| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/05/2013 : 09:28:12
Hi all,
I will try to make this short but here's my story:
I'm a 23 year old guy that has been dealing with the hell that is epididymitis for the past 3 months. If you don't know what that is, its the swelling of the tube that runs from the testicle. I was told that it was an infection and that antibiotics would clear it up. Well, it actually did at first but pretty soon the pain and swelling was back. Fast forward 3 months later, I've been on 4 different batches of antibiotics and had no relief.
My urologist has said that if we can't find an antibiotic that works, he recommends that he remove the epididymis surgically. Being 23 and wanting to have kids down the road, this is an absolute last resort for me.
I have obsessed over hours and hours of research trying to find a cure. I've tried colloidial silver, prostate massages, cranberry extract, apple cidar vinegar, chiropractor, anti-inflammatories. Nothing has brought me complete relief of pain and swelling.
Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a blog of an epididymitis sufferer who after years of pain had found relief. He realized that it was TMS and started to heal himself emotionally instead of physically. Lo and behold he claims to be completely cured now.
I can't believe I hadn't made the connection before. I'm a chronic worrier and have had numerous conditions in the past few years that are most likely caused by my anxiety: panic attacks, generalized anxiety, acid reflux, esophagus spasms, TMJ from teeth grinding, high blood pressure.
I began to try to accept the fact this epididymitis may be caused by my repressed emotions and anxiety. I begun to feel the best I had felt in months! Pain had lessened to a mild discomfort.
But yesterday, I got the courage to try an "Insanity" workout. I used to be avid about my excercise, but I have sustained from physical activity, beacause I was afraid that I would worsen my condition. I made it through an intense cardio workout with no pain, but then about 30 minutes after I started to feel the pain and within a few hours there was a lot of swelling and pain. The pain has lessened but is still there today.
This is only the 3rd day that I have started to embrace the TMS approach, but this has been a setback to my psych. I'm having trouble accepting this as a mental-induced condition when physical activity appears to make it worse.
I guess my biggest question is what do you all think about my situation? Tests show no infection or problem besides the visual swelling with no known cause. Does this sound like TMS? Yesterday was a real setback to me, maybe my entire body was sore from the workout and my brain upped the soreness to my swollen area too? I have ordered Dr. Sarno's books and should have them in then next few days. In the mean time, I am just trying to get some feedback and support. I am having trouble convincing myself that this condition is mental if physical activity made it worse yesterday.
Sorry for being long-winded, but this approach seems to be my last option besides surgery. Feedbacka and suggestions would be well appreciated. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 10/03/2019 : 22:01:01
quote:
Originally posted by sdiddy
WTF - Do you think that your body somehow manifested cancer?? Thats crazy.
That's not what he is saying, he made a very good TMS complementary post. |
| sdiddy |
Posted - 10/03/2019 : 17:33:44
WTF - Do you think that your body somehow manifested cancer?? Thats crazy.
quote:
Originally posted by ennio
I was diagnosed with chronic epididymitis at 24 and have had it to varying degrees throughout my life (I am now 41).
I saw nearly every kind of specialist at various renowned Boston hospitals, including pain clinics. No one could help. They just said 'chronic epididymitis'.
At one point it was so brutal I was considering getting an orchiectomy.
Then, as fate would have it, last year I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the same testicle. This wasn't the cause for the pain since I had it for so long. The silver lining was that I thought my groin pain would go away.
Guess what? One year after the surgery and my pain is STILL THERE. Which convinces me even more that it is TMS.
I am a people-pleaser of the highest order and also a perfectionist. I've also had major inferority issues in my life. I am totally convinced the pain is TMS. Now I don't worry about it anymore and it doesn't enter my mind as much. I can do activities I was afraid to do before and the pain does not get any worse. It is still there sometimes, but there's TMS for you. In most cases, it never completely vanishes, but accepting it for what it is and not worrying about it make a huge difference.
My recommendation is to continue exercising, but don't go right to the insanity workout. The point is to gradually get back to that. The first time I decided to lift light weights after avoiding them for 10 years (groin, back, achilles pain) I felt the "old" pain come back. But I kept at it and before long, I had no increased pain during weight-lifting.
I would just ease into it. As long as you have been medically tested, convince yourself that physically you are fine.
|
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/24/2013 : 08:48:16
Well, its been a little over 2 weeks since I started using the TMS approach. And the last few days I can say that for the most part I have had no groin pain. I get a sharp pain every now and then but it usually goes away within an hour or two. I am going to continue to use Dr. Sarno's approaches in all of my physical issues that are most likely TMS.
This experience has really opened up my mind to the emotional issues that I have been neglecting all these years. Hopefully I can continue to work to be healthier physically and emotionally and pass this amazing information on to friends and family.
Thank you for all your help, I really needed to hear some feedback from others to fully convince myself that I had TMS.
You’ll fall down, you stumble, you land square on your face. And every time that happens, you get back on your feet. You get up just as fast as you can, no matter how many times you need to do it |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 15:05:00
quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
quote:
Originally posted by GTfan
...When my doctor started suggesting the surgical removal of the tube, I became even more terrified. Then I started reading about how epididymits can switch sides sometimes even after surgery. The thought of losing both my epididymes and never being able to have children became my obsessive fear. And as you would expect, one day I woke up and I was started to ache painfully on the other side.
You are thinking TMS correctly! I CAN NOT BELIEVE A "DOCTOR" WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU--A YOUNG GUY--TO DO ANYTHING SO INVASIVE AS STERILIZATION TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT'S LIKELY TMS!". I hope there's more to the story, is his name Dr. Frankenstein?
Don't let em' cut ya',
tt/lsmft
==================================================
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
"The hot-dog is the noblest of dogs; it feeds the hand that bites it." Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter
"...the human emotional system was not designed to endure the mental rigors of a tennis match." Dr. Allen Fox
======================================================
"If it ends with "itis" or "algia" or "syndrome" and doctors can't figure out what causes it, then it might be TMS." Dave the Mod =================================================
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/ppd/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
According to my urologist, the only treatment is to keep trying different antibiotics until something works. (I've been through 4 different ones) If that doesn't work, then I either live with it or get it removed.
But, he has also said that the last few times the swelling "isn't that bad". This further confirms that there is little, if any, correlation between pain and swelling.
You’ll fall down, you stumble, you land square on your face. And every time that happens, you get back on your feet. You get up just as fast as you can, no matter how many times you need to do it |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 11:58:09
quote:
[i]Originally posted by RageSootheRatio
...I don't know that it's such a "weird" location for your pain ...
Agreed, your penis is important to you, as it should be especially being a young guy.
Keep it up!--the good TMS work, that is.
Cheers,
tt/lsmft |
| RageSootheRatio |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 11:11:15
Hi GTFan,
quote:
What are your thoughts on the matter? I'm just trying to figure out why my TMS chose such a wierd location for my pain.
I don't know that it's such a "weird" location for your pain ... it's the part where you are focusing your attention, right? ie you are not focusing your thoughts on your left big toe which is feeling perfectly fine. Instead, you are focusing your thoughts on a part of your body which has already been sensitized to painful feelings AND which cause you great fear ... and all those "fear chemicals" can REALLY ramp up MORE fear and MORE pain!
BTW, I just have a great sense when I read your posts that you WILL be successful in beating this and will go on to live a very happy life, with both children and grandchildren. 
You remind me of John Accardi who used to post a lot, young guy, life in front of him, fearful he would be unable to move ahead at all. If you haven't read his success story "200% recovered" .. do check it out:
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5601
RSR |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 10:37:48
quote:
Originally posted by GTfan
...When my doctor started suggesting the surgical removal of the tube, I became even more terrified. Then I started reading about how epididymits can switch sides sometimes even after surgery. The thought of losing both my epididymes and never being able to have children became my obsessive fear. And as you would expect, one day I woke up and I was started to ache painfully on the other side.
You are thinking TMS correctly! I CAN NOT BELIEVE A "DOCTOR" WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU--A YOUNG GUY--TO DO ANYTHING SO INVASIVE AS STERILIZATION TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT'S LIKELY TMS!". I hope there's more to the story, is his name Dr. Frankenstein?
Don't let em' cut ya',
tt/lsmft
==================================================
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
"The hot-dog is the noblest of dogs; it feeds the hand that bites it." Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter
"...the human emotional system was not designed to endure the mental rigors of a tennis match." Dr. Allen Fox
======================================================
"If it ends with "itis" or "algia" or "syndrome" and doctors can't figure out what causes it, then it might be TMS." Dave the Mod =================================================
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/ppd/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 |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 06:25:49
Here is the theory I have come up with for my condition in the past 3+ months:
I think when I first started experiencing pain, it actually was an infection of the epididymis. I had a "just got hit in the junk" pain until the pain went away in my first week of antibiotic treatment.
I was terrified that the pain would come back, and sure enough it did. But it has evolved now to a different kind of pain in my groin. I think this has been my TMS clinging to the previous area of infection.
When my doctor started suggesting the surgical removal of the tube, I became even more terrified. Then I started reading about how epididymits can switch sides sometimes even after surgery. The thought of losing both my epididymes and never being able to have children became my obsessive fear. And as you would expect, one day I woke up and I was started to ache painfully on the other side.
What are your thoughts on the matter? I'm just trying to figure out why my TMS chose such a wierd location for my pain.
You’ll fall down, you stumble, you land square on your face. And every time that happens, you get back on your feet. You get up just as fast as you can, no matter how many times you need to do it |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/15/2013 : 12:43:36
Just checking in with an update. It has been eight days since I started reading Dr. Sarno's book, "The Mindbody Prescription". I finished that one and have started the next one, "The Divided Mind".
I would say that my pain is definitely getting better. It is hard to put a number on how much it has been reduced becasue I feel no pain sometimes and somewhat painful at other times. I have come to realize that my brain is just not conditioned to certain situations yet, so that is why I am still experiencing pain.
You’ll fall down, you stumble, you land square on your face. And every time that happens, you get back on your feet. You get up just as fast as you can, no matter how many times you need to do it |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/11/2013 : 19:54:50
Does anybody have change in location and type of pain? Eariler this week, I had a sharp pain in my groin and lower abdomen. Suddenly, today after a light workout it shifted to a strange burning pain more in the location of where the leg meets the groin and down into the scrotum.
This is kind of messing with my psych, because it appears that my epididymis is acually swollen too. Is this possibly just another attempt of the brain to keep me distracted? I'm guessing my brain is sending burning and swelling to the area I have been worried about for the past 3 months to make me think that the excercise I have been doing is making it worse.
"No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back." - Sheryl Swoopes |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/10/2013 : 10:58:03
Well after a rough start to my week. The pain has gotten better despite the fact that I have begun to excersise slightly more intensly. The thought that I would be unable to play sports, excersise, or lift weights was a very depressing thing for me, because they had been some of the most enjoyable things in my life.
I think the fact that I have been able to convince myself that I can't physically make my condition any worse has been greatly beneficial.
"No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back." - Sheryl Swoopes |
| Dr James Alexander |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 16:05:46
GTfan- your collection of symptoms and the vague medical opinions about the groin area pain; your psychological history; the movement between different symptoms, the lack of response to normal medical interventions, all suggest TMS. You have some psychological work to do my man. Fortunately, the resources are all available.
James |
| EileenTM |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 15:39:09
GT you should apply for those jobs. Somebody gets the job and if you don't apply, you wont have a chance. You never know. In my case, I showed up at the right time and someone was willing to take a chance on me without experience. You never know.
|
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 12:28:42
I have done some meditation today on my recent medical history and it has only confirmed the fact that I have TMS.
I think my first symptoms of TMS was genearlized anxiety and anxiety attacks. This started about 1.5 years ago when I was going through a lot of emotional issues and I had a heart procedure to fix a defect that caused SVT. At first, the only time I had ever had a panic attack was while smoking marijuana. Then suddenly one day I was having panic attacks out of the blue. This was one of the worst times of my life, as I had no control over my anxiety and was miserable pretty much 24/7. I got to the point where Atevan wasn't even calming me down. Eventually, I read "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes. This book was my life saver, as I now rarely ever deal with spontaneous panic or anxiety.
However, during this time I was also dealing with this tight chest pain that I assumed was just some kind of anxiety. I ended up going to various doctors, and long story short, I had high blood pressure and esophagus spasms.
Then, this eventually turned to a terrible, escruciating pain that I couldn't pin point. It was somewhere in my throat or neck and sometimes creeped into my sinuses. After months of doctors and research I found out that it was TMJ. I had a nightguard that I was supposed to be wearing for teeth-grinding but had gotten away from it. So, I started wearing the nightguard and eventually the pain got better to the point that it was at least bareable and I didn't really think about it that much.
The TMJ started last summer, and I still deal with it now to a lesser degree. Then, in January was when the groin pain started. And now I'm at the point I am today. As I stand today, I suffer from chronic groin pain and TMJ (but not as bad as it was last summer).
My guess is that each time I find a way to get rid of an emotion or pain, my brain just keeps finding other ways to distract me. All this onslaught of pain and emotional distress happened in less than 2 years. I don't know why I just layed all this out. I guess I'm just still trying to convince myself that the pain I'm feeling right now is TMS-related and not a physical problem. Hoping you can help reassure me also.
"No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back." - Sheryl Swoopes |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 11:18:37
quote:
Originally posted by EileenTM
GT, I have a son your age, so I see first hand the stresses that go with moving from college into the working world. It can be very challenging.
You do seem to know your passion: sports broadcasting. Is there some way you can volunteer at a radio station or with a sports team to do something in this area in your off time? I stumbled into broadcasting after earning an advanced degree in another field. I have completely enjoyed my career even though it was stressful at times. Good luck and keep reading Sarno.
Well, I always check ESPN's website for jobs that I might qualify for like programming or statistics. Haven't got around to applying for any, because its probably <1% chance my resume would be considered.
I also used to referee intramural sports and high school soccer while I was in college. I chose not to pursue it after I got a job, since my pain started around the same time (coincidental? I think not). I'm really not sure if I would have time to referee, but its honestly something I haven't givin a second thought due to my pain.
"No matter how far life pushes you down, no matter how much you hurt, you can always bounce back." - Sheryl Swoopes |
| EileenTM |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 10:25:32
GT, I have a son your age, so I see first hand the stresses that go with moving from college into the working world. It can be very challenging.
You do seem to know your passion: sports broadcasting. Is there some way you can volunteer at a radio station or with a sports team to do something in this area in your off time? I stumbled into broadcasting after earning an advanced degree in another field. I have completely enjoyed my career even though it was stressful at times. Good luck and keep reading Sarno. |
| Jim D. |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 07:54:11
I'm not presuming to diagnose your pain as TMS, but the fact that it is moving around so much sure sounds like it. I would say that calling the doctor with every symptom is reinforcing his diagnosis. I think we all have fleeting pain with no real explanation all the time, and you are now expecting it to be in the groin area...and so it is. If I recall correctly, you are just beginning work with Dr. Sarno's books; I would suggest reading them carefully. I myself found reading passages just before going to sleep helped. Another suggestion: Alan Gordon's useful article on overcoming preoccupation with pain on the TMS Wiki: http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/A_Word_About_Outcome_Independence,_by_Alan_Gordon,_LCSW
Jim |
| GTfan |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 06:57:03
The pain has gotten worse the last couple of days. I'm not really sure why. The pain usually changes to a sharp, nerve-like and moves to my uppper hip, almost in my abdomen a few days after drinking alcohol. I also feel sharp pains on both sides of my hip, and my testicles ache sometimes.
Looking back on this condition, I have had so many different pains all around my groin, hip, and legs. Sharp pain in groin, achy testicle pain. At one point it even radiated around to my buttocks and down my entire leg. My leg felt numb and tingly.
To me, this only confirms the idea that I have TMS. I have called my urologist with every change in symptoms, and he has only said "That's normal for your condition. Just keep taking your medicine".
The more I examine myself, I don't feel like there is a correlation between the swelling and the pain. But since the pain is still pretty bad, I guess I still haven't quite accepted the fact that this ia all mental.
I'm 3 weeks into my 4th batch of antibiotics, and I'm still taking anti-inflammatories. Really only because these are doctors orders and I'm supposed to go back soon. Maybe, I should just go ahead quit takin the medication that I know isn't working. |
| Jim D. |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 21:15:35
GT,
Your story struck a chord in me. There isn't much question that being more or less forced (or feeling that you were forced) to pursue an occupation you don't really like is bound to have an effect, and I would say that is what is probably happening to you now. I wasn't forced to do what my parents wanted, but I certainly had to fight to do what I wanted. And I made many mistakes along the way, always disappointing them. Moving 800 miles away was about all I could do. So try to hang in there. Overcoming TMS isn't a straight path, and there will be setbacks, but it does sound like what you are facing. I would recommend that you continue to work out, but do so a little more gently at first. The brain may well fight back, so try not to be discouraged. And try not to do what I tend to do, catastrophize at every setback. We are all so attuned to the pain that we always expect it to return and never leave. But it will leave. Dr. Sarno's books will help, and I have also found that his video is very powerful. |
| Dr James Alexander |
Posted - 04/08/2013 : 16:12:17
GT- the psychological cause need not be trauma- it just often is, so it gets a lot of attention. I have worked with plenty of people who presented with TMS without trauma in their background, used the ideas and got better.The expectations which were put on you (and you not being at all sure that this vocation is for you) is really a very sufficient explanation for TMS. Not traumatic, but a very powerful negative experience nevertheless. I suspect that is where your issues lay.
James |
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