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pianoshrnk
USA
14 Posts |
 Posted - 08/13/2009 : 09:43:49
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Hi all,
Well I do believe TMS is after me again - as usual I think there is magic in shared experience, so I am coming back to this forum which has provided me with such great information, support, and comfort in the past.
About 15 years ago I had my first "known' bout with TMS-"Known" because that is when I discovered Dr. Sarno. After two years of severe anxiety and fibromyalgia like pains (including hand pain), I was able to manage both the physical and psychological pain quite nicely for 10 years or so. I then started having crazy annoying episodes with dry, stinging, burning eyes which still bother me on and off - makes me nuts, but I have had them thoroughly checked out and am convinced they are TMS.
Well NOW- since June I have had hand numbness and pain that wakes me up at night. I would REALLY like to get a handle on this since the pain is quite intense at times. Since there is ALOT of stuff going on in my life that understandably is causing stress, I have assumed it is TMS.(especially because I experienced hand pain many years ago with my BIG bout of TMS) Have any of you experienced hand numbness and pain that has NOT been diagnosed as RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis?
I am wondering if those of you who have experienced hand numbness and pain would share your experiences with me - I would LOVE to hear some successful stories too! It helps me immensely.
Thanks so very much! |
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Piano5
29 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 13:22:09
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My TMS symptoms actually started in my left hand, while playing guitar. I had played for 7 years with absolutely no pain and then all of a sudden, one day, it started to hurt. That was almost 3 years ago and although I've gotten 90% better since reading Sarno, but not before giving up guitar, piano, dealing with skin problems, giving up running, etc. I still have some pain and skin problems that won't go away, but I've taken an oath to start journaling more.
Anyways, numbness is scary. I would advise you to see a neurologist, and if he gives you the all-clear, you know what's going on.
I've seen people recommend punching pillows here on the forums, and hadn't done it till a few days ago. Man, did that relieve some stress.
I know how you feel, and I recommend asking yourself: "Does this make sense? Could I have hurt myself by doing a normal activity?" The answer is likely no. (For me, anyways.)
Good luck, keep us posted. |
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SarnoFan
USA
72 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 18:55:31
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Reading this post reminded me that I did go through a period where my whole arm would go numb and wake me up during sleep. I also found it painful. I had to use my other arm to move it until it recovered! I tried new pillows and slept upright on a sofa to avoid numbness. In hindsight, I now see that this occurred when my anxiety and TMS symptoms were at their highest.
I recall complaining about it to my husband but never checked it out with a Dr. because I was dealing with worse TMS symptoms at the time.
It went away and I don't know how or why...I guess it disappeared when I was recovering from my other TMS symptoms equivalents.
I never posted this symptom on my profile because I had forgotten about it. |
Edited by - SarnoFan on 08/13/2009 18:58:46 |
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guej
115 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2009 : 07:37:22
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I had a similar experience to SarnoFan. My major TMS symptom has always been pain in my right groin, glueteal area. Last year, before I ruled out the physical, I really started to go downhill. The pain spread to my neck and upper back, and for about a 2 month period, I had shooting pains down my arms and numbness/weakness in my hands, in particular, the thumb area. I could barely grasp a coffee cup at the end of the day. This was at the height of my fear and panic over what was happening to me. Of course, no doctor could explain it. The rheumatologist who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, then said I had carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands, and that it was common in people my age (40!). I never bought the Fibromyalgia diagnosis, and over time, even before I started to read Sarno's books, the pains and symptoms in my hands, arms and neck all subsided so that I'm just left with the original problem (stubborn one too!).
I have to say, though, that I had seen neurologists, orthopedics, rheumatologists, etc., and so I had pretty much ruled out anything serious, which kept me from really worrying or wondering about it. Personally, I'd get it checked out, but I'd keep in the back of my mind that any diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. could be a TMS equivalent, and you know how to deal with that. If you could get an "all clear", "we don't know what it is" diagnosis, that could clear that way for you in your mind that it's definitely TMS related and you can proceed accordingly. I guess the danger in that is the doctors could come up with a physical cause, but then it's up to you to verify it and decide whether the diagnosis is valid or not. I wouldn't want to ignore a potential real problem, but going forward, I am much more likely to ignore those amorphous labels like "irritable bowel", "carpal tunnel", "degenerative discs" etc. |
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hand numbness and pain
