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woodyb
USA
17 Posts |
 Posted - 07/30/2012 : 19:01:26
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I had an MRI on Friday due to 7 months of low back pain, w/ two months of sciatic pain. Well the results came back with a referral to a neurologist, because of a herniated disk at L4-L5, & Herniated disk at L5-S1 w/ nerve impingement of the S1. I've read time and time again in Sarno's books, Amir's book, and others that this can't be the cause of pain. Well I'm in some severe need of some positive reinforcement here, as I have a crucial physical for a law enforcement job.
You don't have to read the whole story below, but some positive stories about your herniated disks and nerve impingements, and how you’re better, or recovered would be terrific!
I've been waiting, 7 months, fighting through 1000 applicants, and my pain has increased each month as I've gone farther into the process, and the closer I've gotten to being one of the chosen few. I was working a job I didn't care for, my significant other and I were having a very difficult time getting along, money was stressing me out. I got a new job where I make great money, but am working 10 hr days, outside, and on top of that I have an hour drive to and from. There was one Wednesday morning where I woke up and I was running extremely late (set the alarm for pm), and I jumped up and threw on my pants and boots and ran to my car. It wasn't until I was at work and I realized holy cow, I'm not in any pain... This lasted for 3 whole days where I felt really good, and thought I was conquering it. Oh how short the good times are though... That weekend following the 3 days of living the good life, I had to move out of my place because my lease was up and I wanted to get into something a little closer to work. Well I consciously hate moving, and my ID, he really hates loading and unloading furniture. So that Sunday there was a little bit of pain that returned. My sig. other and I had worked through our problems a while before this, and I had decided that it was about time to pop the question. So I had been pinching pennies for a couple of weeks, and had saved a small fortune to put a down payment on a ring. So I decided that the weekend following the move would be when I'd buy the ring. My pain gradually increased throughout the week, and on that Saturday when I woke up, I could barely erect myself upright. So I went and paid for it, limping my way into the store. That's when the sciatic pain began. Then a few weeks later, I had a conversation with Hillbilly, and I decreased my pain significantly where I could enjoy a trip to the sig. other's parent's house, where I would ask her Dad's permission (unbeknownst to anyone). I felt great the whole trip, not 100%, but not where I wanted God to just put the final nail in the coffin. Well he said "Absolutely", in case you were curious. Come Tuesday morning, it was back. Not in full force, but not fun. Then Thursday came, and dropped a whole new pressure I'd never known before. I get home after a 12 hr day, to a girlfriend (Hadn't asked her yet), holding a tin box, (with a present inside).... I open the box, and there was a pregnancy test, with a positive on it... the expression the camera caught would garner a chuckle from any of you. Well I asked her on the day I had planned on anyways for months, a few weeks after this.
So here I am, tonight, 2 weeks out from this physical, gone from a man who has deadlifted 500 lbs, to a man who could cry putting on his work boots, and is scared because someone is going to ask him to bend over and touch his toes, (and not because they're wearing prison orange). Due to my Dad, and new Fiancé’s forceful encouragement to seek a physical remedy, I'll be faced with a cortisone injection tomorrow. Even though I believe now it's primarily TMS, I will admit that I pray for a little relief to help me become less fearful.
Woodyb |
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Bugbear
United Kingdom
152 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2012 : 09:10:21
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Gosh, Woody, no pressure there. NOT! Tennis Tom will be along shortly to direct you the Rae Holmes test (link in his signature) as you already have a laundry list of stressors right in front of you. It is brilliant that you are able to see that all of these events are linked with your physical pain.
Behind pain is fear, not just of being in pain but of other things like not being good enough and failing. What are your fears surrounding this potential job for starters?
If your chat with Hillbilly was so effective, I would give him another bell. Other suggestions might include journalling, meditation and reading some of the success stories on this forum and on www.tmswiki.org.
One word of caution though. Putting pressure on yourself to recover by a certain date could set you back. It might be best to keep your eye on what's going on inside your head as opposed to what is written on the calendar. Most of all, relax, breathe and think (not worry or panic) about the marriage, baby and everything else after your physical.
{{{{hugs}}}} |
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drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2012 : 13:11:32
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Woodyb, I'm not fully recovered, but our symptoms are similar. I have herniation at L4-L5 and at L5-S1 with impingement on the S1 nerve root and degenerative disc disease at L3-L4. I've felt the back pain, the sciatica, the depression, the rage, the sadness, the fear...I've been bed-ridden for weeks at a time...and I'm here to tell you that you CAN get better. I have my good days and my not-so-good days and I'm still working through some powerful buried emotions, but I'm getting there.
You have a LOT of stressors going on in your life that are high on the list of "most stressful life events" - new job, moving to a new place, getting married, having a child...it's like a perfect TMS storm. Even when the events are happy events, the id responds negatively...the id doesn't like change...it likes status quo.
Additionally, how much time are you giving yourself to do things you enjoy (trust me, this will become important because when that baby comes, you will be required to sacrifice of your own needs for the good of the baby and id does NOT like sacrificing its own wants and needs)?
Focus on your emotions. What are you feeling? Write 'em down or make conscious acknowledgement of any emotion that pops up...even if it's small. If it's small and seems ridiculous or stupid - think about that one for a while. Why is it ridiculous? Who taught you that was ridiculous? For what reasons are you failing to acknowledge the VALIDITY and ACCEPTABILITY of your emotions?
You have some good things going for you...but they are stressful events nonetheless. Trust me, improvement is possible. I await the day where I can tell you that I'm pain free, but given all the experiences of others and materials I've read, I know I'll get there.
And not to minimize your experience (truly not my intent), but I've been suffering through those symptoms for 12 years. SteveO suffered his issues for 27. The human body takes 6 WEEKS to heal a break of the thickest and toughest bone in the body. Pain lasting for 7 months IS psychological in nature if you've ruled out something more serious with your doctors.
For what it's worth - after 12 years of constant and severe pain treated with steroid injections, narcotics, opiates, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustments, AIRROSTI treatments, ultrasound therapy, aqua therapy, traction, etc, etc, etc...I'm here to tell you that I've done better in the last 3 months (since I read "Healing Back Pain") than I've done in 12 years. If I can get improvement, so can you. I may have asked you already if you've posted before...but which books have you read? Have you read SteveO's book? If not, I highly recommend it!
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Dustin |
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woodyb
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2012 : 20:17:23
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Dustin thanks for your input. You made me chuckle when I read TMS storm, one afar a time I believe I could of dealt with them without interference from my ID, but with them coming in a barrage of stress, my ID quickly jumped in. I beat TMS before, but I had nothing but time to read, meditate, and journal. It was the exact same spot with a Similiar trigger. I found Sarno rather quickly, and I bought everything he'd wrote from Healing Back Pain to Divided Mind. I read Fred Amir's book (which I highly recommend). Now I'm working on SteveO's The great pain deception, and Dr. Schubiner's Unlearn your pain.
Woodyb |
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altherunner
Canada
511 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 21:37:32
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Hi - I found Dr. Sarno after reading a book about alternatives to back and neck surgery. The surgeon made all his patients on the wait list see Dr. Sarno first. Half dropped off the wait list.
I was on a wait list for neck surgery,for supposed neuropathy due to compressed discs c4, c5.
Thankfully, I didn't need surgery after reading his books. I also had low back pain, sciatica, and many other symptoms. I occasionally get attacks, but not so bad anymore. I also had counselling from a tms counsellor. That was very helpful. Hope this helps you. |
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Aussie
Australia
87 Posts |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 23:06:02
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Woodyb,
The below post is from 2004 that i remembered i found a while back but is a perfect example of someone who healed with Pathology like yours.
I have copied it below..
i will try to keep this as brief as possible, but my main point is that Dr. Sarno's approach works and his theory is absolutely correct. i am living proof.
in 1998 i came down with intense low back and leg pain. the pain was so intense that i was literally bed ridden for four months and was TOTALLY DISABLED. two MRIs revealed a large disc hernaition at L5 with severe nerve impingement at S1 as well as a very large bulge at L4/L5. i tried every physical modality you can name, and not a single thing worked. it was a complete nightmare.
in january of 1999 i had surgery to repair the ruptured disc. according to my doctor, the procedure went perfectly...he removed the disc material that was pinching the nerve. he also told me that other than that one abnormality, i had the spine of a 20 year old (i was 34 at the time).
fast forward 8 months...the surgery did absolutely nothing for the pain, which was now worse than ever. a THIRD MRI revealed that the disc had healed perfectly and that the nerve was now free and healthy. not only that, but the other disc that was bulging had somehow shrunk back to it's normal shape, yet my back and leg pain were so bad i could literally taste the pain. i will always remember that whenever i sneezed, the pain was so incredible that it would cause me to see stars and i would come close to passing out.
one day i happened upon Sarno's Healing Back Pain in my local bookstore. they knew me well at the bookstore because i was the guy who came in at least once a week and hung around the Back Care books and laid on the floor to read them because i couldn't stand or sit.
well the book completely opened my eyes. to make a long story a little shorter, i related to most everyting that was in the book, and after 3 months of very, very hard work i was completely free of pain...100%. that was nearly FOUR years ago, and aside from the occassioanl bit of stiffness when i get stressed out, i have back NO PAIN whatsoever.
i've read this board many many times but have never posted before. the fact is that there are many many people who have used Sarno's approach to rid themselved of pain COMPLETELY. i know of two other people who were in similar straits as myself and have also rid themselves of pain using Sarno, and they don't even know this board exists.
all i can tell you is that it works, but unless one truly understands the causes and process of TMS, and WORKS REALLY HARD at it, one will be doomed to the pain they are stuck in.
these are the facts. take them or leave them.
Mark Abernathy
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Edited by - Aussie on 08/01/2012 23:09:51 |
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Calling all "Herniated Disk and Nerve Impingement"
