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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
 Posted - 04/30/2012 : 21:56:32
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Hi there. New to this whole TMS concept. Currently reading Healing Back Pain and finding lots of hope.
I'm about half way there - accepting this is from emotion/anxiety - Here is my story:
My whole life I've had very random panic attacks. Also I've suffered with back problems - starts with a "pop" then pain for months sometimes. Never had extensive testing.
Two years ago I started having major anxiety symptoms. (TMS?) It started with my vision then ringing in my ears then dizziness for months then many other weird symptoms. Saw several docs. Was told it was "stress".
Since then I've been convinced I have something horrible, hidden from the numerous doctors I visited. I had numerous back issues starting again with that "pop" between my shoulder blades and then the pain. Though for some reason that's never really worried me like the other weird symptoms, though it caused me major discomfort.
Then I started having HORRIBLE headaches. Saw 3 docs. Nothing. Eventually went away. It was followed with horrible heart palpitations. Then tests: NOTHING AGAIN. The mysterious silent illness with weird symptoms continued.
Recently I've had this bizarre joint pain. It all started after yet another "pop" in my upper back and after 2 weeks of pain in my back, shoulders and neck, it sort of spread to other areas: feet, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows. I have been completely frightened. I say joint pain, but I'm not sure it's actually the joint. Somewhere around it - either right at the joint or just near - possibly tendon?
Went to my PCP, who said "tennis elbow" and ran bloodwork for Rheumatological/inflamatory/ANA - NOTHING. Saw a Rhuematologist anyway. He said it's from sleep loss and anxiety (very sleep deprived I am).
So I'm wondering, after reading half way through Dr. Sarno's book if this is actually TMS. It's very hard for me not to fear this pain. It's pretty constant all day - it's mild, so not debilitating by any means, but scary. It moves from joint to joint. Some days it may be one elbow, one knee, other days both hands. Some days it shoots all over. Some days aren't as bad. I haven't stopped doing physical activities, though I was thinking and believing I would have to. In fact, I have been exercising more than normal lately because I noticed it didn't make things worse and I felt good doing it so exercise became the one time of the day I didn't care about the pain and therefore felt some freedom.
I'm trying to embrace that this weird joint pain is part of it. When I went to the Rhuem. Dr. he said one of the telling signs it wasn't a disease is that it jumps from place to place. Guess what happened after that? It stayed in one place a couple of weeks. Go figure.
Thanks for reading. I hope I can find healing through this. Anyone every had joint/tendon issues? |
Edited by - jennypeanut on 06/20/2012 22:14:33 |
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Aussie
Australia
87 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 02:22:13
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Hi,
With all those different symptoms with no clear diagnosis found through the doctor's and specialists you have seen it would appear you definitely have mind body pain.
Search through previous posts here by symptom and read the success stories. People have had far scarier symptoms than yours and recovered.
Not focusing on and constantly stressing over symptoms is the first step to getting somewhere with this. Read the Sarno books and the information here and on tmswiki.org and you will get the answers you need.
TMS pain is much more common than some rare condition you have yet to be diagnosed with. I would recommend a new book called The Great Pain Deception by Steven Ozanich. This along with the Sarno books will have all the answers you need.
Also if you can get to a TMS doctor for a diagnosis this will help with you completely accepting a mind body diagnosis.
Good luck. |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 07:10:36
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| Thanks Aussie. How do I find a TMS doctor? |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 07:13:19
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| Ok, just found a list of TMS Drs. I do not live anywhere CLOSE to one! How is this for a diagnosis - I had one Dr. tell me my pain was "psychosomatic". The others just said "stress" |
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racingspoon
United Kingdom
35 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 08:04:48
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quote:
Originally posted by jennypeanut
Ok, just found a list of TMS Drs. I do not live anywhere CLOSE to one! How is this for a diagnosis - I had one Dr. tell me my pain was "psychosomatic". The others just said "stress"
The terms psychosomatic and stress are pretty much interchangable with the term TMS. Two doctors have indicated that they believe your symptoms are functional and have no discernable organic cause so a mindbody explanation would seem pretty compelling. |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 11:00:08
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Hi Jennypeanut, (cute name BTW)
It's heartening to hear non-TMS doctors giving the TMS dx, stress, anxiety, tension, psychosomatic, they are all synonymous with TMS issues. Modern medicine has a vested interest in dx'ing structural physical problems and not TMS, so you've done the fundamental task of eliminating serious bodily maladies. You do sound like a poster-child for TMS, congratulations! As SteveO would say, TMS has been doing you a favor as a protector and not a punisher as Freud thought. As Aussie and others have said, read archived forum posts, the SUCCESS STORIES section here, TMS books and Steven Ray Ozanich's new TMS book "THE GREAT PAIN DECEPTION". It's a veritable DIY TMS tome.
Cheers and G'luck
==================================================
DR. SARNO'S 12 DAILY REMINDERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dKBFwGR0g
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
==================================================
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." Jiddu Krishnamurti
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." Author Unknown
"Happy People Are Happy Putters." Frank Nobilo, Golf Analyst
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint." Mark Twain and Balto
======================================================
TMS PRACTITIONERS:
John Sarno, MD
400 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016
(212) 263-6035
Here's the TMS practitioners list from the TMS Help Forum:
http://www.tmshelp.com/links.htm
Here's a list of TMS practitioners from the TMS Wiki:
http://tmswiki.org/ppd/Find_a_TMS_Doctor_or_Therapist
Here's a map of TMS practitioners from the old Tarpit Yoga site, (click on the map by state for listings).:
http://www.tarpityoga.com/2007_08_01_archive.html |
Edited by - tennis tom on 05/01/2012 21:03:12 |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 18:36:41
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"(very sleep deprived I am)."
The way you wrote that reminded me of Yoda.
It sure looks like TMS. I had a very similar pattern to yours. I loved it when the doctor told you that it's not a disease because it moves around, and so it stopped moving. The brain scans to find an area where you most fear, or concern, and there it stays. When he/she says you're fine because it's moving, your brain needs fear so it changes its tactic and stays. That is very interesting. Very nice synpopsis of your symtpoms too, "a good perfectionist you are." My Yoda imitation.
I'm glad you got worked up by the MDs. Also, that several docs said it was stress. Very good on their part, they must be good docs.
I don't know if you know it, but the moving around of symptoms is the hallmark characteristic of TMS.
There is something going on in your life that needs addressed and you aren't taking care of it. Most often it's relationship-based.
Read all you can and heal thyself.
SteveO |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 22:06:09
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Thanks Tennis Tom for all the info. Very helpful.
And SteveO I did NOT know that symptoms moving around is TMS in nature. And yes, funny how that stopped when the Dr. told me what he did. Oh brain! I love you and I hate you.
Yoda!!
Here's the thing I'm currently caught up in - WHEN is this going to end. WHAT IF it doesn't. WHAT IF it does and then comes back. I know, I know. timetables and "what ifs" are not productive. But that's just the honest truth and isn't part of dealing with this facing the truth? Also, I can't go see a TMS Dr. right now. There is one about 3 hours drive from me.
The last troubling thing is that even though MULTIPLE docs have checked me out, done blood work and even referred me to specialists, I still struggle with believing them.
I'm in therapy with a psychologist who believes trauma is physically stored in the body and just today told me she has a real hard time with the medical field and their refusal to see the connection.
ANYWAY, I'll be reading, checking out this site, etc. For now I'm brand new to this concept and really working on accepting my symptoms for what they are and trying to not fear them. I'm not trying to ignore them or fill in my day with activity to drown them out. I'm just trying to let them coexist with my life for now. |
Edited by - jennypeanut on 06/20/2012 22:16:20 |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 22:19:03
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| And forgot to add that one of the discouraging things for me is that I can't seem to find others who have this weird joint pain. For some reason I feel I need validation. Again, can't exactly go to a TMS doctor right now, but I'm sick of having 'abnormal' symptoms. Most people here seem to have disk issues, not tendon issues... Also it's not always pain in the joint/tendon area, also in the muscles and often in my BUTT!! Like sciatica I guess. |
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catmac
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 12:20:50
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Hi Jennypeanut (luv the name)
Just thought I would reassure you. I too, have this joint pain. In the uk they call this fibromyalgia (pains in elbows,knees,ankles etc).Like you I was terrified of it when it first happened and took myself off to the a&e as I thought I was dying!! They could find nothing wrong with me!! It is TMS. I read Dr Sarno and Steve O's book and if you keep reading and keep doing what they suggest then the pain will reduce. My pain level is currently at a 2 or 3 compared to a 10 about three months ago. I loved Steve's book as it gives lots of information and is more detailed than Dr Sarnos. I suppose I needed deeper reassurance. He also tells his own amazing story, which is pretty horrific but he has come out the other side and is now pain free and helping others. Follow Steve's answers on here, they always help. Dr Sarno and Steve gave me hope when I was in total despair and I'll be eternally grateful to them. |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2012 : 15:48:46
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which book did Steve O write?
Well I'm NOT the only joint pain sufferer. The Rhuematologist I saw said I did not have fibromyalgia bec. he said those patients can hardly get out of bed. But isn't that just severe TMS? |
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catmac
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 11:05:32
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[quote]Originally posted by jennypeanut
which book did Steve O write?
The Great Pain Deception, Steve Ozanich |
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SteveO
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2012 : 23:48:39
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Catmac, I'm happy I helped you in some small way. I wrote that book over 10 years so that I could help people looking for answers. So when I read just now that it's working with you, it is a deep feeling of contentment and gratitude and peace. Email me if you have time and maybe we can talk by phone.
Life is a shared experience, we're all in it together as One, if we can't help each other we are lost.
Aussie, thanks for recommending my work. I hope you too have found peace and I would like to talk to you if possible. I take from your screen name that you are Portuguese? Just kidding. Maybe we can Skype.
B well,
SteveO |
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MichaelB
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 22:16:56
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Hi jennypeanut,
Girl do you and I sound similar, except I am a guy. Thanks for writing. Had a lot of things happen to me that happened to you. Anxietly, ringing in ears,stress, tennis elbow and lots more. This seems to be good place to vent. Keep on talking. I am listing and learning. Thanks for talking.
Michael B |
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jennypeanut
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 22:32:53
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| MichaelB, glad to know I'm not alone. I've actually searched through the forum and found many similar stories/symptoms to me. I'm becoming more and more convinced my issues are TMS and I'm trying to stay away from the Dr.'s office unless I am either really sick with something like the flu or going for my annual checkup because I've had tons of tests, seen specialists and had the "all clear". It's time I try to work this out on my own and the Sarno books are helping, along with Claire Weeke's Hope and Help for your Nerves. Best of luck! |
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wrldtrv
666 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2012 : 09:52:44
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| Jennypeanut, I'm another who can definitely relate to your story. I would add that you may have some health anxiety as well as TMS. You mentioned that both your parents worried about their health too, and this is something our parents model for us. |
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New here/my story
