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Could this numbness be related to TMS?

M

melina14

Newcomer
Hello, I'm new here, and new to the concept of TMS.

I developed a disabling case of "RSI" over 2 years ago while in a physical job I hated. For the last 2 years I have experienced varies degrees of pain and paresthesia in both my hands, as well as arm and shoulder pain. Paresthesia was mostly tingling or buzzing in the tips of my fingers, but since having a baby and starting breastfeeding a few months ago it progressed to fuzziness when I touched things (kind of like the fuzziness you get if you brush your feet against carpet). I am confident that these problems are TMS, as they always flare during times of stress, and I fit the personality type Dr Sarno described. I have had a neck xray and nerve conduction studies which were normal.

However, yesterday my thumb and forefinger went numb, for no apparent reason. I wasn't doing anything in particular, and my thumb is still numb today. I gets worse if I rub the left side of my neck, so I assumed it was related to trigger points (caused by stress), but it won't let up! I have vague pain in the same arm and shoulder as well. It's really bothering me.

I guess my question is this: can TMS cause unrelenting numbness? I've never experienced this before. Ironically I had cancelled my appointment to have a neck MRI yesterday and then this happened later that night...

Thank you for reading.
 
If I were you I would try the same techniques you used to overcome your RSI, and if that doesn't do any good, go to the doctor and get some general advice. As I just posted on another thread, once you have had TMS symptoms before it is very difficult to know when to listen to your body and seek medical help, and when actually it's another case of TMS reappearing. I guess the safe thing to do is to go through some general checks - and then to go down the TMS root if there appears to be nothing physically wrong....
 
I had LOTS of numbness in my hands and sometimes my feet that would come and go. Then when I started to see doctors for my neck and head pain last year I noticed they really paid attention to the numbness, asking me questions about it etc. One of the doctors said it was because of the numbness she recommended getting an MRI. And so I got an MRI that showed ruptured discs and it was because of all this that I had a really hard time believing the TMS diagnosis. But my only real alternative was surgery and I had back surgery 20 years ago that didn't really help my lower back pain then so I was skeptical. Well, I stuck with the TMS work and even though the progress was slow, I rarely get any numbness now. A few days ago I had some numbness in my foot but I it went away the next day. So when it comes now it doesn't stay long. The numbness in my hands was in my right pinky and ring finger and in my left thumb and index finger primarily. There were times when it lasted for weeks, especially when I was seeing the doctors and thinking about it a lot. So yes, you can have persistent numbness caused by TMS. I also get numbness in the right side of my face sometimes.
 
I have that same tingling and buzzing feeling in my fingers off and on. I'm certain it is TMS, as it comes and goes depending on my stress level. I also have a place on my face that feels numb sometimes. Because this isn't painful and doesn't disrupt my functioning, I find it easy to ignore. When I notice it I just say to myself, "that's interesting". I'm not as good at this with other TMS symptoms, but this one seems pretty benign.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

It's been two days now and my thumb is still numb, although now it's primarily just the top half of it *shrug*. I've never had numbness last so long before... I've rescheduled my MRI for Saturday anyway, if not for peace of mind.
 
Since you're in doubt that your pain is structural or psychological, getting the MRI is a good idea. But Dr. Sarno says even if an MRI shows a structural problem, the cure may not be in medication or surgery. The cure may be in accepting the concept that the pain is psychological, from TMS repressed emotions or a perfectionist or "goodist" personality. Anne Walker's reply is excellent on how she healed from numbness once she believed it was psychological and not structural. We'd like to know the results of the MRI.
 
Just updating - my MRI was normal! The numbness is still there but has improved, as has the pain in shoulder/neck. I believe this is very much TMS. Thanks again for the replies :)
 
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