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jitterygal
18 Posts |
 Posted - 03/30/2012 : 16:15:16
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HEllo everyone. I am just learning about TMS. I suffered from anxiety for years, as a result of a terrible assault. Then after 12 years I felt cured. Since then, I have been a marathon runner and cyclist, until last summer when I started noticing pain in my right hip. It then spread to my right butt, then to my sacrum, and finally has taken up residence in L5-S1 as well as L2-L3. I was told that the results of an MRI show protusion with annular tear at L5-S1, and facet arthropathy in L2-L3. That is all the Dr. saw. I also had bloodwork done to rule out autoimmune disorders...nothing, all normal. So I began PT which has not done much for me in the past 3 months. Meanwhile, I am not running, not cycling, only swimming and walking, as I REFUSE to stop moving. Funny thing is, I am usually fine while I am exercising, no pain. But a few hours later, all back muscles seize up on me. I've tried TENS, one Epidural (also did nothing) and countless creams, supplements, etc. Last night I tried running 3 miles, and I was fine while running and felt pretty good afterward. But today, OUCH!!! So it kinda freaked me out, like maybe I should'nt have done it? But I am really trying to embrace this concept. I read Dr. Sarno's Healing Back Pain book...amazing. I made an appt with a specialist here in the ATL. I also noticed pain in my R kneecap, and in my L hip flexor, none of which I have ever noticed before. But I got mad at that pain, and it immediately went away not to return. But I couldn't quite get rid of this back pain. It is right in the center of L5-S1. Soooo, what advice can you all give a newbie?  Thx, Jitterygal |
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sickagain
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 19:15:51
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Welcome! If you read through postings on this forum, you'll find a wealth of information on the methods of dealing with TMS (or MindBody Syndrome or Autonomic Overload Syndrome, etc.). I am using a combination of depth journaling, "talking to my brain" and increasing my self-comforting techniques. You have a good start...now learn more and get rid of your pain!  |
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theohiostateq
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 19:51:18
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Hi, Jittery Girl:
Thanks for posting. I was diagnosed with an L5/S1 herniation in 2007. Back hurt so bad that I would wake up in the middle of the night and ice it until I could fall asleep again.
I was also an ultramarathoner, and I was told to give up running. Not a chance.
I ran a number of ultras in 2009, and I have my sights set on a 100 miler. I'm 60 years old, too.
I like the idea of getting mad. I like the idea of exploring the emotions that may have got you there in the first place, too. |
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andy64tms
USA
589 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2012 : 21:53:50
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Hi Jitterygal, and theohiostateq,
In the year 2000 I had the similar issues in L5-S1 and L4-5. I called it sciatica. There was no forum or even email in those days, and I just Dr. Sarno’s Healing Back Pain book and Videos.
All I can say is that it worked for me then. You can read about it in my success 2000 storey.
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7141
Later that year I took up windsurfing, (no I’m not a runner like you and theohiostateq). In fact, before then exercise was for other people, although I did swim for fun. When I took up windsurfing I did not know that it would become my passion. I have had some fabulous sessions the longest was for 9 hours at Rio Vista, on the Sacramento River. I have been windsurfing and free of lower back pain for 12 years now. All thanks to Dr. Sarno and his work.
I lie; I did have one back spasm when I rejoined several weeks ago. You see I have rejoined the forum to help with my neck issues, (I believe my TMS jumped). My TMS pain knew I was onto it and wanted to return home to its old residence in my back. Here is the story.
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7197
You are active joggers, I suggest you run through the pain no matter how bad it gets. Being a runner you are already used to pain, so you have an advantage. My pain disappeared drastically the next day and more so over the next few weeks, I had it on the run, excuse the pun…
Good luck
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 11 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Books: Healing Back Pain
& Unlearn your Pain |
Edited by - andy64tms on 03/30/2012 22:47:21 |
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jitterygal
18 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2012 : 07:03:36
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| So sometimes does the pain get worse before it gets better? I noticed too that I feel a wave of anxiety hit me sometimes when I am doing my workouts like the blood is draing from my face. Anybody have that happen to them? |
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Dave
USA
1864 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2012 : 11:02:49
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quote:
Originally posted by jitterygal
So sometimes does the pain get worse before it gets better?
Absolutely. Consider it a good sign. |
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andy64tms
USA
589 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2012 : 18:49:34
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Hi Jitterygal,
Yes the pain can get worse before it gets better; It has many other devious characteristics as well. I wrote a letter to my TMS, to get a better understanding of what TMS pain does. (part of the Wiki Education program). This was also fun to do, and I see # 4 fits in well with this question, and there are some others that may also be applicable to you.
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7290
As far as the anxiety and flushing, I cannot say, but it sounds like your body is complaining about your workout, perhaps you are trying too hard.
Added 4/2/2012 This also could be attributed to a conditioning situation that you can read about in Healing Backpain or Unlearn your Pain. The most well known conditioning theory is "Whiplash".
After a real good windsurfing session I have all sorts of pain all over, most of them from over exertion. I know I will stiffen up during the evening and night, and do gentle Yoga stretching to combat this, sometime all through the night. On rare occasions I take a TyIenol PM. I am 65 so perhaps these aches are normal for my age.
Hope this helps
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 11 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Books: Healing Back Pain
& Unlearn your Pain |
Edited by - andy64tms on 04/02/2012 09:52:04 |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2012 : 20:28:53
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| Ohiostateeq, since you are an ultra runner you are probably familiar with the Badwater 135 miler in Death Valley (every July!). I know a few who have done it, one woman I work with who has run both ways (270 miles!). Anyway, there is a documentary on it called, "Running on the Sun" and one of the runners they interview is probably late 60's and he says, "My doctor would be angry if he knew I was doing this. I have a herniated disc." Obviously, if he was able to do that kind of punishing race, it couldn't have been too painful. |
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jitterygal
18 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 10:03:13
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| These are great pieces of advice to me, thank you all. I have noticed in the last three days, that I have a lot of muscle tension in my neck and shoulders, with left sided arm pain. This happened to me once before around Thanksgiving, but it mysteriously went away, I guess because I forgot about it? Now it is back. Andy, I think you may be correct, I feel like I am soooo nervous about jogging again that I am really tensing up when I'm doing it. I am going to take up yoga, I used to teach a lot a vigorous classes like spinning and I never envisioned myself taking yoga because I thought it was too slow. But now I'm thinking it may actually enhance my workouts. I like the idea of writing a letter like this one. My first appt with Dr. in ATL (who worked with Sarno) is Mon the 9th. I hope it works. |
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theohiostateq
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 15:42:05
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Wrld Trv: Yes, I'm familiar with Badwater. Couple of people I know have either run in it or crewed. I have both Badwater dvds: Running on the Sun and The Distance of Truth. Like them both a lot.
Interesting about the runner with the herniated disc. 99% of docs believe a bad disc equals a bad back. I worked at Ohio State Med Ctr for 23 years, and I wouldn't even bother mentioning tms to my doc friends.
Wish there were more tms docs out there. Dr. Zafirides, the psychiatrist who recently posted on this forum, is the only one I know of in central Ohio.
Ohiostateeq, since you are an ultra runner you are probably familiar with the Badwater 135 miler in Death Valley (every July!). I know a few who have done it, one woman I work with who has run both ways (270 miles!). Anyway, there is a documentary on it called, "Running on the Sun" and one of the runners they interview is probably late 60's and he says, "My doctor would be angry if he knew I was doing this. I have a herniated disc." Obviously, if he was able to do that kind of punishing race, it couldn't have been too painful.
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