense is that its not common. Best wishes! |
| Suz |
Posted - 10/05/2005 : 11:42:06
Have you considered taking it to the next step and seeing a psychologist - one who understands TMS and will work with a Freudian approach.
I recently experienced a flare up and I went through the whole routine
1. disappointment as I couldn't believe I was in pain
2. Acceptance
3. Get on with the work which consists of:
sitting and journalling in the evenining
Reading "Healing Back Pain" (my favourite)
Letting myself get really angry or cry
Most importantly - IGNORING IT AS I NOW HAVE NO FEAR OF TMS
My last piece is that I pray (but that is nothing to do with Sarno's cure - that is my own addition)
I have to say, Windy, that I have beaten the fear now and that seems to be key. I don't care if I have the pain or not. I use it as a barometer to know that I have to deal with something. It can actually be quite helpful.
The pain has now gone. I had it for 2 days and it was pretty bad. I imagine that the flares will happen less often and will last for a shorter time.
I am pretty sure that I got used to expressing and feeling emotions because of going to see one of Sarno's psychologists. It also confirmed for me that Sarno's theory really really works.
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| art |
Posted - 10/05/2005 : 11:33:36
You already know in your gut what the proper course for you is, from the sound of it...
You can either listen to the little voice of wisdom within, or ignore it.
For what it's worth, I've never seen a podiatrist yet...and I've seen perhaps 6 or 8 in my time, who had the vaguest clue what he was doing..
What illness/disease do you suppose you have that makes your foot pain somehow hop across space to the other foot and then up to not just one but both knees? 
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