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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
 Posted - 02/12/2008 : 03:04:25
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Here's an overview of my situation and symptoms.
June 07- sciatica L hip thigh and buttock. Had increased my work out and blamed that. Then one morning after workout, driving to work, some shooting pains in forearm from elbow to hand. Left with a slightly numb ring and pinkie finger. Worried about that, googled symptoms, came up with MS.Started having panic attacks. ( history of generalized anxiety disorder.) Thought, thank God my legs and feet are ok. Usual spot for MS to appear. Next day both baby toes and outside of heels numb.
July 07 MRI - bulging and protruding disc, L5-S1. Normal cervical MRI, normal blood work, and normal nerve conduction study.
July 07- Nov 07- PT, chiro, 3 epidural injections, TENS unit, stretching , many drugs. Increased anxiety with panic attacks. Saw 2 neuro surgeons. Said probably disc leaking, could do a fusion.
In end of May lost good friend to cervical cancer. I was one of her caregivers. Best friend diagnosed with lung cancer. Adult son having financial difficulties. Lost husband at age 40 in 2001 heart attack. Mother-in-law haas never dealt with her grief. Was calling me, blaming me for his death. IRS was auditing me from 2001 , first year I had to do out taxes. All of these things happened starting 6 months before symptoms, but cummulated the month or so prior to symptoms. I'm also a nurse. So I spent/spend hours on the computer googling symptoms.
Came acrossed TMS. Read the divided mind- found myself on every page. Also read healing back pain by Sarno. And got the work book. Symptoms seemed some what better. But I still have this lingering doubt that this is my diagnosis. Have an appt. next week with Dr. Schubiner in Southfield Michigan . Last few days had some slight back pain again, and toes are still slightly numb, although better, or I'm just getting used to it.
So here are my questions:
Does this sound lke TMS?
Have others had their main symptom as numbness?
Will I have to go through more testing to rule out disease before Dr. Schubiner can diagnose TMS?
How can I convince myself this is due to the mind, and not some disease process?
I think if I could find a case with more neurological symptoms rather than pain, I could relate to, I would feel more confident in a TMS diagnosis.
What do you folks think?
Have been lurking here for awhile, what a wonderful forum. Maybe through help here and Dr. Schubiner I can get my life back!! Thanks for listening to my story.
Sagelady |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2008 : 08:53:11
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I think you answered your own question when you said you saw yourself in the pages of Dr. Sarno's books.
Yes numbness can be a TMS sign. I had numbness in my lower butt cheek, in fact, could pinch it and feel NOTHING. Scary.
Sounds like you have a lot that you could be writing about--write out your feelings about all the things you listed that are going on in your life. I'm sorry to hear you lost your husband and how sad you are being blamed for it!
Keep in mind doctors will find something they can blame for your pain. Mine was a herniated (empty) disc at L5S1. Of course 2 blamed that for the pain I was in. But I opted to skip drugs and surgery and went the Dr. Sarno route once I heard of it. Am 100% recovered.
I think fear is the big factor, and can speak from experience. Every diagnosis I got made me more and more scared. To the point of nausea. I wanted nothing more to do with doctors.
I am greatly relieved after doing the treatment plan (read in the Divided Mind) and lots of journaling to be free of back/butt pain/tingling. It was a scary experience. But it's over. and it WAS TMS. It did take a week or two after hearing the Tms diagnosis from Dr. Sarno, and doing the "homework" for the pain to lessen. So it was not immediate relief for me. Though it was relieving to write about the things I had strong feelings about for a long time.
See more mind/body medicine books on the success stories site. I list a bunch of books that are along the mind/body lines. It is truly amazing to realize the pain the brain is capable of inducing.
-Lori |
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qso
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2008 : 10:46:05
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"How can I convince myself this is due to the mind, and not some disease process?"
This is the big catch 22 and one of the hardest challenges in overcoming TMS. Each person has to find their own way but at some stage you have to make a big leap of faith. And coming to that conclusion yourself is a critical part of recovery. That's what your brain wants you to do, to come to that conviction yourself. And in the process of doing so you will learn many more things about yourself, and how to be good to *you*, and you will come out better for it. For the process of eliminating doubt, there are many clues along the way as you will find in the postings on this forum. With the benefit of hindsight on the part of those who have recovered, as mizlorinj points out, your one posting is sufficient to many of us, without a doubt. |
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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2008 : 11:30:59
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Thank you qso and lori.
Felt comforted by your message.
Lori, Did you actually see Dr. Sarno for your diagnosis? And I'm so happy for you and optomistic because of your 100% cure. Congratulations!!!
qso, I realize folks here are not Dr's. but I placed alot of trust in your statement based on hindsight. That my posts is highly suggestive of TMS. I hope to finally get a diagnosis and begin to treat it, it has been way to long to have my life on hold.
Thank you both forholding a newbies hand 
Sagelady
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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 02:34:53
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Anybody else have any thoughts on my situation? Please chime in.
Sage |
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mizlorinj
USA
490 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 08:19:26
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Yes, Sagelady, I did see Dr. Sarno.
I would suggest finding a doctor who can diagnose TMS on the tarpit yoga web site. Other doctors will try to find things "wrong" with you to blame for pain/numbness.
Only YOU can convince yourself it is TMS and not something physical. No one on this board will prove that to you.
I suggest reading the success stories on this site too.
Best wishes on your discovery to recovery . . .
-Lori |
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drziggles
USA
292 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 15:47:48
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You already know the answer...is there anything in your history that doesn't sound like TMS? All of the symptoms are completely typical, as is the rest of the story. Now get to work, already!
naturally, you should consult your doctor before making any medical decisions. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 17:51:44
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If Dr. Schubiner diagnoses TMS (as I suspect he will), then you have TMS. His program is outstanding and I think you will benefit from it enormously. Best of luck.
Best,
MK |
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sagelady
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 05:08:35
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drziggles and mk-
thank you for your reply. I can't wait to see Dr. schubiner. I realize a diagnosis of TMS doesn't mean an easy fix. But it is so much better than the diagnosis I have feared. And given a diagnosis of TMS , I will give 110% to the work ahead. I just hope he can help me get over the what if's. MS still lurks heavily on my mind.
Have any others had numbness as a primary symptom?
Sagelady |
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Odrog
27 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 06:49:26
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Numbness is very common. I wouldn't say its my primary symptom, but then again my symptoms have moved around a lot (which is also very common). At times "numbness" was my primary symptom - I've had numbness in my toes, fingers, and hands. I was convinced I had carpal tunnel syndrome (I work on computers all day), I basically had all the symptoms to a tee, shooting pain in my hands and wrists especially in the middle of the night, had to switch the hand I use for the computer mouse and go to a track ball. I started a physical treatment program and those symptoms went away completely after a couple months. In retrospect I'm pretty sure it was just TMS.
If the docs don't find anything wrong with you, and especially if you have more than one symptom associated with TMS, AND as you've already stated you find yourself described in the Sarno books, then you can be 100% confident its just TMS and be happy that it isn't something worse. You can deal with this and the symptoms will go away. |
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new here, could use some input
