Hello all. This is my first time in this forum and I'm searching for some advice. I feel rather hopeless at the moment.
My lower back pain began one year ago on my left side, running down my left leg (sciatica?). It became difficult to sleep on my left side and sitting for long periods caused pain. Prior to this, the only back problem I'd had was a very stiff back after sitting for prolonged periods. But that was more of a difficulty fully straightening out than actual pain.
When the lower back pain began, I remembered hearing about Dr. Sarno and read his first two books. TMS made sense because I thought I could pinpoint a specific emotional trigger that immediately preceded the onset of pain. I also went to see a physician who worked with Sarno and contributed to his latest book. She also diagnosed TMS.
Over the next several months the pain was present, but not as bad and I was able to workout (lifting weights, running on the elliptical, sit-ups). But then in August the pain shifted to my right side and into my right leg. It became so bad that walking was painful and by September I had to cease my workouts entirely. Unlike before, sleeping on my side and sitting was now fine, but laying flat on my back became too painful. The fact that my pain shifted helped reinforce the logic of it being TMS, but the pain was so great I still may have had doubts.
I had my primary care physician order an MRI in December. I was most concerned about something much more serious, like a tumor. I thought if I ruled that out, I could fully accept the TMS diagnosis. Much to my relief the MRI showed nothing life-threatening, but did show a serious L4, L5 herniation. That reinforced my doubt and I went back to see the TMS physician who again assured me it was TMS.
The pain remained, worsening, and since I was having trouble walking without a limp and standing straight, I went to a chiropractor. After 12 sessions there has been no improvement. He referred me to a spine and pain center. Yesterday the physician showed me the cross sections of the MRI where the herniation was occurring (represented as a dark space where the fluid was leaking out and pressing on my nerve). He told me surgery may be necessary if it doesn't heal on its own (50-50 chance) and that I was at risk of "Cauda Equina Syndrome," where I could develop numbness, weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder function.
That sort of freaked me out and I don't know what to do. TMS makes sense on a conscious level, but I don't know how to make myself a believer in my subconscious mind. And now I have concerns as to whether the MRI shows a truly physical problem, even though I understand Dr. Sarno explains that most of us have these deformities in our spine due to the aging process.
Sorry for the long history. Has anyone with a similar MRI/herniation recovered by accepting TMS? Are there cases where a herniation is so severe that it really is a physical problem that needs to be treated with surgery rather than TMS?
- Mark
My lower back pain began one year ago on my left side, running down my left leg (sciatica?). It became difficult to sleep on my left side and sitting for long periods caused pain. Prior to this, the only back problem I'd had was a very stiff back after sitting for prolonged periods. But that was more of a difficulty fully straightening out than actual pain.
When the lower back pain began, I remembered hearing about Dr. Sarno and read his first two books. TMS made sense because I thought I could pinpoint a specific emotional trigger that immediately preceded the onset of pain. I also went to see a physician who worked with Sarno and contributed to his latest book. She also diagnosed TMS.
Over the next several months the pain was present, but not as bad and I was able to workout (lifting weights, running on the elliptical, sit-ups). But then in August the pain shifted to my right side and into my right leg. It became so bad that walking was painful and by September I had to cease my workouts entirely. Unlike before, sleeping on my side and sitting was now fine, but laying flat on my back became too painful. The fact that my pain shifted helped reinforce the logic of it being TMS, but the pain was so great I still may have had doubts.
I had my primary care physician order an MRI in December. I was most concerned about something much more serious, like a tumor. I thought if I ruled that out, I could fully accept the TMS diagnosis. Much to my relief the MRI showed nothing life-threatening, but did show a serious L4, L5 herniation. That reinforced my doubt and I went back to see the TMS physician who again assured me it was TMS.
The pain remained, worsening, and since I was having trouble walking without a limp and standing straight, I went to a chiropractor. After 12 sessions there has been no improvement. He referred me to a spine and pain center. Yesterday the physician showed me the cross sections of the MRI where the herniation was occurring (represented as a dark space where the fluid was leaking out and pressing on my nerve). He told me surgery may be necessary if it doesn't heal on its own (50-50 chance) and that I was at risk of "Cauda Equina Syndrome," where I could develop numbness, weakness, or loss of bowel or bladder function.
That sort of freaked me out and I don't know what to do. TMS makes sense on a conscious level, but I don't know how to make myself a believer in my subconscious mind. And now I have concerns as to whether the MRI shows a truly physical problem, even though I understand Dr. Sarno explains that most of us have these deformities in our spine due to the aging process.
Sorry for the long history. Has anyone with a similar MRI/herniation recovered by accepting TMS? Are there cases where a herniation is so severe that it really is a physical problem that needs to be treated with surgery rather than TMS?
- Mark
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