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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
 Posted - 07/21/2010 : 14:08:22
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Hi Everyone....for years I suffered with a neuropathy-like feeling in both feet after having a total hysterectly (still don't know the connection there...). It would come and go sometimes lasting for years and then dissappearing for months....burning, tingly... In March it came back and in June, when school let out (I am a teacher) I decided I would go ahead and do the things I planned on doing like gardening and house projects. Now I have a new pain in my feet and often in my legs. Worse than ever. Just standing will produce this pain. It feels like Plantars Fas. but in both feet and very painful. I have actually felt faint from the pain. Now I am anxious about what is really wrong with me.
Need someone to listen and offer help. My family is done listening.
Cee |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 14:09:34
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* correction...hysterectomy
Cee |
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fadoozle
33 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 17:14:19
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Hi Cee,
As I keep coming back to TMS as a way to handle my multiple symptoms and anxiety, and trying to follow the advice here that exists here in many different forms but always boils down to the same approach, I have a few suggestions:
1. Go to the doctor to see if there is an actual medical reason for your pain (e.g. nerve damage from your original surgery). The fact that you say it has come and gone leads me to believe there is not anything structurally wrong, but if you will feel less anxious hearing that from a medical doctor, I think that's the way to go.
2. If it is found not to be structural, remind yourself that there is nothing wrong with you.
3. Tell your brain you will not be distracted by this symptom.
4. Muster some courage and do something you enjoy, like gardening. Just one thing, like "I will spend five minutes pulling weeds. If I feel some pain, I will just keep going and not give in to fear."
5. See how that goes.
This is easier said than done when the anxiety and obsessive thinking are at a fever pitch, as I know all too well. But doing something really small might be a good way to test yourself.
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2010 : 17:14:45
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| See my response on other foot pain thread :-) |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 09:29:02
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ART- THANK YOU! I needed help, support and advice and you offered it. Please stay in touch as I have absolutley no one I can talk to about this.
Yesterday, I saw a Neurologist. He examined me, read all my old notes that I brought copies of and then I was sure he would order all kinds of tests. He looked at me and said,"anxiety is physical.....I do not find any true neuro-muscular issues with you even though you are experiencing this pain....but you have had months where you have been pain free....I think your hysterectomy through you into an intense menopause and now there are other stressors in your life and I think you should speak to a pain management Doc and see me again in three months."
I left feeling better...doing a lot of self talk....but by late afternoon, the pain was intense and I was sitting in a chair crying when my 17 year old walked into the house and asked,"Mom, what the heck is WRONG with you?"
Cee
Cee |
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marjrc
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 17:19:40
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| Cee, I am sorry to hear about your terrible pain. I do like what your neuro said though, very open-minded of him! I get pains that make me sit and cry too, and so lately I've been coming to this forum that I just discovered and reminding myself about everything I've read about Dr. Sarno's theory on TMS. It helps tremendously! I hope you take the time to read a few threads here and let others who have gone through the same thing inspire you. :) |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 10:01:36
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Thank you! Is your pain also in your feet/legs?
Cee |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 10:05:28
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Fadoozle- Thank you! Your advice and concern is so welcome and needed for me!
Cee |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 08:50:50
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Hi Fadoozle, Art and Marjrc- I keep coming back to your post to help me. So yesterday, I said to myself, I will stand up and take a 10 minute walk. I saw someone I knew and ended up standing and having a 20 minute conversation. I was nervous but did okay. Then I decided to run a quick errand to the store. Last night I felt the pain in my feet and legs...especially my right leg (calf muscle). I lay on my bed and watched a movie trying not to get all wrapped up in the pain. I woke up early this morning with pain in my right leg from my calf muscle to my groin. My husband doesn't want to hear about it and so I turn to you. It really hurts and I am thinking stay off your feet today ...stay in a chair.....It seems that when I stand for too long, the pain is worse in my legs.
Thank you....
Cee |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 10:35:32
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Hi- No kidding....greyhound bus sounds great right about now....husband debating TMS with me from "an Engineer's point of view"....teenage daughter rolling her eyes at me....done...had it...and yes, I have seen numerous doctors but Im always convinced they missed something...last one didnt even run any tests....
Cee |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 11:00:39
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quote:
Originally posted by Cee
Hi- No kidding....greyhound bus sounds great right about now....husband debating TMS with me from "an Engineer's point of view"....teenage daughter rolling her eyes at me....done...had it...and yes, I have seen numerous doctors but Im always convinced they missed something...last one didnt even run any tests....
Cee
I' ve been around the forum off and on for 5 years now. The ones who seem to get better are the ones with the, let's call it good fortune, to be able to break out of old patterns. In your case Cee, it seems that you don't want to accept the physicians opinions, no matter how many times you hear it. If you want to get better, I mean really want to to the point where you're willing to find the courage it takes, this would seem a logical jumping off point...IN fact, you've got an advantage over many of us inasmuch as it's commonly required that we disregard a legitimate sounding diagnosis. Your own doctors are telling you they can't find anything (if I'm understanding you properly)
If you can't fully accept TMs yourself, seems you're going to be hard-pressed to prove it to your skeptical family. The best way to show them is to show yourself.
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Edited by - art on 07/25/2010 11:02:25 |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 11:01:19
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Sounds like TMS is doing it's job for you. It's PROTECTING you from over-whelming emotions by giving you physical distractions. White-coats can't find anything structural wrong with you which modern medicine is really good at doing, (trust me, they don't want to get sued for mal-practice by not giving you every proscribed test). Yet, you still don't believe them. See a TMS doc or a TMS conversant therapist.
You can try to get on that TV reality show where they find very rare diseases, or you can accept your TMS is doing it's job.
Sorry, I'm out of ideas for you.
Good Luck!
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
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Edited by - tennis tom on 07/25/2010 11:03:50 |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 17:25:07
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Hi- I hear you both and right now, as I said to Art earlier, I really do need support. I literally have no one to talk to...no one. My story is long and would sound like a pity story...but things are somewhat of a mess...and yes, perhaps the physical is indeed protecting me from the emotional. In a nutshell, I lost my dearest friend in the world...my Mom to a gyn cancer six years ago and that scared the heck out of me...I was having gyn issues so my Doctor says complete hysterectomy....neuropathy occurs within one month. I see several Doctors...some say possible neuropathy,neromuscular... some say bilateral idiopathic neuropaty, some say no neuropathy....pain comes and goes in my feet...now my legs are really painful. One Doctor says that the sudden surgical menopause combined with grief, anxiety, depression did all this...others don't know. I did briefly see a TMS Doctor in the Boston area...he wasn't sure the theory was working for me but I did try and suggested a TMS Therapist...where can I find a good one in the Boston / NH area?
Latest Neurologist wants me to see a pain Management Doctor.
To be honest with you, I lost my Mom, I worry constantly about my Dad (who has disengaged from us)...I no longer see my siblings....one of them harrassed my child and it got legal....my husband is loosing his job...major finacial issues...my children want little to no relationship with me and we were so close when they were growing up and one of them is struggling...I know that as a Mom...my husband verbally disrespects and embarrasses me in front of everyone especially our teenagers because I am his saftey net and now things are bad with his job so here I am....I tell everyone I want respect but no one is listening. So, I gues what I need most right now is support and that is why I came back to this forum. You are the people who understand and help....and I need that right now.
Thank you....and please don't give up on me...I really am trying...
Cee |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 05:40:03
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Cee,
I hear your cry for understanding, and believe me I sympathize. I suffered the trials of hell for 20 years with a cfs type illness and food insensitivities that literally very nearly killed me. I'm not kidding. At one point I thought I was at death's door. I got zero understanding from my family. My mother used to call my food issues a "fetish."
But it truly seems to me your focus is wrong. Instead of spending half of your time and energy seeking understanding, and the other half seeing doctors (which amounts to the same thing it seems to me), why not take a deep breath and simply make the assumption the answers you seek are here? What have you got to lose?
If you want to get closer to your kids, the best way to do that I think is to first get strong, and then get well.
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Edited by - art on 07/26/2010 06:09:14 |
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fadoozle
33 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 15:27:47
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Hi Cee, I encourage you to hang in there. One thing I am learning from TMS is the Churchill classic "never give up." It sounds so simple but at the age of 40 I am just starting to see how I have always given up and given in.
One thing I notice that helps me is a distraction from the constant ruminating and obsessing. Again, I suggest saying "I am going to do something for five minutes just for me. Something I enjoy or would make me feel good." Could be driving to a local cafe and just sitting with a cup of coffee in peace, or doing that gardening you talk about. Even if you feel that you can't garden, what about going to the nursery section of Home Depot or a similar place and just taking in the flowers?
Your story is full of much heartache and worry...so what about adding a little ray of sunshine to it all? I am really learning that lesson the hard way. No matter how much I tell my husband my hypochondriacal worries, he can't help me stop the thoughts, the anxiety, etc. I have to do it myself. I know the place you are and that it's sheer hell. But one thing that I know has worked for me is taking these tiny, tiny steps toward sanity and distraction from suffering.
Please hang in there and don't give up! |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 16:47:33
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Thank you all for your answers and support. Today...not planned...I painted my Sun Room...my favorite spot in my house. It isn't a big room, but I knew the standing while painting may be an issue. Yes, my feet hurt right now (a lot) and my legs are tired and sore...but the room looks great !
Art- you say you had a sickness that nearly killed you. How can that be TMS?
Another trigger...I will be 50 in 2 weeks and for some reason...50 is stressing the heck out of me.
My oldest daughter actually sent me a text message...wow...she needed money for extra course, which I cannot give her, but she actually sounded like the girl I raised...Love you Mom and I understand.... I guess it comes in small pieces...very small pieces.
Cee |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 19:38:43
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| Illness like CFS are complex. I don't think it's sufficient to call them "TMS." I do believe they're psychosomatic in origin, but this does not necessarily mean they're benign. |
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Cee
USA
71 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 21:28:35
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Art- I think that is a point I was trying to make earlier....that an illness can be psychosomatic in its origin but still be harmful.
Cee
Cee |
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marjrc
Canada
19 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2010 : 17:12:09
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Cee, I can hear how much you are suffering and you are in a situation that sounds pretty miserable. I agree that it takes tiny, baby steps to see your way out of it. I hope you find some answers here. Do you have Sarno's book(s)?
I was seeing a psychologist for family issues (have 3 teens, so it can be a challenge at times!) and we've now been talking about my pain, my anger and guilt. I know I have TMS and that these things are what are causing my pain for the most part. I am working on it and I keep having to remind myself to be patient.
Good job with painting your room! It must make you feel very good inside, in spite of the aching body. Hang in there! :) |
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New foot pain is really intense
