| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JoeyT |
Posted - 05/26/2011 : 19:56:30
I read were MOST herniated disc are harmless My question is which one's aren't? I have developed sciatic on my left side to my feet after lifting a heavy box at work. This
Matches the MRI I had in 08 that said the disc was touching that nerve. I think my return to weight training and lifting the box my have worsened the disc. I have never had this as bad as it is now. I am also positive on the straight leg raise test for a herniated disc. I am very worried about this. I know I have a tms personality, hard working, need to be like and a big time worrier. I just wish I knew for sure. All I think about is this and what it will happen in the future if it is a real problem. I guess I am looking for reassurance. |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| balto |
Posted - 07/28/2011 : 07:10:16
quote:
Originally posted by Dave
quote:
Originally posted by Kullab
What is important I think is to try to forget about the MRI and stop having fear of the pain. That is not easy.
Exactly.
We are deeply conditioned by modern medicine to trust every finding on an MRI as pathological. The fact is, our discs are shock absorbers and doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Just because a disc is "herniated" on an MRI does not mean this is not due to normal wear and tear, and does not mean it causes pain. In fact, if a nerve is impinged, the symptom will be numbness and not pain. Dr. Sarno references at least one study in which many healthy people with no complaints of pain had "abnormal" disc findings on an MRI.
The unconscious mind is clever and gives you precise symptoms that have the highest likelihood of tricking you into believing they are due to structural problems. You will experience pain in the exact area that the MRI findings suggest.
If you have ruled out serious disease or illness, then there is no harm to treat the symptoms as TMS and ignore the MRI findings. Until you are able to accept that the herniated disc diagnosis is not related to your pain, the symptoms are likely to continue, because they are serving their intended purpose of keeping you focused on them and fearful of it getting worse.
My uncle is a doctor and he once told me that more than 80% of his 65 and over patients have herniated disc that shown on MRI, yet only 1, 2% of them have back pain.
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| Dave |
Posted - 05/30/2011 : 10:48:17
quote:
Originally posted by Kullab
What is important I think is to try to forget about the MRI and stop having fear of the pain. That is not easy.
Exactly.
We are deeply conditioned by modern medicine to trust every finding on an MRI as pathological. The fact is, our discs are shock absorbers and doing exactly what they are supposed to do. Just because a disc is "herniated" on an MRI does not mean this is not due to normal wear and tear, and does not mean it causes pain. In fact, if a nerve is impinged, the symptom will be numbness and not pain. Dr. Sarno references at least one study in which many healthy people with no complaints of pain had "abnormal" disc findings on an MRI.
The unconscious mind is clever and gives you precise symptoms that have the highest likelihood of tricking you into believing they are due to structural problems. You will experience pain in the exact area that the MRI findings suggest.
If you have ruled out serious disease or illness, then there is no harm to treat the symptoms as TMS and ignore the MRI findings. Until you are able to accept that the herniated disc diagnosis is not related to your pain, the symptoms are likely to continue, because they are serving their intended purpose of keeping you focused on them and fearful of it getting worse. |
| Kullab |
Posted - 05/27/2011 : 15:32:20
Hello JoeyT,
I too have the same problem as you : left leg sciatica and herniated disc that could be seen on MRI (I also have a spondylosisthesis).
I believe that only you can tell if you have TMS or not. At this moment I'm not even sure that I have it, even if I fit the profile. I've just read Sarno's book and seen only small improvement yet. What is important I think is to try to forget about the MRI and stop having fear of the pain. That is not easy.
Good luck |
| kokolo |
Posted - 05/27/2011 : 14:07:00
We have almost the same problem (i have sciatica in my right leg :D). I don't have anything really smart to tell you. I suppose you heard it most of it already. Just wanted to express support an good luck! |
| art |
Posted - 05/27/2011 : 10:00:54
Right on Alexis...I'm always ambivalent, always beset by doubt to one degree or another. I even ice things routinely even if I think it's TMS on the theory it can't hurt...
What works for me is a commitment to STOP worrying to the very extent possible. Real, not real, doesn't matter because worry does not help.
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| alexis |
Posted - 05/27/2011 : 09:00:26
I agree with Darko that you can never be sure. I believe however that many people, those of with a high tolerance for ambiguity in life in general, can recover with TMS methods while still harboring some degree of doubt. That's just how some of us live from day to day, sometimes for better, other times for worse.
Whether or not you need certainty only you can determine, and what you personally need will determine what commitment means for you.
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| Darko |
Posted - 05/27/2011 : 07:26:01
You can never be sure buddy........we can't convince you either. You are the one that has to cross the mental void and commit to TMS. If you have doubts then pain is a certainty and the chances of recovery are zero.
With those odds you can't be any worse off by committing to TMS
D |
