Day 1 Hand and wrist worry

[cuddlepants]

I have been experiencing pain/numbness/tingling in my hands and wrist for 6 months. Have recently been to hospital and diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. I have become very obsessive about my symptoms and I am thinking/worrying about them 24 hours a day. While researching carpal tunnel syndrome on Google I came accross TMS. I have read Dr Sarno's book and although I can relate so many of the personality traits to myself, I am struggling to fully believe I have TMS. I think I want to believe it more than actually believing it.
Since reading the book I am looking back at my life and think I may have suffered previous TMS episodes.
2 years of undiagnosed prostrate pain which is now away.
Plantar fasciitis which has came and went for the last 3 years.
I have also suffered with anxiety, dizziness and panic attacks.
Despite all this I can't seem to fully accept TMS diagnosis.
Part of the problem is I work in a factory using very repetitive vibrating tools which I worry are causing my symptoms. Success stories for hand and wrist pain on this site seem to all stem from keyboard use which I use as evidence to why my symptoms are structural and will continue to get worse.
Sorry for the long post.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)]

Hi, cuddlepants. Your symptoms to me look like TMS. I'm glad you found this web site because it will help you to heal.

My computer is going nuts today so I may not be able to reply as I would like.

Do others where you work complain of hand and wrist pain because of the vibratiing tools? If they do, that could very well mean the tools are causing your pain. If they say no, then it's TMS for sure. Try to believe 100 percent in TMS.

 

[cuddlepants]

Thanks for your reply.

One other person I work with has hand and wrist pain - his is a lot worse than mine although he has worked there longer.

What pushes me towards the TMS diagnosis is he told me about his carpal tunnel symptoms when I had mild hand pain. I made the mistake of reading up on carpal tunnel and suddenly my symptoms seemed to get worse and worse.

I will continue my TMS education and try to believe.

Thanks again

 

[Andy Bayliss]

I think I want to believe it more than actually believing it.

I made the mistake of reading up on carpal tunnel and suddenly my symptoms seemed to get worse and worse.

Hi cuddlepants,

You recognize your desire to believe more fully, and you're not completely convinced. This is where you are, and as you understand, this is to be worked on. Your desire to believe more is a great intention. Keep educating yourself, exploring doubts, looking for how you fit into Dr. Sarno's work. You are on your way!

Knowing that you began to worry and research about carpal tunnel is an important insight in what has happened to you. Brilliant observation, which will serve you. Alan Gordon's TMS Recovery program starts by suggesting you keep a list of exceptions and small breakthroughs in symptom patterns. You can do the same with the evidence you are gathering, specific to your case, to support your TMS diagnosis. Make a list and read it every day, and add to it. The TMS Recovery Program is at the Wiki connected to this site, and highly recommended, and free.

Good luck in your journey. I was diagnosed with Tarsal Tunnel, and many MDs were ready for surgery. This was completely wrong, and I do fine now, after hardly being able to walk for a few years.

Andy B