College Student Experiencing Neuropathy & Other Pain

Hello all,

I first heard of TMS and specifically the TMSwiki about a year ago while I was trying to learn about psychosomatic pain. I am 24 years old and about 3 years ago after having some sexual relationship with someone I did not know well and being extremely afraid of contracting something horrible, I got an STD checkup the week after and was diagnosed with Chlamydia but treated right away. I felt stabbing pains on my stomach and felt hot all of the time. Had to even drop out of school, lost 2 semesters worth of money and piled up medical bills because of this issue. All tests I got done such as ultra sounds, colonoscopies and endoscopies, follow up STD testing for 3 years, as well as a plethora of other things revealed all normal values with very minor and not concerning abnormalities that should have not caused the issue. These issues then developed to pins and needles stabbing me all over the body and some odd chest pain. None were extremely painful, but were constant and very uncomfortable to go through. I started some antidepressant medicine that also helps with pain, started to do more outdoor events and socialize (which I have always been anxious about), talked to a therapist about everything I could that had happened in my life, and in about 3-4 months I was fine again and in school earning high grades.

Fast forward to about 2 months ago where a close friend committed suicide and about 2 weeks afterwards I started getting the needles stabbing me all over my body, with some minor pain in my private area. Knowing what had occurred last time I began seeing my psychologist more frequently and taking antidepressant medicine again, but things have only gotten worse. My pain was so bad that my parent had to take me to the ER, where I said I would rather die than be alive to the doctors because of the pain, got hospitalized at a mental hospital under the statement that they could provide more advanced therapy, but all I got was a huge bill and higher medicine dosage.

After I got out I started to do mountain biking again to find some relief, but my pain started to get worse in my private area. I have been in the ER for scrotal pain about 4 times now and my butt is becoming numb, I get the sensation that things are crawling on me and my legs are also becoming somewhat numb on occasion. I can still use all my parts without fail. Recently I got ultrasounds of the scrotum since that is where my horrible pain gets worse, CT scans, MRIs, neurologist requested detailed blood test of vitamins and metals in bloods, urologist who requested urinalysis and gave me antibacterial medicine as a just in case. If you are reading this far, you know what I am going to say, I am still in pain and all the tests have been normal!

It was only until I had a change in PCP who discussed things more slowly, stating he thinks this might be a pelvic floor issue but also stress, anxiety, depression issue, and told me we are going to try many different things to heal me as well as therapy both physical and mental that I started to notice and accept that my symptoms must all be due to the passing of my friend as well as other emotions I keep bottled up. I am reading Alan’s recovery program and just got the mind body prescription book. I would like to do all of these at once and I do not know where to start or what you all who have been in this situation recommend. I saw a YouTube video about a ski instructor that got told by Dr. Sarno to simply do things he liked, like skiing. I like exercise but am afraid to do things where my private area will take a hit and the pain will return, so I am starting with walking and jogging daily.

 

Hi ireallywantmylifeback, and Welcome!

First, your story though not a "perfect match" for anyone else, does fit the TMS patterns. Often symptoms start with an event, spread, or change, reoccur, and nothing is ever found despite many tests.

Also the correlation between mental health and stress, fear anxiety and symptoms fits a pattern.

I am so sorry you've been through such hell, and I am very happy that you've met a PCP (what is this?) who wants to slow things down, go deeper, help you attune to the underlying causes. This is rare and good.

There is no particular path that you should take now, but I recommend you do read Dr. Sarno's work, and either start the Structured Education Program or Alan's program at the Wiki. You could even do them together alternating days. It is often helpful to post responses, thoughts on your progress as you go through, which you can see there are Forum subsections for.

Walking and jogging daily sound like a great way to start. You don't need to "test" the groin area or do things which set off alarm bells down there. Tolerating more pressure down there can come in time. Exercise is very good, as you know for your mental health, sense of functioning.

Also, find ways to have pleasure, ease, fun, human connection, purpose, projects which take focus in your life ----all good vitamins for your recovery. Also, be patient. You're in good hands with the information you'll take in, and with your PCP.

Andy B

 

Andy, thank you for the warm welcome to the forums!
My PCP is my primary care physician, after having been through so many specialist and listening to my previous PCP simply saying there was nothing to be found and it was all stress, anxiety related, I was fed up. I always told my previous PCP I could understand why it was stress, anxiety related, but I needed the right resources to understand and work through that and all I got were trips to psychiatrist who increased the dosage of antidepressants I am taking.

My current PCP, although not entirely discarding the idea of physical ailments has agreed we have done a lot of complex testing, similar to many other people in this forum, and they all come back within normal ranges. So in other words, there seems to be no physical cause to my issue. I was having trouble coping with this, but am now starting to accept the idea of it.

 

Hi ireallywantmylifeback,

You might mention this professional education resource website to your physician. Lots of quick orientation material for the average medical practitioner! Jessica also has some discussion of how their work differs (slightly) from Dr. Sarno's.

https://walrus-capybera-krkg.squarespace.com/ (Psychophysiologic Disorders Association)

Andy B

 

Thank you for the resource Andy!

Being a computer science student and non-religious individual, no offense to anyone, I rely on heavy science to trust almost everything I am learning about. So as you might guess from this piece of info, adopting TMS has been a very difficult and uphill battle for me, I do know Dr. Sarno provided peer reviewed sources and am always happy as I listen to the audiobook to hear these and look them up to review them. However, for other things we have to take by "faith" and accept I have a tougher time adopting. With my gradual acceptance of TMS I have started to not fear my pain more and more. Over the past month I have gone to the ER on average once a week for scrotum pain. I have been getting the pain, but when I feel it getting worst I read the audiobooks, look at the forums, and remind myself that it is real, but it is my clever brain causing this issue. I start therapy on Wednesday and have a lot I will talk about, so am hoping to see more progress. I also am understanding that while some people can improve almost 100% by reading the books other take weeks or months to see that improvement. I am being more optimistic each day and do hope to update everyone on my progress.