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weatherman
USA
184 Posts |
 Posted - 06/04/2010 : 02:00:53
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Greetings TT,
Good to see you on the board again. Probably like you I am an occasional viewer, but have had nothing really important to add to any discussions for awhile. It seems like most of the recent topics have not been things I can speak to. But I'm curious what resolution you reached with your hip issue (or was it really your hip?).
Weatherman
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2010 : 10:57:52
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Thanks for the welcome back Weatherman, like-wise. I would say I have had no resolution of my hip/TMS/"traumatic osteo-arthritis", but I have had a steady "evolution".
I've been on the internet in bed for about 3+ hours this morning, posting, watching Roland Garos with one eye and reading some Sarno. I could do this all day, but I better get off my butt now and go to work and then play tennis for two to three hours tonight.
Maybe that's an indication of how it's been going. I will reply with more details about psycho-emotional issues as well as physical stuff (like cortizone, Synvisc and Atarax--but don't tell anyone about that stuff, ok?) Talk to ya' later.
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/05/2010 : 14:18:26
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Well still not sure if it's TMS or arthritis. Been to two TMS doctors over the years and they both said it was "arthritis, get a hip replacement"--that's a very powerful NOCEBO effect. If I didn't play tennis for three days, my limp would disappear, but that would be no fun. My limp bothers others more than me. What really bothers them is when I beat them on one leg. At one time I thought of going to NYC and seeing the Good Doctor, but I thought what if he says, "It's TMS, get a hip replacement."
I do some laps in the pool to stretch out and hot-tub, an Aleve and a Tylenol before playing. Sleep well, could drive 'cross country and back with no pain. In recent months got a couple of cortizone shots, the second one did some good, my footwork improved to a degree as did my overall game. I just had a Synvisc injection and so far can't tell any difference.
I would consider arthroscopic surgery because it is minimally invasive. The ortho who does it said he didn't think it would do any good and he would refer me to a hip-replacer. I would never do a hip-replacement unless I could not walk, was unconscious, and needed a wheel chair--maybe not even then, these new mobility scooters look like fun.
I've played tennis with too many docs and shrinks, to believe all their calls. The longer I stall, the better physical science gets with the intracasies of the body.
My game improves all the time and I have a good time playing as much as I can. I'm 62 and looking forward to the 65's when I'll be the junior on the club's Super-Senior team. I partnered with a 17 year old kid last night and we beat a couple of guys in their 30's who think they're hot stuff. After a few games, they quit hitting the ball to me if they could help it.
My hip has taught me too much to give it the boot. It's taught me to compensate for being a step slow with better anticipation, technique and strategy.
The main thing it's taught me is who my friends are and how people deal with those they view as not being phyiscaly perfect.
Right now I'm having some fun with a sore left shoulder that mysteriously appeared after I had the cortizone shots. Is it the TMS gremlin creating a symptom substitution, fearing my hip was getting better, or did I over-do it in the pool when the hot-tub was down for refurbishing?
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 06/06/2010 10:13:34 |
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Nor
152 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 05:09:44
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Tennis Tom!
So great to see a post from you. I am a periodic reader, rare poster but I was more active a few yrs back. I always enjoyed your honest opinions, despite their occasional sting! There's so much BS to filter through nowadays, its refreshing to hear one's individual truth - weather or not I agree.
About your hip....if its feasible, my gut says, "See Sarno" (or one of his local counterparts). Wouldn't it be a relief to get the truth? If he says its a replacement situation, you've got your answer. If he says its TMS, I bet your pain will subside pretty fast. Either way, its a win.
I'm an OT and have seen many many hip patients. Usually, for younger, active people, its a very manageable surgery. Not trying to sell it by any means, just some FYI. Another interesting thing is that, since I've schooled myself in TMS, I can usually make a fair guess which patients have it and could have avoided surgery altogether. At work, I keep my trap mostly shut about TMS unless the surface info fits the situation. Unfortunately the need to keep my income prevails.
Good luck w/your hip and welcome back to the forum. I look forward to your witty commentary. |
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Carole
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 14:56:35
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Hey TT!
It's been awhile. I come around some and wasn't a big poster in the past. I've been visiting more often and also on the tmswiki too.
I have a pal who's been reading Sarno and Sopher and slowly getting better and both places help me give her encouragement.
It sounds like you're doing great and your game sounds on too!
I'm glad to know it. |
Edited by - Carole on 06/09/2010 14:57:34 |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2010 : 19:45:19
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Hi Nor and Carole,
Thank you so much for the kind words and welcome!
Still possessing some vestigial TMS "goodist" qualities, I feel guilty that I have not favored you'll with the courtesy of a reply.
Been very busy but will touch base soon...there...my TMS reservoir is a little lower.
Cheers
tt 
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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weatherman
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 07:23:43
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One thought, if you're in your 60s and still playing tennis you must not be in too rough shape. You're already in a fairly select group to still be playing as much as you do. I've never played, but I can see where it must be physically demanding especially in competition.
I think I've reached a point where I can really distinguish pain caused by TMS versus something that warrants attention, and that is a huge step for me. My basic rule is that if I can't identify a significant physical event that should cause the pain, then it's BS and I just carry on - and it generally goes away. But, I don't know if any amount of TMS understanding will change me from a 53 year old to an 18 year old.
Weatherman
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 10:22:47
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Hi Weatherman, Nor and Carole,
I can play club doubles all day, not running around like a chicken with it's head cut off is actually better for doubles. They said Pancho Gonzalez sauntered to the net. I have my routine that keeps me in the game, Tylenol, Aleve, hot-tub, a few yoga-like laps in the pool doing the backstroke, and some running in the pool with an Aqua-Jogger. My technique and knowledge of the game more than makes up for being one step slow. I don't have any problem with my limp--it's most everyone else who do! I get tired of being asked "When are you going to do something about that?", meaning the knife...hopefully NEVER!
My hip "injury" started about fifteen years ago with lower-back that physios would say resulted in a "compensatory gait disorder". Physical triggers were two "bad" yoga moves, and a little running backwards, downhill, to stretch out my calves. The emotional trigger was a really BAD relationship break-up that went on for too many years. Two TMS docs telling me it's NOT TMS, "it's arthritis", creates a powerful nocebo effect.
My "injury" has taught me A LOT about how best to play the game and about who my friends are. I used to be a "goodist" nice guy. I find people don't like losing to players who limp. After about three games they don't hit the ball to me if they can help it in doubles. If they put the ball on my side of the court the point is over, at the club level. People really get annoyed when you don't do what "their" logic system would dictate for them to do, which is fix-it through current medical practices--get a hip-replacement.
My goal is to be competive at the National Tournament level and that is much harder. Many of these players are teaching pros or could be. Although I don't embarrass myself in singles, and I'm good for one entertaining opening set in doubles, tournament players figure it out by the third set and hit short angles to me.
So, right now, my excuse is I'm not playing in tournaments because I need to lose 20-40 pounds. But, I've been working on my technique for the past year and am ready to return to the Senior Tournament scene which I miss a lot.
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 06/11/2010 15:00:44 |
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Nor
152 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 15:14:19
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Yes of course you have arthritis, most people over 35 have it somewhere. But the severity of its manifestation could be part of your TMS. I have scoliosis (clinically "severe" - I hate that word) which is a well compensated S curve that most people don't notice unless they are looking for it. Anyway, I was told in my 20's that I had resulting cervical and lumbar arthritis which was sure to progress if I didn't have a spinal fusion/scoliosis correction surgery. Well, I'm 46 next week and, yes, its worse but I'm still very functional and active. When my TMS is acting up, so does my back pain. Remember TMS looks for a weakness or deformity to prey on. Perhaps you can live w/the pain when you are mentally healthy.
The longer you wait, the better the surgical procedures are. I've had patients in their mid-late 80s who've had hip replacements. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2010 : 19:14:40
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I was looking through my TMS files and materials and came across this post from a while back. Like failed back surgery, statisticly the majority, failed hip-replacements are swept under the carpet and I have personally talked to a number of people with bad outcomes.It's surgical outcomes like this that are almost never spoken about in polite company that dissuade me from a hip-replacement:
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Posted - 08/02/2007 : 10:46:22
"I haven't posted for a while, mainly because of my hip replacement surgery on May 25 and recovery for same. I worked TMS for years (and still do), but could never get my left hip to be pain free. It was bone-on-bone, so opted for the surgery to get on with life. (I'm an active 48-year old.)
Before the surgery (because I wanted to be absolutely sure about it) I did alot of reading and research, and concluded that almost everyone who has the new minimally invasive surgery is walking in 2-3 weeks, and most are pain free in about a month to 6 weeks. I was encouraged by that information and was anxious to enjoy my summer.
As of today, 10 weeks later, I'm still on crutches. Putting weight on the leg/hip causes excruciating pain, and I have become bitter and frustrated. Most days I wish I'd never had it done. I'm angry at my surgeon, who says I did too much too soon, although he was the one who sent PT to my room 24 hours after surgery to march me up and down the hallways and up and down the stairs. He was the one who sent PT to my house 3x a week for 3 weeks to do exercises. He says I'm being impatient. Even their hospital brochure says "you will need an assistive device for walking for about 4 weeks". I went back to work half time after 3 weeks because I needed the money. He says I should have waited 3-4 months. Who can afford that? I reminded him I am 48, not 78, I'm not retired.
NOW, I had been getting on my bike trainer, starting with 5 min. a day, and worked up to 11 min. Yesterday I got on and pedaled, but when I sat on my seat, a fire went through my rear-end, at the end of my tailbone. It hasn't gotten any better today, and it really hurts to sit!
I am questioning whether this tailbone pain could be TMS, since the area could still be susceptible to injury because of the soft tissue trauma. It is in such a strange place though, not really the area you sit on the bike seat. I was biking 70-80 miles BEFORE surgery and never had this type of pain.
Thoughts? Anyone know of anyone who's had this surgery and was successful?"
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Once again I would like to emphasize the above post was not mine. It was the experience of another Forum member. I tried to use the "FORMAT" buttons to differentiate it visually but they don't seem to be working. Anyone know how to get them to work? I used to like messing around with different colors, fonts, etc;.
Some of my favorite excerpts from _THE DIVIDED MIND_ :
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2605
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Edited by - tennis tom on 06/12/2010 19:33:05 |
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Question for TT
