Bi-lateral PFPS knee pain and headaches

M

MrKneePain

Newcomer
Hello all,
Quick intro: I'm 33, ATM not working due to tension headaches which I have had for 8 months.
I also suffer from debilitating bi-lateral PFPS knee pain which I saw some threads about (like https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/really-struggling-with-knee-pain.25284/ (Really Struggling with Knee Pain)).

I have a long history of knee pain, specifically PFPS, with no injury or surgery.
The headaches started near an emotional event so I’m sure its TMS/neuroplastic, also head MRI was clean.

Half a year ago, in a move which wasn't very smart, I moved back into my parents' house, where there are stairs (in my previous apartment there weren't any stairs).
I spend most if not all time on the upper floor, mostly lying/sitting in bed because of the knee pain.
My legs are very weak and I am in a really tough spot. The pain makes it very hard to do PT to strengthen the legs.
Both knees hurt, an MRI of my left knee from 2024 was clean, but now I have a burning sensation almost every day at some point in the afternoon, under the patella.

I'm in a mind-body/neuroplastic pain rehab program twice a week, which means I go down and up the stairs twice a week. This makes me very scared and increases pain, because the legs are so weak I believe.

The doctor in the rehab program checked the left knee and assured me there is no inflammation, but I still very much worry about it and consider doing another MRI to be fully relaxed about it, which I’m not at the moment.

I read the theories of Dr. Scott dye and various other PFPS stories, which filled my head with scary thoughts about inflammation issues. That’s why I fear going down and up the stairs.

I’m currently reading the Mind-Body prescription and having a tough time fully buying into the TMS/neuroplastic pain theory.
I have the personality which fits TMS, perfectionist, “goodie” person, with a lot of anxiety around the knee pain since I moved back with my parents and the whole stairs issue.
Also not working is extremely tough on me, I loved my job (was a programmer) and the headaches make it very hard to keep doing it.

Anyway, this is my story in a nutshell.
I guess I’m just looking for some encouragement.
Did anyone else have a burning sensation in the knee which wasn’t inflammation but a mind-body symptom? This is probably what I’m most worried about.

Any other thoughts on the headaches/knee pain? Would love to hear.

Thanks
 
Actually, @MrKneePain, I sense that you are well on the way to answering your own questions, in the beginning knowledge you have already learned and are starting to internalize.

MrKneePain said:
Did anyone else have a burning sensation in the knee which wasn’t inflammation but a mind-body symptom?
Click to expand...

The first thing you need to do is shift your perception about Mind Body symptoms. All MBS is based on real physiological responses. When I first read Dr Sarno the first example he gave was of blushing. Blushing is a real physiological response involving a blood vessel reaction in the face, induced 100% by emotional stress. It might even be a form of inflammation. To address the question of inflammation, I recommend that you do a web search on the phrase stress and inflammation.

And here's the key issue: stress and anxiety can kill you. We all know this, the medical community has been telling us this for our entire life times, and well before. It ties into the whole concept of TMS, although Dr Sarno did not go into this aspect. Other doctors have, notably Gabor Mate MD, whose seminal book was When The Body Says No, which he updated within the last couple of years in his new book The Myth Of Normal. I highly recommend both, as he is a wonderful and compassionate writer in addition to being an excellent researcher.

For your anxiety, we always recommend Claire Weekes, whose work from more than 50 years ago is still saving thousands, worldwide, from the mental and physical distress caused by uncontrolled anxiety. Her small but powerful book is Hope and Help For Your Nerves.

As you're reading these resources, I highly recommend that you educate yourself with our free Structured Educational Program which is on the main TMSWiki.org (still under reconstruction after our server overhaul) at https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program (Structured Educational Program). It's free of cost, ads, or even registration - a true labor of love developed and maintained by volunteers. Do it slowly and mindfully to get the most out of it. I did it back in 2011/12 when I discovered Dr Sarno and TMS.

If you're interested in examining possible issues from childhood, check out this forum thread that I created: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/aces-quiz-online-printable-versions.27061/ (ACEs "quiz" - online & printable versions)

Good luck - we're here to support your emotional discovery as you make profound changes to your perceptions!
 
Thanks for the reply @JanAtheCPA .
I wonder if there are any success stories on chronic, every-day, debilitating headaches?

Gets worse as the day progresses, makes using a computer or watching TV really tough, and currently prevents me from working.
 
I ended a lifetime of migraines which had become chronic the last few years I had them, by treating them as TMS. It's included in my Success Story, which you can read by clicking on my profile. Recovery is possible. There is hope.
 
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