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Foot Pain Remarkable Recovery

Andy B said:
Introducing myself with my success story:

Healthy active 40's backcountry skier, canoer, hiker, worked as wilderness ranger...then:

3 years worsening foot pain, in the arch of the foot. 14 doctors, blood platelet injections, 3 sets of orthodics, low dye taping, physical therapy, sports medicine, etc etc. MRI, emg (nerve testing), ultrasound imaging, Dr Dellon's pressure sensory device testing for neuropathy.

Diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, then neuropathy and tarsal tunnel (nerve entrapment). Pain so bad that I could barely stand more than 15 minutes, minimum walking, wheel chairs and crutches for stores, lost all my former life of activity.

I became a chronic pain "shut in" since all activity hurt me. I became increasingly isolated, fearful of more pain, and worked very hard to find the solution (14 doctors!!). It is a hell of a downward spiral, this aspect. I felt like I aged about 20 years.

Got from many podiatrists suggestions for "plantar fasciitis surgery," but I was opting for the "better diagnosis" of nerve entrapment surgery. Two weeks from "tarsal tunnel" surgery I began Sarno's practices, thank goodness.

2 months into it, my first overnight hike (8 miles round trip), and my first backcountry skiing in 4 years. Yes, that's right!!! Pain 70% to 90% gone. Trying to be patient with the remaining pain. I have my life back. I'm getting physical. The 20 years of premature aging is falling away. I am alive again, and young.

It is hard to even believe I am writing this. I have my life back. The big breakthroughs all happened in the last couple of weeks.

The Sarno method works. It is mind blowing for me. I know that Sarno understands something about chronic pain that no else did. What a gift.

Other sufferers take heart. It will work, it takes effort. I am still learning to refine and practice that effort (as in think psychological and talk to my mind body to stop the pain). I get that right about one out of 30 times the pain arises. Even so, the results are remarkable.

The hardest part was accepting my TMS diagnosis (especially after the 14 highly paid and trained Dr.s told me I had something physically wrong), but it all fit so well. And Dr. Sopher was invaluable for me there. I also inquired into my resistance about the diagnosis in the beginning, with generous Ken Malloy, a TMS coach. This opened my way.

Thank you Dr. Sarno, Ken Malloy, Dr. Sopher, and thanks to members of this forum.
Click to expand...
 
Andy, your story makes me want to shout. My history sounds very similar to yours except I was dealing with debilitating shin splints and achilles tendonitis. Yesterday, I walked about five miles for the first time in probably 10 years. I am beyond excited. And like you...I still have a ways to go before I'm 100% but for the first time I feel like I'm getting my life back.

It is exhilarating. And hearing your story only adds to my hope. THANK YOU!
 
Hi MigraineSky,
I am so happy for your success. Reading your report I recall the deep thrill when my symptoms did not arise ----which had seemed intractable. In my experience, once the process starts, you're on your way. I hope you have great confidence!
Andy B
 
Andy, I sound just like you but had a left plantar fasciotomy and bilateral gastroc recessions... No pain relief .... pain in both arches convinced it's TMS... but have had no success with getting relief. How did you do it?
 
Joseph_535 said:
Andy, I sound just like you but had a left plantar fasciotomy and bilateral gastroc recessions... No pain relief .... pain in both arches convinced it's TMS... but have had no success with getting relief. How did you do it?
Click to expand...
Hi Joseph,
I guess all the success stories are alike, but each is different.

I didn't believe the Sarno stuff, but took one of his books to the desert for solo retreat, my last chance before surgery. I inquired deeply and began to think "this could be me." I had my first pain-free steps by simply realizing that I had a belief that it was physical. Lots of silence, meditation, and really grappling with the ideas helped me. And I began to see myself more and more in the book (The Divided Mind). I saw how powerful my Inner Critic was, and how this could cause inner tension. I saw how I expected there to be pain, and had many small surprises when it was mild. I spoke to myself with each step, actually to my foot: "You can stop the foot pain, I am willing to feel my emotions!" I very slowly increased walking. I made small goals for myself. I returned to the desert mountains 2 more times, deepening my practices, inquiry. I felt pain, but I didn't catastrophize about it. It got less important, and less intense. I had more confidence. I worked on being kinder to myself.

I hope this helps a little, and you can go to my website to read some more personal anecdotes on my journey if you like. tmspainrelief.com

I'm sorry you've struggled with this. And I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I will try to notify myself of responses to this thread in the future.
 
Andy Bayliss said:
Introducing myself with my success story:

Healthy active 40's backcountry skier, canoer, hiker, worked as wilderness ranger...then:

3 years worsening foot pain, in the arch of the foot. 14 doctors, blood platelet injections, 3 sets of orthodics, low dye taping, physical therapy, sports medicine, etc etc. MRI, emg (nerve testing), ultrasound imaging, Dr Dellon's pressure sensory device testing for neuropathy.

Diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, then neuropathy and tarsal tunnel (nerve entrapment). Pain so bad that I could barely stand more than 15 minutes, minimum walking, wheel chairs and crutches for stores, lost all my former life of activity.

I became a chronic pain "shut in" since all activity hurt me. I became increasingly isolated, fearful of more pain, and worked very hard to find the solution (14 doctors!!). It is a hell of a downward spiral, this aspect. I felt like I aged about 20 years.

Got from many podiatrists suggestions for "plantar fasciitis surgery," but I was opting for the "better diagnosis" of nerve entrapment surgery. Two weeks from "tarsal tunnel" surgery I began Sarno's practices, thank goodness.

2 months into it, my first overnight hike (8 miles round trip), and my first backcountry skiing in 4 years. Yes, that's right!!! Pain 70% to 90% gone. Trying to be patient with the remaining pain. I have my life back. I'm getting physical. The 20 years of premature aging is falling away. I am alive again, and young.

It is hard to even believe I am writing this. I have my life back. The big breakthroughs all happened in the last couple of weeks.

The Sarno method works. It is mind blowing for me. I know that Sarno understands something about chronic pain that no else did. What a gift.

Other sufferers take heart. It will work, it takes effort. I am still learning to refine and practice that effort (as in think psychological and talk to my mind body to stop the pain). I get that right about one out of 30 times the pain arises. Even so, the results are remarkable.

The hardest part was accepting my TMS diagnosis (especially after the 14 highly paid and trained Dr.s told me I had something physically wrong), but it all fit so well. And Dr. Sopher was invaluable for me there. I also inquired into my resistance about the diagnosis in the beginning, with generous Ken Malloy, a TMS coach. This opened my way.

Thank you Dr. Sarno, Ken Malloy, Dr. Sopher, and thanks to members of this forum.
Click to expand...
hi Andy well done on your inspirational story.

I get when you talk about thinking psychologically however could you elaborate on how you go about talking to your mind body about stopping the pain?

thanks
 
Bowen said:
hi Andy well done on your inspirational story.

I get when you talk about thinking psychologically however could you elaborate on how you go about talking to your mind body about stopping the pain?

thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Bowen
I used a sort of a mantra with each step I took. Something like: "You can stop the foot pain; I am willing to feel my emotions." Did this for thousands of slow steps increasing very gradually over a few weeks.
With self-talk for TMS, being firm, but also understanding and supportive works best for my personality. I don't want to attack myself, or berate parts of myself. That's me. Hope this might help.
Sincerely,
Andy
 
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