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polly
127 Posts |
 Posted - 04/01/2005 : 09:14:41
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This is hard to write.
Briefly, I had both knees replaced a little over 2 yrs. ago. When I still complained of the same pain, I was sent for an MRI and told I had herniated discs and spinal stenosis. I played the medical game with that for a while until I went to see Dr. Sarno.
I stopped all "medical" treatments, realized how wrong it was to have my knees replaced, and did the TMS work. Unfortunately, the one area where I always had the worst pain remained. Doing the TMS work did relieve all back, sciatic, numbness, weakness etc.
After some xrays, I was told that the knees were breaking down. One was coming loose, the other had broken plastic. I saw a doctor that only does evaluations and he had me take a hip xray. Bingo! The hip was as close to being "frozen" as it could be, there was necrosis in the bone. The pain that I was told was being generated from my knees had always been coming from the hip. btw, the doctor that made the knee diagnosis has been torn apart on the front page of the NY Times in the past week and the surgeon has a host of lawsuits against him. Mine could be next.
I am now in Florida. I saw a decent doctor (is that an oxymoron?) yesterday who knows of Sarno, is part of doctors without borders and says I'm in big trouble. He recommends surgery 1 in 200 times...I also know this to be true from people who have gone to him. He mostly discourages surgery. When he does recommend it, it takes about 6-8 weeks to get a patient ready. He told me yesterday that I need to have the hip replaced immediately. He scheduled me for surgery on the 14th. He's sure that the hip will freeze completely or break and it's a miracle I haven't landed in an emergency room.
He doesn't know how I'm able to walk at all. It has been horrific. I'm on massive amounts of pain meds and slipping into deep depression from it all. The thing that's kept me going at all is swimming every day. This doctor feels that while the knees are not the greatest of jobs, the main factor is the hip and probably always has been. One leg is much shorter than the other because of the hip degeneration. I spent 2 hrs. with him, in a very busy office, and he seems confident that fixing the hip will solve most of the knee problems and he can get me off the pain meds and pain free.
I agreed to the surgery, but of course I'm all conflicted because of my strong belief in Dr. Sarno and my justified disdain for the medical community. I'm sending Dr. Sarno and email and calling him on Monday. I did speak to him when I found out that my knees were breaking down. He was sympathetic, but could not offer much else. I knew I would have to find a surgical solution, I just wish I knew that this was it. I can't take another mistake.
My head is swimming and I'd appreciate any comments.
Thanks,
Polly |
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Susie
USA
319 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 11:01:31
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| Polly, I have wondered how you were doing. I would be as conflicted as you. I think you are correct in contacting Sarno. After all, he wrote the book. I think before undertaking such a momentous step, I would have to see him! If he agreed with your surgeon, you would have great peace of mind. I know you have suffered a great deal and are a true believer in tms. Best of luck. |
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Michele
249 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 11:17:11
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Polly, I can understand how hard that was to write.
As I understand it, necrosis (as in avascular necrosis) is a serious condition that warrants the surgery. The bones are disintegrating and will break if not replaced. I know you don't want the surgery, but maybe the hip replacement WILL help and get you back on your feet. I read of a man just the other day who had a hip replacement (with ceramic) and he is running short distances again. Ask your surgeon about minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. I went to a presentation about it a couple weeks ago.
Good luck, please keep us posted!! |
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Baseball65
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 17:05:52
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Hi Polly.
Besides getting a second opinion,from what I just read on a quick research,you need to have that surgery and pronto!
Interesting was the fact that I just read...Necrosis is caused by Ischemia the same process by which Sarno's model says our TMS pain comes from.
Unlike TMS however,it says that necrosis is irreversible and that a lot of other complications can occur if not treated,like a lack of blood flow through the main artery in the leg
The article I read is at:
http://www.mri.jhu.edu/~dbluemke/Avascular_necrosis.html
You have always been the trooper of troopers.I know how difficult this must be for you,especially with all your TMS knowledge.Remember,Sarno has always used words like "In the majority of cases" and "almost never"....unfortunately it appears that you have fallen into that very small percentage of exception.
The good news is that this article says if it is arrested,it is not a chronic deal,and you are already armed with the tools to stop your brain from turning it into a chronic pain issue.
I will keep you in my prayers...please keep us updated,and we will always be here to support you!!
Let us know what's up!
God bless
peace
Baseball65 |
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Louise
USA
68 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 17:49:21
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OK, this is coming from a person who has had back, knee & wrist surgery, none of which have made a long-lasting difference. I swear that I'll never have another surgery.
However, from what I've read of your past & current posts, if I were you, I'd have the hip surgery, and I'd replace my faulty knees. As Baseball65 (aka Marc) said, you are the trooper of troopers, and it's painful for me to read your posts - it's tragic what you've been through. As I see it, your hip and knee problems are not due to a lack of TMS-belief. As far as you knees are concerned - you're now dealing with faulty mechanics, not faulty thinking. I say, fix those suckers, and hopefully, you'll feel better. It's for damn sure that you can't feel any worse.
From what your doctor, as well as Marc said, your hip problem sounds very serious, and you need to take care of it. Remember that not everyone in the traditional medical community is an idiot - your current doctor sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. I'm wishing the best, and you'll be in my thoughts.
Louise
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smth416
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 19:34:19
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| Hopefully, as Baseball says you can use your knowledge of TMS to help your recovery from this needed surgery and prevent your brain from turning that into more pain. Good luck -Al |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2005 : 21:12:59
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I'm overwhelmed by the replies. I could never express how much this means to me. I've resisted writing because I so believe in TMS and the power we weild to help ourselves. I didn't want to taint it with my bad luck.
I haven't been on line all day but I will definitely check out the site you suggest, Marc. As far as you praying, I have a feeling you're someone that G-d listens to, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have had this diagnosis by other doctors. This is not the only doctor who advised this. He's just a powerfull kind of guy who sat me down - he took my cane away so I couldn't get up - and told me to stop being a fool and described the consequences of waiting anymore. He's also rushing me through the steps to get me in immediately.
Thank you Susie. I've been lurking here and reading everything you post. I think you're terrific.
Michelle, the surgery is the minimally invasive kind and it is the ceramic. The doctor I have here is one of the pioneers of this surgery. It's a 45 min. procedure. My knees were over 4 hours. The thing I like most about this doctor is that he does work in third world countries every year on crippled people.
Thanks for the encouragement, Louise. I know it's hard to come from behind the screen we have to stay in with TMS and understand this kind of stuff. Your words are empowering as always.
Al, if I'm not mistaken, you're new to this. I think you have a good handle on things and will succeed. Thanks for the encouragement.
I keep thinking about Tennis Tom resisting the surgery for so long. I so wanted to be like him, but this has gone beyond and I have to face it. I was trying to do something that is not possible for me.
The necrosis is serious. An xray done yesterday compared to one done just a few months ago shows a cyst forming above the socket. I was up most of last night reading about necrosis. As I keep digesting all of this, I'm still lucky to know about TMS. It helps me to believe that I will be okay soon. I really believe it will help me get through surgery a lot easier.
I'm still calling Sarno on Monday and if there's any way possible, I'm shooting the xrays up to him. His approval would mean a lot to me. He has been wonderful in dealing with me. Sounds funny, but I feel lucky.
I'll keep reading and trying to stay part of what is going on here. Again, thank you all. This is a pretty special little place.
With love,
Polly |
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TMS & Physical Problem
