Cervical radiculopathy and TMS - bringing on symptoms

[Ira NYC]

about 20 years ago, I had significant issues that were initially diagnosed as cervica raduculopathy - pain in neck and shoulder as well as tingling down arms and into hands.

After going through a long list doctors, PT, therapists, accupunture, etc. I found Sarno's books and was able to make a full recovery.

In the past two weeks, I have seen a resurgence of these symptoms and I'm struggling a bit to not panic and go down the traditional medical route. I am currently in my fifties.

I can't remember the first time I went through this, but this time around, I notice that I can bring on the symptoms by turning my head to the side. Is this something anyone else has experienced? Is this something common to TMS?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Cactusflower]

about 20 years ago, I had significant issues that were initially diagnosed as cervica raduculopathy - pain in neck and shoulder as well as tingling down arms and into hands.

After going through a long list doctors, PT, therapists, accupunture, etc. I found Sarno's books and was able to make a full recovery.

In the past two weeks, I have seen a resurgence of these symptoms and I'm struggling a bit to not panic and go down the traditional medical route. I am currently in my fifties.

I can't remember the first time I went through this, but this time around, I notice that I can bring on the symptoms by turning my head to the side. Is this something anyone else has experienced? Is this something common to TMS?

Appreciate your thoughts.

I don't have "cervical radiopathy" but I do have symptoms that I get from my neck and sometimes from turning it.
It varies, but so do many of my symptoms. They can be present in one area one hour, move around, switch sides (there's a favorite) etc.
It doesn't make sense.
That's TMS for ya!

Do you not think that it's strange that your old TMS symptom which you proved to yourself to be ONLY TMS has occurred again? Why would it be physical this time?

Why do you think there is a resurgence of these symptoms? How are you feeling? What is going on in your life? Where have your thoughts been? Anxiety level?
Have you started back doing the same type of TMS work you did when you first healed from these symptoms? If not, what is holding you back?

My suggestion is that you can rule out the physical with a Doctor if you'd like, it's your choice.
You can jump right into the TMS work again, and if the first time around you didn't work with your emotions or thoughts, it might be the time to add that into the mix.
You can blend both methods for now. If you feel you need to see a Doc, do it while you do the TMS work. There's no harm in that. You don't need to have 100% perfect belief that's it's only TMS at this point - you work towards that if that ends up being your truth.

If you are struggling not to panic, then you are probably already "TMS-ing" over this and putting your nervous system into a greater state of inbalance. Finding calming activities or practices: meditation, quiet solitary nature walks, running etc. are a great way to begin calming your nervous system while you continue to work though your current situation (and, in general great things to add to your daily lifestyle)

 

[Ira NYC]

I don't have "cervical radiopathy" but I do have symptoms that I get from my neck and sometimes from turning it.
It varies, but so do many of my symptoms. They can be present in one area one hour, move around, switch sides (there's a favorite) etc.
It doesn't make sense.
That's TMS for ya!

Do you not think that it's strange that your old TMS symptom which you proved to yourself to be ONLY TMS has occurred again? Why would it be physical this time?

Why do you think there is a resurgence of these symptoms? How are you feeling? What is going on in your life? Where have your thoughts been? Anxiety level?
Have you started back doing the same type of TMS work you did when you first healed from these symptoms? If not, what is holding you back?

My suggestion is that you can rule out the physical with a Doctor if you'd like, it's your choice.
You can jump right into the TMS work again, and if the first time around you didn't work with your emotions or thoughts, it might be the time to add that into the mix.
You can blend both methods for now. If you feel you need to see a Doc, do it while you do the TMS work. There's no harm in that. You don't need to have 100% perfect belief that's it's only TMS at this point - you work towards that if that ends up being your truth.

If you are struggling not to panic, then you are probably already "TMS-ing" over this and putting your nervous system into a greater state of inbalance. Finding calming activities or practices: meditation, quiet solitary nature walks, running etc. are a great way to begin calming your nervous system while you continue to work though your current situation (and, in general great things to add to your daily lifestyle)

Thanks for the advice. As I've grown older, I've become more anxious and a bit of a hypochondriac - so when the symptons started, my brain ran in every direction. I feel strongly that this is TMS - as you mentioned my sypmtoms move all over the place - tingling in hands that moves from side to side, on and off again shoulder pain, intermittent soreness in neck that moves around.

I also know that going the doctor route, getting an MRI and hearing the results will only start the panic merry go round. Decades ago when I had the MRI for similar symptoms, they noted cervical radiopathy and stenosis, and I wound up spending the better part of a year attempting to solve via PT, acupuncture, etc. It wasn't till I went in 100% of TMS that I got better.

So here I am again.

I do find it challenging to do the TMS work - but that's my plan. What's old is new again.

thanks

 

[Cactusflower]

Perhaps trying to adopt a change of mindset: getting older brings challenges but I wanna live to my fullest potential.. flip the script to your true desires instead of listening to thoughts which are untrue and bring those anxieties.
Advocate for yourself. I’ve learned to do this well, and better manage medical fears through this work.
Work towards being more comfortable with the idea of unpredictability. We search for safety in the external world but true peace and safety comes from within.
Knowing you struggle with the work means you need it. Resistance is a way our minds communicate this. It can be wrapped up in fear, but I found that once again, mindset can help make it much easier. What if the work was simply to get to know yourself better? As yourself why you might resist that, and how you can better show yourself more love and care.

best wishes,
You’ve got this!

 

[masterchief]

Interesting to hear about your cervical radiculopathy! I’m in my 20s and have “tech neck” and turning my head triggers numbness and tingling in my left hand. Same with my moving my wrist. So I probably have both cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. I’ve been to doctors but haven’t gotten any testing done yet (EMG, MRI, etc). However, I have a history with TMS that I’ve previously overcame but it was a different issue entirely (pelvic pain).

Your last time you had this…TMS really solved it? Even with the MRI results? My numbness and tingling feel so real and structural that I’m doubting the mindbody part, especially since I don’t have pain, just numbness.

Sorry that I don’t have an answer to your question but just wanted to drop in and say I’m struggling with the same thing too! And I don’t know which direction to go either.

 

[Ira NYC]

I can say with certainty that 25 years ago, i had a great deal of tingling in my arms and lower back pain, and while PT and other approaches did not work, I improved and had no symptoms until recently.Nothing can ever be proved 100%, but it wasn't until after I applied the TMS process that I got better.

I will say that I'm struggling a bit at the moment to commit mentally to the TMS cure process.

But I also know that at age 58, an MRI on my neck will almost certainty result in showing something degenerative - as most people by this age have naturally occuring changes in their spines

Taking the TMS approach worked for me once. I'm hopeful again.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

We search for safety in the external world

And don't forget, @Ira NYC, the external world doesn't feel very safe these days! I was a fairly quick success story 15 years ago at age 60. Now at 75 in the s***show that is 2026, my TMS symptoms are all over the place, trying to distract me and get me to stay hidden away from the existential dread that my brain interprets as a literal threat to my survival. Remember, this is Sarno 101!

Knowing you struggle with the work means you need it. Resistance is a way our minds communicate this.

100%. Resistance and I are OLD friends. Mindful attention is the way out.

 

[Ira NYC]

Thanks again all - I'm all in and hopeful for the future.