| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 21:47:48
I just started reading Dr. Sarno's HBP book and it is amazing! Until I saw the Dr. tonight I have been thinking I might be experiencing TMS. The personality description matches me perfectly and I've gone through extreme change the past couple years. Last year I got divorced, my grandmother passed away, and I started a new job (not to mention other big things). In the past few months my life has really turned around positively.
To my surprise I passed all the skills required to become a member of a local roller derby league. The derby community has changed my life and although really nervous at first, I'm finally feeling that I fit in and it is the perfect place for me to be.
Then, I got sciatic nerve pain that stopped my movements at practice last Wed. I tried to hide my tears and was frustrated that I couldn't skate. The sharp pains are gone but the nerve is sore now and my tailbone is sore. The team Dr. said that I may have fractured my sacrum and/or coccyx and she doesn't want me to skate until she sees X-Rays. I am very upset because I just feel really sore and after talking to her I now feel nauseous, my entire back hurts badly, and I have a headache. I want to go against her wishes and try skating on Wed. In fact, I thought I was almost 100% better yesterday and was just going to give myself a few more days. I even have bumsavers (protective gear, pads) to make me feel a little more protected. Should I just stay off skates because this is maybe an injury or is it TMS?  |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| TaylorJoh |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 12:42:58
quote:
Originally posted by rollergirl
I am happy to report that nothing is wrong with me! The integrative MD that I just saw this afternoon said I am suffering from TMS! Even my crummy right toe pain (bone spur) is TMS. I am so grateful that he is only a train ride away from where I work. If you are in Chicago definitely see him. No doctor has ever listened to me as well as he did. http://www.nmh.org/nm/physician_stracks_john_s_11727
Also, I was referred to a "body-centered and trauma-trained therapist" which sounds exactly like what I need. The doctor also noticed that I had trouble getting angry and he tried to get me to say something more forceful that I was angry about.
Although this may be difficult for my team to understand, I'm reassured that I'm getting the help I need and that nothing is structurally wrong. AND it definitely helps to hear a professional tell you that you have TMS rather than guessing, especially since I'm so analytical and see-all-angles-of-things that I'll talk myself out of believing myself sometimes.
Anyway, it's my birthday too so that was a good gift. 
First, Happy Birthday!! And secondly, this is all great news. I'm very happy that you have found a TMS doctor. You're convinced in the diagnoses, so it's all uphill from here. I admire your spirit, you'll be better in no time. |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 12:24:51
I am happy to report that nothing is wrong with me! The integrative MD that I just saw this afternoon said I am suffering from TMS! Even my crummy right toe pain (bone spur) is TMS. I am so grateful that he is only a train ride away from where I work. If you are in Chicago definitely see him. No doctor has ever listened to me as well as he did. http://www.nmh.org/nm/physician_stracks_john_s_11727
Also, I was referred to a "body-centered and trauma-trained therapist" which sounds exactly like what I need. The doctor also noticed that I had trouble getting angry and he tried to get me to say something more forceful that I was angry about.
Although this may be difficult for my team to understand, I'm reassured that I'm getting the help I need and that nothing is structurally wrong. AND it definitely helps to hear a professional tell you that you have TMS rather than guessing, especially since I'm so analytical and see-all-angles-of-things that I'll talk myself out of believing myself sometimes.
Anyway, it's my birthday too so that was a good gift. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 09:41:48
CONGRATULATIONS! Team TMS wins again versus Dr. Nocebo. Please keep us updated about your experience with your upcoming TMS doctor appointment. With your TMS personality plus roller-derby, I have the feeling you will be talking to him from time to time, hopefully only by phone. |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 09:29:38
Update! Just letting y'all know that my X Rays came back totally normal. Yay! The team doctor said that I can skate but no contact yet. Of course she wants me to be careful and not go too fast, but at least I can roll around again.  And tomorrow I get to see the TMS MD. |
| TaylorJoh |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 10:00:11
Good for you rollergirl! You're strengthening your mind, body and soul.
I can tell by your posts, you have a TMS personality, but you're also a fighter and go-getter. So you are half your battle. Now knowledge and putting it to use will get you 100%.
So when you're ready, go out there and be the badass that you are! hehe |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 09:51:38
Just had to add something...
Before trying out for roller derby I was struggling with pain in my right big toe from a bone spur. I had surgery on my right foot in 2007 and had it in my head that I would never be on a roller derby league because of it. The spur returned and I have almost no range of movement in that toe. It was flaring up big time but I skated through it and it only got stronger. I surprised myself when I discovered it didn't stop me from making the league and I have been skating great! Since this whole back/nerve thing happened that right toe hurts like hell, worse than my back. But if I was able to work through that I can definitely work through this.  |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 09:25:26
Thank you all for your thoughts! This is helping me so much because I feel very alone with the anxiety and this situation. My boyfriend does mixed martial arts, specializing in wrestling, and tells me this is part of being an athlete and that my body needs to learn how to handle this. When the sciatic pain stopped me from skating, I stopped. Its not like I'm going to not listen at all to my body. But I feel that people in our culture baby themselves too much and I don't want to be afraid of playing derby. I feel that the longer I sit out the more fear I'll develop due to my already present anxiety prone personality. My mother and grandmother had severe anxiety issues too and also sciatic nerve pain at times, so I can see where this is coming from. Seriously, I thought I was getting 100% better until that Dr. starting in on me.
When I joined the league I almost went to see a psychologist because my anxiety hasn't been this high in a long time. Then, I was handling it ok (so I thought). Derby has challenged my identity a lot because I was always an artist and not an athlete until now and I love it!! I'm learning so much about myself and really get how emotionally I hold in my feelings like anger and try to hide anxiety from everyone especially teammates. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 09:05:34
quote:
Originally posted by rollergirl
...To understand my personality, I have been an extremely anxious and hyper sensitive person my entire life. I've gone through every therapy imaginable to treat my anxiety. When I joined the league I had anxiety to extreme levels because I was terrified not only to get hurt but more so what the other gals would think of me. When I first started I would have to do deep breathing before practices and my boyfriend was concerned about me because my anxiety was so high. But after practice I'd be so happy because the experience was not at all what I was illogically imagining. It was awesome!!!
...Lately I've become pretty obsessive...
...I think it just added to my anxiety. As soon as I was starting to let that anxiety go and honestly felt comfortable is when my sciatic nerve hit.
Sounds like you've got the TMS personality. Anxiety is a TMS affective symptom, your sub-conscious created a new symptom, sciatica--it's called SYMPTOM SUBSTITUTION. Look up the definition for anxiety, it's all about TMS. The first word in TMS stands for TENSION, a synonym for anxiety. Whatever you want to call it, it's all psychosomatic, symptoms created by the subconscious as a protective defense mechanism. Basically the TMS gremlin is your mommy saying: "Don't do that, you'll hurt yourself!", the doctor is doing the same thing.
Corral your obsessive personality around the TMS books and materials and condition new thoughts regarding how strong the body is and what it takes to really get hurt. When I see what roller derby skaters, wrestlers, and x-game athletes can endure and keep bouncing back-up again it's phenomenal, they have the same number of bones and muscles everyone else has. |
| TaylorJoh |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 08:31:53
Hi rollergirl,
My mom skated in a roller derby too. She could take a bad fall, she'd feel pretty stinking bad for a little while. But as soon as she felt up to it, she'd go right back to it. My mom never went to the doctor. But she did find out later she broke her tailbone and maybe numerous times. I'm not sure what bone it was, she always just calls it a "tailbone". I doubt that is medical terminology lol. Her "tailbone" is really unsightly. It sticks out a lot and is crooked.
I'm not telling you this to scare you. I'm telling you because for her at least, it wasn't a big deal. She didn't even know! And they don't know how she did it. The docs said it could have been in childbirth or falling.
But one thing about my mom, she was fearless in sports. I think this is why she could continue to skate and do other sports in her condition. She never exacerbated her injuries by fear and tension. I think that is why people who play extreme sports can get very serious injuries but go right back to it after they feel better and not have chronic pain.
So do whatever it takes to calm your mind. If you think not knowing what the xrays will show will cause you tension and fear, wait for your doctor to tell you. But if you think you're ready and want to get back out there with your league, then do it. As Tom said though, you need to JUST DO IT. Don't fear it, just go out there have fun and know you're going to be OK.
Good luck!
Taylor
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| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 07:53:04
Thanks!  It is super common for roller women to fall on their tailbones and more times than I even have. A lot of gals just throw on padding and keep going. Last night the Dr. was also surprised when I told her that it didn't hurt to sit or hurt when I moved up and down (like going to sit). I'm just mostly sore. Also, this is a volunteer Dr., not necessarily a sports one so she could be covering her butt (no pun intended). ;)
To understand my personality, I have been an extremely anxious and hyper sensitive person my entire life. I've gone through every therapy imaginable to treat my anxiety. When I joined the league I had anxiety to extreme levels because I was terrified not only to get hurt but more so what the other gals would think of me. When I first started I would have to do deep breathing before practices and my boyfriend was concerned about me because my anxiety was so high. But after practice I'd be so happy because the experience was not at all what I was illogically imagining. It was awesome!!!
Lately I've become pretty obsessive about how many practices I go to and whether I make a roster or not. I'm a very ambitious person. There are a lot of rules in place to I think filter out women who aren't serious. But when you have someone with mega-integrity like me, who is hard on herself, I think it just added to my anxiety. As soon as I was starting to let that anxiety go and honestly felt comfortable is when my sciatic nerve hit.
I stretch a ton, do yoga, and eat well so I really just want to at least try at practice tomorrow night. If I can't take a hit then I'll just skate to the side. I just cannot be 100% off skates because it seems silly when I can definitely move way better. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 07:21:58
I get the feeling from your post that you're getting the Sarno TMS stuff. The Good Doctor's premise is THE BODY IS STRONG!!! This includes the BACK!!! Basically, to hurt yourself, you have to experience trauma like falling out of a fourth story window, speaking somewhat hyperbolically . From what you describe, it sounds like TMS. I know what it feels like to not be able to play your sport, bummer. I'd say JUST DO IT!, with caution, but don't let the team doctor see you. The team doctor may have given you a powerful nocebo. Keep reading your Sarno, you're gonna' need it for roller derby.
Jam on,
tt
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
==================================================
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
======================================================
TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/page/Find+a+TMS+Doctor+or+Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
| rollergirl |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 03:45:36
I don't know if I got injured skating. This was mild lower back pain that all of a sudden flared up randomly through my sciatic while skating last Wed. The week before I felt the nerve pain, I did fall on my wheel which hit my tailbone but was completely fine. I jumped up very quickly and the impact wasn't hard. My sciatic isn't even sore right now. All I feel is soreness around my sacrum where the Dr. pushed last night. They are going to do a MRI and X-Ray on Friday but until then I want to skate because I want to keep my muscles strengthened, active, and continue learning the game. It has been a week since I skated and it is driving me crazy. Not to mention all I feel is soreness and nothing in the sciatic.
Thanks! |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/05/2012 : 22:34:34
quote:
Originally posted by rollergirl
...Then, I got sciatic nerve pain that stopped my movements at practice last Wed.
... The team Dr. said that I may have fractured my sacrum and/or coccyx and she doesn't want me to skate until she sees X-Rays.
... Should I just stay off skates because this is maybe an injury or is it TMS?
Did you get injured in a specific incident falling while skating?
If you feel well enough to skate, what happens if you go against the wishes of the team doctor?
Are you going to get x-rays? They can be gotten almost immediately even at a chiro-quack-ters office.
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
TAKE THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS TEST
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
==================================================
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
======================================================
TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/page/Find+a+TMS+Doctor+or+Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
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