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Chronic Foot Pain and some TMS success.

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[quote][i]Originally posted by Forfeet[/i]
[br]Sorry for the long post.  Last 3-4 paragraphs most important.

About 2 and a half years ago I started having foot pain in my left forefoot, primarily in the lesser toes area.  I thought it might be a stress fracture or a Jones fracture.  Eventually, the pain became most prominent in the little toe.  Had several x-rays, 2 sets or orthotics, and 9 months into things an MRI with no clearcut structural issues noted, although it was suspected I might have had an old stress fracture that heeled.  I work at a job where I am on my feet for virtually 8 hours and it includes some heavy lifting, squatting stooping, etc.  About 9+ months into the left foot pain, I started feeling an ache in the lesser toes of my right foot.

A year into the left foot pain, I felt an unusual pain in my left knee after squatting down to pick up a box at work.  It felt like a twisting.  I was terrified I had torn something, although I could walk and continued to work, although my pain was fairly constant and would sometimes get intense for a few seconds after stepping in a certain position.  My left leg felt weak for several months, although an MRI revealed no clear damage-I was told I had some chondromalacia present.

Not long after the knee, I was bending in a way to protect it and turned my right foot in such a way that it felt like I hyperextended a ligament in my right little toe.  That toe has hurt for over a year, although it subsided for a little while 2-3 months after and then seemed to come back.  Last November, within a 4 day period I dropped a 2 wheeled dolly on the right foot, and turned an ankle while walking.  Had significant soreness around the 3 little toes and one extremely sore spot in the upper metatarsal area between the 4th and 5th toes.  Had x-rays and physical therapy for the forefoot area.  Later had ankle x-rays which did not appear to reveal anything significant but a mild sprain and an abnormality that was old, maybe lifelong.   Felt better for a while but still had a nagging ache in the toes and metatarsal area for several months and later felt peroneal tendonitis symptoms from the toe to ankle.  I also developed back pain a month or so after hurting the knee.

Over the ensuing months, I saw several podiatrists, 2 orthopedists, 2 chiropracters, acupuncturist, and a number of industrial medicine doctors.  During this period I also developed frozen shoulder for which I received acupuncture treatment and the pain completely went away.  I had dizziness and ringing in the ears and an MRI done for my brain which also came up negative.  Over time I felt aches in both knees (popping in the left), pain in my lower back and buttocks area, sciatica, pain radiating up and down both legs, frequent leg cramps, burning and neuropathic type pains in the feet.  As Andrea Leonard-Segal pointed out in her chapter in Sarno�s �The Divided Mind� I had become one of those persons who believed they were completely fragile and thinking that their bodies were breaking down.

[b]The good news:[/b]  I started reading Sarno�s books in May and started resuming more normal activity particularly at work and most of my symptoms have gone away.  I am a classic TMS type person:  people pleaser, conflict avoider, do gooder and over the past 4 years have been under enormous stress while obtaining a Masters degree that I received in May.  Not to mention the stress of pain influencing work and whether it should result in disability, etc. but did not stop working.  Many years ago I had upper back pain for 1-2 years and finally refused to give in to it and eventually it went away, so I have a history of TMS pain as well as the personality.

[b]What I can�t seem to get rid of[/b]is the pain in my right foot. I finally was determined to not let it stop me and then I started noticing at first some shooting pains in the big toes of both feet-new areas for me.  Then I started feeling bumpy areas behind the small toe and the big toe of the right foot.  The area under the big toe was getting very sore and I finally gave in and went to the podiatrist to make sure I didn�t have sesamoiditis.  He has diagnosed me with [i]hallux limitus[/i] of the big right toe, which seems to be a form of arthritis that is often progressive.

I go back and forth from worrying about it and fearing its progressing to telling myself that even if arthritis is present it need not be debilitating and may only become problematic due to TMS.  The usual prescription is orthotics and anti-inflammatories 24/7 for a week.  I prefer not to wear orthotics because I know it makes arches weak and plays into TMS.  I compromised and am wearing a soft arch insert from New Balance to ease the pain for work.  Still have pain in the lesser toes of the right foot, also, which I�m now wondering is due to compensating for the stiffness in the big toe.

[b]Anyone had any experience around this-TMS, Structural, or a little of both?[/b]
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Forfeet	Posted - 10/22/2010 : 00:13:58 Sorry for the long post. Last 3-4 paragraphs most important. About 2 and a half years ago I started having foot pain in my left forefoot, primarily in the lesser toes area. I thought it might be a stress fracture or a Jones fracture. Eventually, the pain became most prominent in the little toe. Had several x-rays, 2 sets or orthotics, and 9 months into things an MRI with no clearcut structural issues noted, although it was suspected I might have had an old stress fracture that heeled. I work at a job where I am on my feet for virtually 8 hours and it includes some heavy lifting, squatting stooping, etc. About 9+ months into the left foot pain, I started feeling an ache in the lesser toes of my right foot. A year into the left foot pain, I felt an unusual pain in my left knee after squatting down to pick up a box at work. It felt like a twisting. I was terrified I had torn something, although I could walk and continued to work, although my pain was fairly constant and would sometimes get intense for a few seconds after stepping in a certain position. My left leg felt weak for several months, although an MRI revealed no clear damage-I was told I had some chondromalacia present. Not long after the knee, I was bending in a way to protect it and turned my right foot in such a way that it felt like I hyperextended a ligament in my right little toe. That toe has hurt for over a year, although it subsided for a little while 2-3 months after and then seemed to come back. Last November, within a 4 day period I dropped a 2 wheeled dolly on the right foot, and turned an ankle while walking. Had significant soreness around the 3 little toes and one extremely sore spot in the upper metatarsal area between the 4th and 5th toes. Had x-rays and physical therapy for the forefoot area. Later had ankle x-rays which did not appear to reveal anything significant but a mild sprain and an abnormality that was old, maybe lifelong. Felt better for a while but still had a nagging ache in the toes and metatarsal area for several months and later felt peroneal tendonitis symptoms from the toe to ankle. I also developed back pain a month or so after hurting the knee. Over the ensuing months, I saw several podiatrists, 2 orthopedists, 2 chiropracters, acupuncturist, and a number of industrial medicine doctors. During this period I also developed frozen shoulder for which I received acupuncture treatment and the pain completely went away. I had dizziness and ringing in the ears and an MRI done for my brain which also came up negative. Over time I felt aches in both knees (popping in the left), pain in my lower back and buttocks area, sciatica, pain radiating up and down both legs, frequent leg cramps, burning and neuropathic type pains in the feet. As Andrea Leonard-Segal pointed out in her chapter in Sarno�s �The Divided Mind� I had become one of those persons who believed they were completely fragile and thinking that their bodies were breaking down. The good news: I started reading Sarno�s books in May and started resuming more normal activity particularly at work and most of my symptoms have gone away. I am a classic TMS type person: people pleaser, conflict avoider, do gooder and over the past 4 years have been under enormous stress while obtaining a Masters degree that I received in May. Not to mention the stress of pain influencing work and whether it should result in disability, etc. but did not stop working. Many years ago I had upper back pain for 1-2 years and finally refused to give in to it and eventually it went away, so I have a history of TMS pain as well as the personality. What I can�t seem to get rid ofis the pain in my right foot. I finally was determined to not let it stop me and then I started noticing at first some shooting pains in the big toes of both feet-new areas for me. Then I started feeling bumpy areas behind the small toe and the big toe of the right foot. The area under the big toe was getting very sore and I finally gave in and went to the podiatrist to make sure I didn�t have sesamoiditis. He has diagnosed me with hallux limitus of the big right toe, which seems to be a form of arthritis that is often progressive. I go back and forth from worrying about it and fearing its progressing to telling myself that even if arthritis is present it need not be debilitating and may only become problematic due to TMS. The usual prescription is orthotics and anti-inflammatories 24/7 for a week. I prefer not to wear orthotics because I know it makes arches weak and plays into TMS. I compromised and am wearing a soft arch insert from New Balance to ease the pain for work. Still have pain in the lesser toes of the right foot, also, which I�m now wondering is due to compensating for the stiffness in the big toe. Anyone had any experience around this-TMS, Structural, or a little of both?
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
tcshar	Posted - 11/16/2010 : 19:32:05 I don't remember any trigger event regarding the sesamoid or arthritis. Years ago I had bunion surgery on the toe that has arthritis. I didn't even know what a sesamoid bone was when the doctor told me it was broken. I also had planter fasciitis two times in that foot. It just kind of gradually happened.I thought my foot problems might have been caused from playing tennis. I have really skinny feet with high arches, but the doctor told me the right one fell. That foot is now 1/2 size larger then my left foot. But, so far, since I've been reading and thinking about TMS, it's been pretty good.Been working on the erythromelalgia EM. Was on my feet for hours getting ready for company and my feet were red/purple, felt swollen and sore. No problem with ankle or toe tho. I think it's going to take a long time to get rid of the EM. Trying to think positive.
Forfeet	Posted - 11/05/2010 : 16:11:59 Marjrc and Tschar, Thanks for your posts. Tscar, was there a trigger event for why you thought you broke the sesamoid and the arthritis or did it just emerge over time? quote: Originally posted by marjrc The outside of my right foot will not respond and I haven't been able to lift myself up on the toes of that foot since June 1st, after a terrible bout of 'sciatica'. I am getting an EMG done in 3 weeks, but I am not placing much importance to it, since even muscle weakness can be TMS. What worries me, is that my foot and toes have adjusted to how I walk and are starting to 'deform'. I know I've read at least one patient's story that sounds similar to this-I think it was in "Healing Back Pain". What do you mean by "deform"? Something you can physically see or feel? I've noticed what appears to be a hardening or bumpy feeling in the forefoot behind the little toe and the big toe. Still wondering if they both are arthritic and due to overcompensating or just that I've noticed them more and are giving more attention to them than in the past. I certainly could do more journaling than I do, although I do pay attention to my inner stress and other psychological issues-just don't write about them much.
tcshar	Posted - 11/03/2010 : 19:01:04 Hi Forfeet...you asked a couple of questions, I'll try to answer. My podiatrist diagnosed the arthritis in my big toe, with only a little cartilage left there. He also dx the break in the sesmoid. I had a cortisone shot, which didn't seem to help. When I went to see Dr. Schubiner I had so much going on in my feet/ankle that I didn't know where to start. I talked about my erythromelalgia first because I know there isn't a cure for it, only pain meds. Then, my ankle pain that stopped me from walking for exercise and playing tennis. Then I mentioned my big toe pain, then the sesmoid problem. I read that it's hard to tell the difference between a bipartate sesamoid (two bones), which occurs fairly frequently and a fractured sesamoid....so, in my mind I told myself it probably was a bipartate. My doctor already told me my ankle was arthritis, and when I questioned him on this, changed it to tibiales posterior tendonitis. I wondered if he knew what was going on. It really helped that Dr. Schubiner dx me with TMS. Then all I had to do was believe it and work on it. My toe, sesmoid and ankle seem to be doing fine, makes me nervous to say this. But the EM is being more difficult. It does seem somewhat better, the burning has decreased, although a couple of days ago it was back, plus reflux, and IBS...did a lot of self talk. Then everything went back to where it was a few days before. I know this can work because many years ago I had pain in back of my head and knife-like pain in my eye. I saw many different doctors, tried many different things, nothing helped. I bought Dr. Sarno's first book, read it and thought hmmmm....couldn't be me. Then probably a year later, I was so desperate I read the book again. It took months, but the pain went away and never came back. Can you believe it, I forgot about it and had many other TMS symptoms through out the years. Anyway I have faith that it will work.
marjrc	Posted - 11/01/2010 : 07:35:14 Forfeet, I hear you about the foot pain. There is no point in me getting into my medical history, but at this stage, I have had a numb and semi-paralyzed right foot, half of it that is. The outside of my right foot will not respond and I haven't been able to lift myself up on the toes of that foot since June 1st, after a terrible bout of 'sciatica'. It's been worrisome, but I am working on the TMS approach and almost all my other chronic ailments have improved greatly. :) What bothers me, is that the condition of my foot hasn't changed. I walk without fear of hurting it, move and act as if it's a normal functioning foot, but after a short while, all the other muscles in my foot and leg ache from over compensating. The toes won't lift my foot off the ground. I talk to the pain, ignore it, and continue to journal. I am getting an EMG done in 3 weeks, but I am not placing much importance to it, since even muscle weakness can be TMS. What worries me, is that my foot and toes have adjusted to how I walk and are starting to 'deform'. I definitely recommend that you read Sarno's work, start journaling 15 mins./day and meditate 15 mins. a day. I'm willing to bet that most, if not all, your pain will subside. I also recommend psychotherapy for those stubborn aches and pains - I have therapy and it helps. :)
Forfeet	Posted - 10/26/2010 : 17:07:19 Tcshar, Thanks very much for the reply. How did you break your sesamoid? Who diagonsed that? Did Dr. Schubiner acknowledge the break and arthritis but believed the pain to be TMS related or did he not think there was a break? Did he feel your arthritis was natural age related stuff. I've been trying to take that approach but still think I'm a bit young to have significant arthritis in my feet (53 years). I appreciate the reprogramming advice. I don't put much effort on that kind of thing and I do believe it would help. I have seen much evidence of my active stress manifesting in body issues. Sometimes miss the less obvious contributors to pains/symptoms, etc. I have often gotten very angry at my pain and really let my body and unconscious have it with my words. I haven't been doing enough gentle talk. I wish I lived close enough to Dr. Schubiner to take a visit. Unfortunately, I don't but ought to take advantage of getting his book. Thanks for you thoughts and appreciate any others you may have. Forfeet
tcshar	Posted - 10/24/2010 : 19:53:15 Hi....I'm new here. Sounds like TMS to me. I have arthritis at base of big toe, broken sesmoid bone (right under the big toe), neuropathy, knife-like pain on inner ankle and EM erythromelalgia. I went to see Dr. Schubiner Sept. 20th. He spent 2 hours with me and from my history thought it was TMS/MBS. I have been taking my time doing the workbook at home, I live 4 1/2 hours from his office. Anyway, I'm seeing some progress. I would say the neuropathy has decreased, the burning from the EM is better. And the toe/ankle pain has gone, but came back the other day when I was stressed. It tries to come back, but I talk to it. Dr. Schubiner has some reprogramming MBS sysmptom exercises in his book. I wrote some of these on 3x5 cards and read them over & over. When you feel a new pain somewhere, just tell it you know what's it's trying to do...and tell it to stop right now. I woke up with a headache/neck ache this am, and I thought...oh no you don't, I know what you're up to, just leave me alone. And it went away. These are just my thoughts. Hope it was of some help.

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