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giantsfan
Joined:
Jan 12, 2016
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Gender:
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Location:
Bay Area California
Occupation:
Grad Student

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giantsfan

Well known member, Male, from Bay Area California

Long time since I’ve been on this site. Hope you’re all doing well and staying active! : ) Nov 16, 2020

  • My Story

    January 2016
    Summary: In my late teens I began to have pain in various joints which eventually developed into sacrum and low back pain in my early 20's. Intense burning pain and numbness in legs and hips with an ataxic gait later began. Lost my job, sold my home, moved back in with folks... Severe insomnia, depression and suicidal thoughts then occurred. I developed an eating disorder (obsessive healthy eating) in the midst and dropped down to 150 lbs. I was essentially bedridden for most of my days in early 2014. I was using a walker to get around the house, wheelchairs in and out of appointments, had urinary and fecal incontinence. Had various ideas of taking my life but I wanted everyone to think I had just moved away and was fine (couldn't pull that off in my disabled state). Thankfully I still cared enough about what other people thought. My nerve burning pain spread to my arms, hands and neck. Just about every joint hurt in my body burned or ached horrendously. I couldn't sleep (some nights hardly at all) mostly due to the burning pain in all of my limbs. After a year of its worst (2014) I began to put weight back on and slowly got better. Eventually I got to the point of being able to sit for an hour on a soft reclined cushion, walk around the block with a cane or walking stick and shower myself without a chair and cushions. Still a lot of progress was needed though.

    Then I was introduced to TMS in early 2016 at the age of 29.

    Update November 2016:

    I'm now 30 years old and I feel the youngest I've been since I was 24! I can now run, sprint, hike, play basketball, rock climb, do squats/deadlifts, stand in long lines, sit for long periods on hard surfaces, etc. I hiked up a 14,040 ft. mountain a couple months ago (my first, but definitely not last 14er). I hiked up a mountain through a snow storm with 70 mph gusts of wind at the summit and I now plan on climbing higher mountains including Mexico's Pico de Orizaba at over 18,000 ft :) I am now applying for jobs and looking to move out of my parents home once I get the job! I also have an amazing girlfriend now who I deeply love and who can crack me up and put a smile on my face in an instant. Life has changed since I heard about Sarno, life has changed indeed :)

    Things I tried in the past:

    Conventional:
    Hip orthopedic specialist, Stanford sports medicine, Mayo clinic sports medicine specialist, UCSF pain management clinic, 2 Rheumatologists, 3 Neurologists, 4 General Doctors, Podiatrist, Endocrinologist, Urologist, cardiovascular specialist, X-rays, Mri's and CT Scan of whole body minus lower legs, 6 different physical therapists (one on at the highest rated PT center in U.S.) (total of about 36 + sessions), all kinds of meds for pain and insomnia, 2 epidural injections, 6 cortisone injections etc.

    Alternative:
    8 sessions of Prolotherapy, 2 Acupuncturists (total of 18 sessions), 2 Osteopaths (30+ visits), Naturopathic medicine, pelvic floor therapy...(with the amount of money I spent on people sticking their fingers up my ass I could've bought a car!), 3 Chiropractors (20+ visits), Visceral manipulation (Jean Pierre- Barral), , Chi Nei Tsang, Graston technique, Active Release Technique, , tens unit, Myofascial release, foam rolling, Gokhale Method (8 sessions), Melt Method (6 mos.), Gyrotonics, inversion table, Tom Myers fascial manipulation series, 3 rolfers (25+ visits), Egoscue Method (over a year), Bowen Therapy, Alexander technique, Trigger point therapy specialists, many many massage therapists, Dr. Shirley Sahrmann PT, all kinds of orthotics, swimming, 2 yoga centers, 1 pilates teacher, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy from Stanford and Berkeley, gaps diet, paleo diet, all kinds of vitamins and minerals (magnesium glycinate, vit d, b12 etc), sunbathing, salt baths, heat/ice, marijuana for a few weeks, sleep specialists, etc.
    1. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Long time since I’ve been on this site. Hope you’re all doing well and staying active! : )
      1. JanAtheCPA likes this.
    2. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      I met my girlfriend on tms wiki 3 years ago today. It’s always hard to explain to people how we met haha! Thanks Sarno and Forest!
    3. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      To anyone new, skeptical, or struggling: this is the right stuff. TMS work is truly a miracle.
      1. marionp19 likes this.
      2. marionp19
        marionp19
        Yes it is.
        Feb 14, 2019
    4. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Hope to make a short video about my success story soon. Just gotta make the time :) I remember how helpful Ryan's video was.
    5. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Loving life!
      1. Durga and Forest like this.
      2. Forest
        Forest
        Love it!
        Oct 31, 2017
        giantsfan likes this.
    6. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      "You can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget to make the most of where you are."
      1. Durga and Dfw like this.
    7. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      "Comparison is the thief of joy." - Theodore Roosevelt
      1. Bodhigirl and Forest like this.
    8. Hummingbird
      Hummingbird
      I am a newbie, brought to Sarno's work with debilitating pain in both arms that have stopped me from doing much at all. Your story is a great inspiration to me, you will never know how helpful it is to read it and find hope.
      1. butterfly_queen and giantsfan like this.
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        I'm very excited to hear that Hummingbird. Keep those wings flapping, but give them a break too when needed! You'll be flying all over the place again when the time is right :)
        Feb 13, 2017
        butterfly_queen and Hummingbird like this.
    9. mike2014
      mike2014
      Wow, you've seen almost every alternative healing practitioner going except a witch Dr:-)

      I'm really glad that you're doing well my friend.
      1. giantsfan likes this.
    10. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      "Life is not as serious as the mind makes it out to be." -Eckhart Tolle
      1. mike2014 and brendan537 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. mike2014
        mike2014
        Hi Giants, what's gotten into you with the serious updates :-) We usually have updates of you climbing mountains or swimming with sharks lol I hope you're okay my good friend.
        Nov 17, 2016
        giantsfan and brendan537 like this.
      4. brendan537
        brendan537
        Lol mike2014. Giantsfan how are you doing bro!
        Nov 17, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
      5. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Haha! Hey guys, I'm doing great! I'm starting a new career woohoo! As for the more serious quote I posted, well... I guess like everyone else there's all kinds of sides to a person. Guess it was more for all of us TMS'ers to remember to not take everything too seriously in life - to cherish the things that really matter. But thanks for looking out!
        Nov 18, 2016
    11. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Made it to the 14,040 ft. summit of Mt. Langley and just passed the cbest to become a substitute teacher!
      1. brendan537
        brendan537
        You are truly and inspiration dude keep it up man!!
        Aug 29, 2016
    12. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Going for Mt. Langley! :D 14,026 ft.
      1. Forest likes this.
    13. brendan537
      brendan537
      I went to the Red Sox vs San Fran the other night 4-0 baby!!! Thought I would share hahaha how you doing buddy!
      1. giantsfan likes this.
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        You're lucky the Sox are my AL team haha ;) Glad you got out there man. Giants aren't looking too hot. Went to see a game in San Diego, hopefully someday in Boston!
        Jul 23, 2016
        Yinlin and brendan537 like this.
    14. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Just finished a 12,500 footer :)
      1. View previous comments...
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Jah, been pumping zee iron . Thanks, Brendan, hope you're doing well. Go Giants!
        Jun 28, 2016
      3. brendan537
        brendan537
        How's the pain doing dude. You're making a really amazing recovery. What are you doing that's different? Go Red Sox!!!! ⚾️
        Jun 28, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
      4. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Pain is there sometimes, but the less I think or care about it the more it goes away (slowly over time). "Leap and the net will appear."
        Jul 23, 2016
        brendan537 likes this.
    15. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Got lost 7 times climbing Mt. Diablo & ended up hiking 16 miles w/ 4,000 ft gain. I'm still having a hard time believing I did that! Woohoo!
      1. mike2014 likes this.
      2. mike2014
        mike2014
        Well done, Dan, you're an inspiration to us all. I'm looking forward to reading your success story. Keep at it my friend.
        Jun 14, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
      3. brendan537
        brendan537
        you're kidding me right? so proud of you dude and I am happy for you. keep it up brother. go red sox
        Jun 15, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
    16. brendan537
      brendan537
      How are you doing?
      1. giantsfan likes this.
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Hey Brendan! I'm doing good, man. I'm planning on a 14 mile hike up Mt. Diablo this Sunday. Been travelling around California a bit too. Getting better with the sitting by realizing that the pain isn't going to actually do anything to me. How are you?
        Jun 11, 2016
    17. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Just ran a sub 7 min mile. Not bad for having to use a cane to walk around the block at the beginning of this year. :)
      1. mike2014 and brendan537 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Keep it up Brendan. Keep telling yourself that you can do this.
        May 2, 2016
      4. mike2014
        mike2014
        Excellent work, Dan The Man. You've come far my friend.
        May 4, 2016
      5. Tennis Tom
        Tennis Tom
        Just saw this Giantsfan, that's AMAZING!!! Truly a TMS success story--from a cane to a sub 7 mile. Congrats!
        Jul 16, 2016
    18. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Making some great improvements in sitting and running. Finally going to a Giants game again soon!
      1. Simplicity and brendan537 like this.
    19. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Trying to find that thin line between fighting the symptoms vs. just ignoring them.
      1. lel
        lel
        From many years of "fighting" and "ignoring" I found neither worked for me. Working with, going with and applying self compassion as well as meditating and making sure you do something each day that you love. For me it could be singing or essential oils after an evening shower. Self nurture and self soothing are worthwhile as they are compassionate and not self pitying or too challenging.
        Apr 13, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Thank you for the great response. I agree, fighting doesn't work and "ignoring" is not necessarily the word I'd choose nowadays. Guitar is one of my self nurture's :)
        Apr 13, 2016
    20. giantsfan
      giantsfan
      Thought playing basketball yesterday would help with pain. Wrong... Time to practice outcome independence.
      1. Forest
        Forest
        Sadly, it is part of the process of healing. There are always ups and downs.
        Mar 17, 2016
        giantsfan likes this.
      2. giantsfan
        giantsfan
        Thank you Forest, it's always good to hear that again. It makes one turn towards being happy and thankful for how far they've gotten so far.
        Mar 18, 2016
        Simplicity likes this.
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  • My Story

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Bay Area California
    Occupation:
    Grad Student
    Diagnoses:
    Psuedo Guillain-Barre syndrome. Major EMG delay. Peripheral neuropathy in arms, hips, sacrum and legs.. GERD, anxiety, chronic and severe insomnia. Ataxic gait (like with cerebral palsy), chronic migraines, IBS, vertigo. Shoulder labrum tears, cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome in both but mostly right elbow and wrists. Costochondritis. SI joint dysfunction. Urinary incontinence (fecal at one point). Plantar fascitis. Sciatica, fibro, TMJ, hip bursitis, hamstring tendonopathy. Raynaud's phenomenon.
    January 2016
    Summary: In my late teens I began to have pain in various joints which eventually developed into sacrum and low back pain in my early 20's. Intense burning pain and numbness in legs and hips with an ataxic gait later began. Lost my job, sold my home, moved back in with folks... Severe insomnia, depression and suicidal thoughts then occurred. I developed an eating disorder (obsessive healthy eating) in the midst and dropped down to 150 lbs. I was essentially bedridden for most of my days in early 2014. I was using a walker to get around the house, wheelchairs in and out of appointments, had urinary and fecal incontinence. Had various ideas of taking my life but I wanted everyone to think I had just moved away and was fine (couldn't pull that off in my disabled state). Thankfully I still cared enough about what other people thought. My nerve burning pain spread to my arms, hands and neck. Just about every joint hurt in my body burned or ached horrendously. I couldn't sleep (some nights hardly at all) mostly due to the burning pain in all of my limbs. After a year of its worst (2014) I began to put weight back on and slowly got better. Eventually I got to the point of being able to sit for an hour on a soft reclined cushion, walk around the block with a cane or walking stick and shower myself without a chair and cushions. Still a lot of progress was needed though.

    Then I was introduced to TMS in early 2016 at the age of 29.

    Update November 2016:

    I'm now 30 years old and I feel the youngest I've been since I was 24! I can now run, sprint, hike, play basketball, rock climb, do squats/deadlifts, stand in long lines, sit for long periods on hard surfaces, etc. I hiked up a 14,040 ft. mountain a couple months ago (my first, but definitely not last 14er). I hiked up a mountain through a snow storm with 70 mph gusts of wind at the summit and I now plan on climbing higher mountains including Mexico's Pico de Orizaba at over 18,000 ft :) I am now applying for jobs and looking to move out of my parents home once I get the job! I also have an amazing girlfriend now who I deeply love and who can crack me up and put a smile on my face in an instant. Life has changed since I heard about Sarno, life has changed indeed :)

    Things I tried in the past:

    Conventional:
    Hip orthopedic specialist, Stanford sports medicine, Mayo clinic sports medicine specialist, UCSF pain management clinic, 2 Rheumatologists, 3 Neurologists, 4 General Doctors, Podiatrist, Endocrinologist, Urologist, cardiovascular specialist, X-rays, Mri's and CT Scan of whole body minus lower legs, 6 different physical therapists (one on at the highest rated PT center in U.S.) (total of about 36 + sessions), all kinds of meds for pain and insomnia, 2 epidural injections, 6 cortisone injections etc.

    Alternative:
    8 sessions of Prolotherapy, 2 Acupuncturists (total of 18 sessions), 2 Osteopaths (30+ visits), Naturopathic medicine, pelvic floor therapy...(with the amount of money I spent on people sticking their fingers up my ass I could've bought a car!), 3 Chiropractors (20+ visits), Visceral manipulation (Jean Pierre- Barral), , Chi Nei Tsang, Graston technique, Active Release Technique, , tens unit, Myofascial release, foam rolling, Gokhale Method (8 sessions), Melt Method (6 mos.), Gyrotonics, inversion table, Tom Myers fascial manipulation series, 3 rolfers (25+ visits), Egoscue Method (over a year), Bowen Therapy, Alexander technique, Trigger point therapy specialists, many many massage therapists, Dr. Shirley Sahrmann PT, all kinds of orthotics, swimming, 2 yoga centers, 1 pilates teacher, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy from Stanford and Berkeley, gaps diet, paleo diet, all kinds of vitamins and minerals (magnesium glycinate, vit d, b12 etc), sunbathing, salt baths, heat/ice, marijuana for a few weeks, sleep specialists, etc.

    Signature

    "Leap, and the net will appear." - John Burroughs
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