| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| chefjen |
Posted - 04/09/2013 : 16:06:38
I have only posted once. I have been experiencing a great deal of pain and started thinking the TMS way. Since, I have lost all function in my Achilles, side of my foot and calf. This scares me as I do not want to have permanent nerve damage...so I had an MRI last week and it showed L5, S1 herniation and doctor suggested a cortisone shot. I am miserable!! And do not know what to do. I am not functioning as the person I was 5 weeks ago..the foot/calf/Achilles has been weak, not functioning for 3 weeks. I am scared about a steroid injection not working and I am scared to loss complete function those areas. Any words of wisdom? |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 06:50:17
Aussie and TT,
I found your posts very helpful..I hope it helps chefjen..I know where you are at, chefjen..I went thru the whole herniated disc thing for many years..2 in my neck, 2 in my back..from several accidents straight into the land of TMS..Dr. Sarno's books/studies helped me tremendously..He has Dvd's that you can get and watch at home..very helpful..I wish you all the best..
Karen |
| Aussie |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 06:28:10
Search members, then search user name ssjs. You can then see all previous posts a member posted. I thought her story was very relevant to what the original poster here is experiencing. |
| Barbara Carroll |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 06:18:52
Ssis posts |
| Barbara Carroll |
Posted - 04/18/2013 : 05:01:26
Aussie could u tell me how to find ssis posts
Thank u
Barbara |
| altherunner |
Posted - 04/17/2013 : 21:58:34
Funny, since I posted, I have had some weakness in my right arm, first time in many years. My brain is trying to sneak up on me again! |
| Aussie |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 20:33:23
You are still living in the physical pain realm. I have been guilty of this too and know how hard it can be to convince yourself 100% that the pain is only coming from your mind.
I remember reading posts from another member named ssjs. Please go back and search her original posts. She had extreme sciatica, Foot drop and a paralysed leg. She saw Sarno, Ended up in Psychotherapy and got completely better. I remember reading her posts after doing a search and being amazed at her story.
It's stories like that you need to hear. While you are getting injections and seeing non tms doctors you are going backwards. These people can offer you nothing apart from risky and expensive surgery which are nothing more than mere guesses at how to fix your pain.
With symptoms like yours where there could be some extremely rare chance that a herniated disc is the problem, You have to see a tms doc. Do what it takes to get to one and travel if need be. They will help you more than some useless injection.
Remember Sarno states that maybe one in a hundred patients he used to see would have some rare case where a disc was causing physical pain. He never said Herniated discs never cause pain, He said 99% of the time they dont. Only someone very experienced in tms can tell you this and diagnose you correctly.
If you dont get better reading Sarno and practising Ace's keys on your own, Get to a tms doc. Healing will require you 100% accepting and believing in the tms diagnosis. I hope searching the above previous members story gives you some insight into how likely it is that your pain is 100% psychological.
Good luck. |
| Ace1 |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 19:51:57
This is what I wanted to hear, someone who had atrophy and weakness, that recovered with dr sarnos work. I hope that gives you some confidence Jen. Remember Jen I said that the shots never last if they work at all. This is just typical. |
| chefjen |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 19:04:27
Well, third day after cortisone and I feel as bad as I did before. I can barely walk. My calf muscle is gone, my foot is numb, my buttock hurts, I can't get comfortable...I am miserable. Going to read a little Sarno and pray for sleep. |
| altherunner |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 18:07:44
My right arm used to go numb when I ran, and started to atrophy my bicep. I had a cortisone shot in my neck, C-3 I think. Didn't do much at all. My next option was surgery. I read a book by a surgeon who sent all his patients to see Sarno, and 1/2 didn't require surgery. I immediately bought HBP, and had some relief. Gradually, my arm came back to the same size as my left arm. Maybe re-reading his books, or watching his video would help. I remember Dr. Sarno saying that the herniated material from a disc is like toothpaste, not able to put pressure on anything at all, other than causing some pain at the time of the rupture. I think that is what really changed my thinking. |
| Ace1 |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 14:46:55
Gigalos thank you for your response. I look forward to the day that you and many others on this forum are cured and can leave the tms thing behind them. Keep up the good work and look forward to hearing about your future progress. |
| gigalos |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 12:19:38
Hi Ace, very much appreciated..
I know TrP's in TMS is a debatable issue. There is the risk that someone totally starts to focus on TrP's and therefore won't address the real issues.
My goal of bringing it up once and again is two things:
- to able someone to prove to him-/herself that he/she is suffering from TMS. TrP's are a symptom in my opinion and you will never get rid of such pains by TrP treatment alone. It will flare up again for sure.
- to able someone to get rid of the worst discomfort. For example, it is often pretty easy to (partly) get rid of a head ache if it is TrP's. It makes working on TMS easier once that has subsided.
You may have a valid point that this doesn't weigh up against the earlier stated impeding of progress because someone is just to focused on TrP's. I'll think about this and may get back to you on this matter later.
I agree on the affirmation. I just gave an example. To be strong in my mind is meant to give you self-confidence. The one I use most often nowadays is: I am calm, relaxed, patient and confident...
learning every day... time to read the key's again |
| Ace1 |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 11:55:00
I have two points. I am not trying to counter you gigalos, but i have to say the truth as best as i know it to try and help jen and others. I don't think anyone should focus on trigger points or any one should see a therapist for trigger points. That will only impede your progress for sure. Second the affirmation has to have relaxation and patience in it to be really effective. To say I am strong does not counter the root problem just the tms symptom. It is a form of symptomatic management. I't obviously doesn't hurt to have it in an affirmation but in my opinion it is not enough. |
| gigalos |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 09:08:59
quote:
Originally posted by chefjen
Gigalos, thanks for the links. I checked them out and I'm not sure if they are my trigger points or not. I do feel like me hip is starting to hurt a little. This damn TMS has really got me. I'm having a difficult time focusing on the mind because I go through times of feeling defeated. I have been repeating affirmations and they seem to be working. Right now I have to stop fearing walking. I didn't even want to get out of bed today because I'm afraid walking will hurt...guess what, it does. My leg is weak from not putting weight on it for weeks now and my buttock seems to be going thru a spasm. I feel like I should try to stretch a little, but not sure if that is going against the TMS rules.
Goal today is to be positive and get back to living in my life. I feel like it is passing me by. My birthday was Thursday and I spent it in dr's office and then on my couch doped up on Demerol. At a healthy 36m i never thought i would be laid out like this. I am an all natural, organic kind of person and feel like I'm being robbed!!! I am strong and my body will heal!!!
I agree with Tom. Start moving and use an affirmation during: I am strong, steady, brave and totally healthy. (or something likewise).
I wouldn't stretch or only stretch very moderately. If it is TrP's stretching is useless. The spasms are recognizable, give them as little attention as possible. Also the shifting of pain is recognizable, one day it's my buttock, the next it is my hip, the next it is my groin. Is see it as a sign of TMS. It is a way of pulling your attention. The mind perceives I don't react to a pain in the buttock and introduces another one.
Good luck and be brave |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 08:36:55
quote:
Originally posted by chefjen
...I gave up singles a few years ago when I herniated my first disc...
...I now know that it is all fear
...and when I get through this episode I will give it another try.
...I am having a very hard time walking at this point...
Since you are here, we are assuming you have TMS.
Do you still BELIEVE you have herniated discs??? If so no need to go any further, nothing is going to change for the better. You will be heading down the disc surgery route--LAST WARNING: google "failed disc surgery"!
If after reading your Sarno and still believe that "herniated" discs cause TMS pain, your gremlin is desperately preventing you from getting the TMS point--go back and read about discs--it often takes repeated readings of Sarno for the "KNOWLEDGE PENICILLIN" to sink in--it took a long time to develop the wrongful thinking, especially if you've had prior "episodes".
I used to walk but I now save my energy for tennis and prefer running in the pool. But when I walked, after about 10 to 20 minutes my limp went away, try walking again and see if this happens to you.
How about exercising in the pool? Do you have a pool available? You need to get out of bed and do 30 minutes a day of some exercise to keep your mindbody health strong enough to fight this thing.
Do you have a TMS doctor near you, can you call a TMS therapist to talk about it?
G'luck!
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
"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 |
| chefjen |
Posted - 04/13/2013 : 07:32:45
Tennis Tom,
I gave up singles a few years ago when I herniated my first disc...I now know that it is all fear and when I get through this episode I will give it another try. I am having a very hard time walking at this point so probably won't be hitting the court to do serves for a bit. That is a great idea though, to get comfortable again.
Gigalos, thanks for the links. I checked them out and I'm not sure if they are my trigger points or not. I do feel like me hip is starting to hurt a little. This damn TMS has really got me. I'm having a difficult time focusing on the mind because I go through times of feeling defeated. I have been repeating affirmations and they seem to be working. Right now I have to stop fearing walking. I didn't even want to get out of bed today because I'm afraid walking will hurt...guess what, it does. My leg is weak from not putting weight on it for weeks now and my buttock seems to be going thru a spasm. I feel like I should try to stretch a little, but not sure if that is going against the TMS rules.
Goal today is to be positive and get back to living in my life. I feel like it is passing me by. My birthday was Thursday and I spent it in dr's office and then on my couch doped up on Demerol. At a healthy 36m i never thought i would be laid out like this. I am an all natural, organic kind of person and feel like I'm being robbed!!! I am strong and my body will heal!!! |
| gigalos |
Posted - 04/12/2013 : 11:28:52
Chef,
Did you ever consider you may have trigger points in your gluteus minimus and/or piriformis?
For example:
http://www.triggerpointbook.com/sciatica.htm
or
http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14414
Triggerpoints are most often due to TMS is my opinion.
Do some investigating and see if it applies to your situation. If it does, a good therapist could help you (temporarily?) get rid of the worst symptoms. If you really want to get rid of it, work on the mind...
I hope I am right for your sake, good luck |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 04/12/2013 : 09:13:52
Hi Chefgen,
You're seeing a doctor so you're covered for the dire boilerplate structural events like tumors, cancers and all that good stuff. One thing modern medicine is good at is dx'ing real structural causes for dis-ease. Along the way it also finds things that are normal anomalies that it can dx as "maybes".
I've been hobbling around the courts for well over a decade, even playing singles in national senior tournaments and my leg hasn't fallen off yet. Play doubles instead where you don't need to run around so much.
To maintain your physicality in your bum side run in the pool or try bicycling. If it's TMS then it's doing it's job of distracting you to be looking in the mirror to be looking at your calf muscle. Keep reading your Sarno until your calf muscle gets it on a cellular level. You can always practice your serve which is the most important shot in tennis. When Thomas Muster got squished between two cars by a careless driver and broke bones, he practiced hiw game while sitting on a wood crate.
G'luck!
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
"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
|
| pspa123 |
Posted - 04/12/2013 : 08:45:17
Definitely a strange case, seems to have both physical and mental components. Maybe there's something underlying going on but you have amplified it by worrying/obsessing about it? The actual muscle atrophy in such a short time does seem beyond what at least I would think of as psychogenic though. |
| Ace1 |
Posted - 04/12/2013 : 08:27:50
Yeah it seems to be related to the nerve, not from lack of movement from fear. This is what dr sarno addresses in his book. Like I said I don't have personal experience with muscle weakness. However it seems perculiar that it got worse the more you thought about it. I can't foresee that a structural problem occurred overnight that lead to the weakness. It smells like tms to me, but like I said I don't want to steer you wrong bc I have not personally experience this. Maybe someone else on this board has encountered this and can give you some encouragement. |
| chefjen |
Posted - 04/11/2013 : 19:48:19
It started as sciatic pain. I went out if town armed with my Sarno nook and ready to relax. Well while out of town I obsessed about it and my calf began to hurt. I was a little nervous about playing tennis the day after returning from out of town. I got up that Sunday morning and felt a little heavy iny foot. Got to the tennis courts and started limping. I played awful because I couldn't take my mind off the thought that I was dragging my foot around. I got home and realized I couldn't come up on my toes and the calf muscle didn't pop out. It has since gotten smaller.
I will say I felt the nerve when Dr put needle in today, right in my rear. |
