Michael Reinvented

Hello All,

I have been struggling with Chronic bilateral foot pain past 2.5 years, original diagnosis, planter fascittits. I am a 50 year old 15 years self employed salesman, otherwise perferctyly healthy.

I have obsessively tried to reclaim my former athletic (excercised daily to de-stress) life, with each attempt making the symptoms WORSE.
Here's a brief but not exhaustive roll call of failed modalities: - Anti Inflamms/Cortisone shots both heels/PT/ Immobilisation/Chiro/Osteo/ Epidural/ Orthotics/ Accupuncture/ endless stretching/Stem cell injections... low dose anti depressants... phew get the picture?

In the past 12 months, as I have battled to maintain my own business, the symptoms have spread to lumbar/glutes/ hips and my left elbow. In the background are long periods of chronic insomnia.

Desperately trawling the web way back in June 2010, I saw refs to Dr Sarno's book alone being an "information cure", and being so immersed in the logic of a physical cure, dismissed it out of hand.

1 week ago I read the Mind Body Connection and recognised my lifelong habits to withhold anxiety to be manly, to be a perfectionist in all areas of life and to be my own harshest critic. Having been told numerous times by medical "experts" that my Autonomic System Overload/ Regional Pain Syndrome was incurable, and at best manageable, I feared for my future having to put up with pain every time I put weight through my feet.

I knew instinctively that I was dealing with TMS, so Dr Sarno's Book lifted a lot of fear from me, I recall sleeping 8 hrs straight the night I finished it, a 12 mth record!

This past week I have deliberatley been following the structured programme, thinking psychological as often as possible, and especially paying attention to much more positive self talk. I am desperate for more mobility, and have a question on reasonable expectation.

Yesterday, rather than excuse myslef and disconnect sadly as usual, I walked gently with friends 40 mins in the nearby Forest, in my old beloved hiking boots. This is 4 X more than i have done in the past 2 years. Today I really feel it in the lower limbs, and to doubly reinforce the TMS self diagnosis, in the left ELBOW as well (not too much obvious load on that one when walking!) I feel the old fears rising.. HOW do I reach the pooint at which pain starts to subside?

My Mum suffered a horrible nervous breakdown 4 years prior to her death in 2007, and I have sometimnes projected that this fate could well be mine. I take no medications, and am absolutely determined that i can regain my life pain free.

Any insights gratefully received.