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Sis
USA
19 Posts |
 Posted - 06/05/2004 : 23:45:47
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I've gone back and read many posts from the old and new Forum. I don't see anything relating to surgeries and/or scar tissue. Has anyone had any surgeries? How about back surgeries? Does this theory stillapply if you have had surgeries? If they do a fusion then cld that not cause structural abnormalities? What about scar tissue from previous surgeries? My pain Dr. said that I have alot of it ayt mt L5-S1 level and that cld be casuing the numbness. Would this fall into a structural abnormality category or is it similiar to a herniated disk-something pressing on nerves He says lots of people have herniated siks and they have no pain what about scar tissue. He never really addresses those that have has multiple back surgeries and/or scar tissue and if we are still able to be healed now that we have had surgeries. Anyone else?
Thanks!
cyn |
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Steve
USA
48 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 10:22:36
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| I remember from Dr. Sarno's videos that he says although there may very well be scar tissue remaining from surgery, there is no reason that it should have anything to do with pain. And yes, the pain can still go away with applying proper TMS principles even after surgery. |
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Carolyn
184 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 10:42:53
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Cyndy,
I have had seven! abdominal/pelvic surgeries and I am absolutely full of adhesions (as seen on all subsequent surgeries). This has repeatedly been offered as a cause for my pain and I had accepted that it was at least a contributing factor. However, I always had trouble understanding how my pain could go away for a couple of weeks and then come back in a different place. If adhesions were trapping a nerve, wouldn't it always be the same? All I can tell you is that my experience with beginning the TMS work and then having almost complete resolution of the pain convinced me that the adhesions were not a major factor. If they were, even the placebo effect should not have taken the pain away. Although I am not completely paiin free now, I really do believe that most of my pain is emotional in origin and I am still working on it. I cannot comment on back surgeries directly but I would say that the same principle applies- if the pain is variable and takes the doctor a lot of hand-waving to explain, it seems less likely to be from a structural defect. However, there is no doubt that things are never exactly the same again after a surgery so it is really important to make sure surgery is an absolute last resort. It ought to be mandatory to do some TMS work before submitting to surgery. I mean what does anyone have to lose?
Carolyn |
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Sadiesue
19 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 13:22:46
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| In Dr. Sarno's videotape of his lectures he has several patients give their histories and experiences with TMS. There was one guy who had been told his pain was the result of scar tissue from surgery, but was able to become completely pain free learning about TMS and rejecting the theory that scar tissue causes pain. |
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Wilf
Canada
53 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2004 : 09:14:26
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| I am happy to see this thread on scar tissue. I have had 4 surgeries on my lower back and had been told by my Chiropractor that the scar tissue was the major contributing factor to my back and neck problems. This is a life sentence. Since I've read Sarno, I've been on parole. |
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Sis
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 00:05:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Wilf
I am happy to see this thread on scar tissue. I have had 4 surgeries on my lower back and had been told by my Chiropractor that the scar tissue was the major contributing factor to my back and neck problems. This is a life sentence. Since I've read Sarno, I've been on parole.
I am so glad you posted-4 surgeries. Have you had any ongoing numbness? Any fusions?
cyn |
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Fox
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 09:02:29
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I had a two level (L/4-L/5 and L/5-S/1)anterior fusion about 4 years ago which didn't help at all. Same for two earlier laminectomies. However, in the last year and a half, I've been getting serious about doing the TMS work and since then I've improved about 60% in terms of the right leg sciatica. My big problem is fighting the conditioning but I'm making headway.
I guess I am signing in? I'm a veteran from the old board. |
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Wilf
Canada
53 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 09:22:42
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My first surgery was performed in 1959 to remove a disc - no fusion. Long before Sarno. With the benefit of hindsight, I realize that it was a totally useless surgery. My next surgeries were in 1963: the first turned out to be exploratory in which the Doctor discovered "a very rare tumor" called an Ependymoma. I was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minn. and had 2 surgeries there, one to remove the tumor and another about 10 days later to repair a fissure that had developed. I have experienced some numbness in my right buttock after the Mayo Clinic surgeries. A Nurologist told me that some small nerves were permenantly damaged during those surgeries. The numbness has not interfered with my life.
A couple of years after these surgeries, I began to experience many of the different types of back pain which I now know was and is TMS. Over the years, I have seen numerous different "hands on" practitioners in search of relief from pain. A Chiropractor told me that every one who has lower back surgery will develop neck pain because the scar tissue in essence "fused" the vertebrae and that those above it were doing work that they were not designed for. By his explanation, the problem always moved upward. He intimated that I would have back & neck pain all my life and would require Chiropractic treatment all my life. I did so for 30 years until I discovered Sarno a little over 2 years ago. I have not had treatments of any kind for over 2 years and have not experienced the pains that I was being treated for.
So much for the "scar tissue" theory.
Wilf Oberthier |
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Louise
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 10:06:07
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I had a lumbar laminectomy (@ L4/L5, for a "pinched nerve") in the spring of 2002. By the spring of 2003, I had started a new job, and the pain returned. I had another MRI, and was told that I had 2 herniated discs - one at my old L4/L5 spot, and one higher up. The L5/L5 was the only one that was causing me pain, however. When the pain continued to get worse, I saw my neurosurgeon again. He said that I'd need a spinal fusion. I was stunned, and as my first surgery failed to solve the problem, long-term, I was not feeling very positive about the odds that another surgery would do the trick. Luckily for me, I stopped by the mall (hey, a girl's gotta shop, no matter how much pain she's in!  )the same day that I saw the doctor. A clerk in a shop that I'd been in a lot asked me what was wrong, and after I told her what was up with me, she told me to read "Healing Back Pain". She wrote down the name of the book & author, and said that it had changed her husband's life. So, I bought the book. I'm not 100% pain-free, but I've got my life back, which is a huge relief.
Scar tissue has never been brought up with me as a reason for my pain. However, my best friend just had elbow surgery for what is undoubtably TMS. Her doctor told her that she had scar tissue in her elbow - not from any previous surgery, but from inflammation. That's the first time I'd heard that one!
Just goes to show you that some people will be open-minded enough to look into the idea of TMS, and others won't. |
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kenny V
USA
268 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 11:12:24
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Fox,
Great to see you’re back and making headway.
I want to thank all of you for posting this;  I have copied these types of stories to help others that are contemplating surgery.
I can relate to this because of what my next step would have been ,  without someone introducing me to Sarno’s work. I also want to personally want to thank Dr Sarno.
Wilf what a testimony quote:
I have had 4 surgeries on my lower back and had been told by my Chiropractor that the scar tissue was the major contributing factor to my back and neck problems. This is a life sentence. Since I've read Sarno, I've been on parole.
He intimated that I would have back & neck pain all my life and would require Chiropractic treatment all my life. I did so for 30 years until I discovered Sarno a little over 2 years ago. I have not had treatments of any kind for over 2 years and have not experienced the pains that I was being treated for.
So much for the "scar tissue" theory.
posted by Louise
quote:
I was not feeling very positive about the odds that another surgery would do the trick.
So, I bought the book. I'm not 100% pain-free, but I've got my life back, which is a huge relief.
Just goes to show you that some people will be open-minded enough to look into the idea of TMS, and others won't.
Thank you again
K-
Always Hope For Recovery
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Sis
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 22:29:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Fox
I had a two level (L/4-L/5 and L/5-S/1)anterior fusion about 4 years ago which didn't help at all. Same for two earlier laminectomies. However, in the last year and a half, I've been getting serious about doing the TMS work and since then I've improved about 60% in terms of the right leg sciatica. My big problem is fighting the conditioning but I'm making headway.
I guess I am signing in? I'm a veteran from the old board.
Do you experience any numbness in the legs/feet. Ongoing off and on? I mean where you can't lift it not falling asleep numbness?
cyn |
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Fox
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2004 : 07:23:21
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| In my left leg, especially in the left ankle and foot, I feel varying levels of pain, twitchiness, and pins and needles sensation. I also subjectively feel "weakness", yet when I do sports (such as karate kicks to the heavy bag in my garage) there is only really a minor discrepancy between the displayed strength of the left and right leg. |
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Scar Tissue From Surgeries
