Need an opinion- I have had burning pain in my feet for over eight years now. My dx was made from my reported symptoms and a test I failed. The test in some ways was very subjective. Its called a quantative semsory test. In the course of the test you have to report as to changes in thermal temperature. Well about two years ago my wife bought me one of Dr. Sarno's books. When I finally got around to reading it my pain improved over 90%. Over the past week I have had alot of pain and have thought about retaking the QST test. I think whats keeping me back in times of worry is thinking that I failed that test so maybe I do have nerve damage. I feel that I cannot totally except TMS until I do that. Am I setting myself up if I take it? As one member mentioned in the past I am one of those that are in the middle of the road and to fully except the TMS theory I feel I need to take a gamble and take the test so I can move on. What do you think??
UPDATE- I took the test. Like I said its very subjective. The first part of the test looks at cold perception (which I passed) the second part asks you to number the pain you feel from a probe that is placed on the top of your foot. You have to respond from 1 to 10. I was really anxious taking this test. (I failed) I thought it would give me closure. Instead I feel this great anxiety that kept me up most of the night in pain. The funny thing is as long as I excepted TMS my pain decreased by 90%. In fact I went two months with no pain. Now that I'm bacjk to obsessing about it I'm in pain. Has anyone had a similar experience. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DISPUTING A DOCTOR'S TEST/OPINION? If you have been successful I would appreciate your thoughts. I have been searching the internet and I have found several articles that have said that the test can be influenced by a patients psycholical outlook. In fact 17% of normal subjects in a study failed it. Its too bad I can not internalize that as saying that the test is unreliable and move on. I guess I'm stuck and need encouragement/helpful advice or a strong boot. Even though I have only posted a few times I have found this forum to be extremely helpful.
You say yourself that after reading Dr. Sarno's book your pain improved over 90%. This is pretty convincing evidence.
Now the pain returns and you are falling back into the same old trap of thinking physical. Instead, why don't you think about what's going on in your life that may have precipitated the return of the symptoms?
Reading the book is not enough. You have to do the work.
Dave, I've done the work that's why I was feeling so much better. The test has just thrown me for a loop. I have a difficult time disputing the "expert" even though my experience tells me differently. Its my authority hangup which is a personality trait among TMS'ers I think. I even e-mailed the doc to give clarification and she said that my test was consistent and valid, however she stated there had been significant improvement. Apperantly she can't explain why. People dx with neuropathy either stay the same or get worse according to her and everything I've ever read. So it makes sense that she is wrong. I just need to disput that. Hopefully this discussion will be helpful to others because I'm sure everyone has to disput so called findings to move forward. Thanks for your thoughts.
I don't know how to refute a medical diagnosis - I was lucky enough never to get one for my back. However....
"I could kick myself"
"I need a strong boot"
....and burning pain in your feet?
Maybe I've read too much Louise Hay, but I'm seeing a bit of a pattern here. In "Facing the Fire", Jon Lee says that this is the kind of thing you need to pay attention to. Who are you angry at? Who do you want to kick, and why?
I could kick myself
Posted - 02/16/2005 : 15:42:44
