I am a new member. I have had heel pain for 2 years. An MRI scan suggested plantar fasciitis with a small bone spur on the inside of the heel bone (where the plantar fascia attaches?). I was given shockwave therapy but it made no difference. I only feel pain when I am standing and walking. I was a keen runner, but have not run throughout this period. Instead, I go to the gym 5 times per week. I am aware that whenever I am standing or walking my brain is focused on my foot and how it feels. It feels like there is swelling under my heel, but perhaps my mind is playing tricks? I realise that my gait has changed. I seem to be walking in a way that minimises the contact my heel makes with the ground. I have started wearing barefoot shoes and I do some foot exercises which are designed to strengthen and improve mobility. I think that I probably did injure my foot, but I wonder whether my brain is now sensing normal sensations as pain? I have read The Way Out by Alan Gordon and I am trying to adopt his approach (somatic tracking etc). But I know that my brain still reverts back to thinking there must be a structural problem which needs fixing. This whole episode has had a very negative impact on my mental health. I would welcome any comments people might have.
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Alan has completed the new Pain Recovery Program. To read or share it, use this updated link: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/painrecovery/
Heel pain for 2 years
- Thread starter Jack58
- Start date
JanAtheCPA
Beloved Grand Eagle
Hello @Jack58 and welcome.
We love Alan Gordon here, who has been so generous to the forum by providing two different free programs that people can complete, as well as many posts and a couple of audio webinars early on. The Way Out is a fine book with important information, but most people here eventually realize that there's an emotional component to chronic suffering which Alan is not really focusing on. We surmise that this is because he understands that people don't want to be told that their physical suffering has an emotional basis, therefore the neuroscientific approach in The Way Out is much more acceptable and a better way to spread the word.
We get that, but in this forum, we're going to say that the next book you need to read is one by Dr John Sarno MD. He wrote several, starting in the 1980s, with the last one written in 2006. His theory of repressed emotions is still the one that ends up being relevant to most of us. There are a few outdated or obsolete ideas and pronouncements in his books which have been superseded by exciting neuroscientific advances since 2006, but the basic theory is still solid.
I'm going to copy and paste a list of beginner resources below, to get you on the right track. One of them is to learn more about Dr Sarno's books so you can choose the one that appeals to you. Another is an essential book for anxiety, because everyone with stress-based symptoms is dealing with anxiety, and we all need to get our anxiety under control before we can deal with the chronic symptoms. I frequently recommend the ACEs test for people who are struggling to fairly quickly get a handle on their symptoms, because there may be reasons they might have to work harder. Good luck!
PS: we're not going to comment on the physical details of your symptoms, so the next time you post, you can save time by leaving out all the details. Just call it "foot pain" or "symptoms that look like PF" or something generic like that. PF is TMS, and if you've been examined for your symptoms with no resolution, then hopefully you already accept that.
We love Alan Gordon here, who has been so generous to the forum by providing two different free programs that people can complete, as well as many posts and a couple of audio webinars early on. The Way Out is a fine book with important information, but most people here eventually realize that there's an emotional component to chronic suffering which Alan is not really focusing on. We surmise that this is because he understands that people don't want to be told that their physical suffering has an emotional basis, therefore the neuroscientific approach in The Way Out is much more acceptable and a better way to spread the word.
We get that, but in this forum, we're going to say that the next book you need to read is one by Dr John Sarno MD. He wrote several, starting in the 1980s, with the last one written in 2006. His theory of repressed emotions is still the one that ends up being relevant to most of us. There are a few outdated or obsolete ideas and pronouncements in his books which have been superseded by exciting neuroscientific advances since 2006, but the basic theory is still solid.
I'm going to copy and paste a list of beginner resources below, to get you on the right track. One of them is to learn more about Dr Sarno's books so you can choose the one that appeals to you. Another is an essential book for anxiety, because everyone with stress-based symptoms is dealing with anxiety, and we all need to get our anxiety under control before we can deal with the chronic symptoms. I frequently recommend the ACEs test for people who are struggling to fairly quickly get a handle on their symptoms, because there may be reasons they might have to work harder. Good luck!
PS: we're not going to comment on the physical details of your symptoms, so the next time you post, you can save time by leaving out all the details. Just call it "foot pain" or "symptoms that look like PF" or something generic like that. PF is TMS, and if you've been examined for your symptoms with no resolution, then hopefully you already accept that.
JanAtheCPA
Beloved Grand Eagle
Here are the beginner resources
(PS to community peers: feel free to copy and keep on hand if you think this might be useful).
The main website associated with our forum is at https://www.tmswiki.org (The Tension Myositis Syndrome Wiki) (The Tension Myositis Syndrome Wiki), inspired by the ideas of John E Sarno, MD.
To learn more about TMS we believe that it is essential to first read one of Dr Sarno's books. Here is a short biography and bibliography: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/John_E._Sarno,_MD (John E. Sarno, MD) (John E. Sarno, MD) Many public and school libraries carry his books, and they are readily available as used copies as well as audio and e-book formats.
There are two easy and anonymous self-assessment tests that we recommend:
1) https://ppdassociation.org/ppd-self-questionnaire (Symptomatic – Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms) (Self Quiz — Psychophysiologic Disorders Association) from the PPD Association (the professional group of mindbody/TMS doctors, therapists and other practitioners)
2) To get a big picture overview of your childhood issues, use the questionnaire that's discussed in this forum post which describes and links to the well-regarded ACEs questionnaire for childhood experiences: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/aces-quiz-online-printable-versions.27061 (ACEs "quiz" - online & printable versions)
Anxiety is a common TMS symptom, and needs to be addressed directly as part of the recovery process. Resources by Dr. Claire Weekes are very effective in dealing with anxiety. You can find more here: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Overcome_Anxiety_with_Dr._Claire_Weekes (Overcome Anxiety with Dr. Claire Weekes) or read her seminal book "Hope & Help For Your Nerves" which is also readily available in multiple formats.
The TMS Wiki has a free online program which does not require any kind of registration and is accessed via easily managed modules: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program (Structured Educational Program)
(PS to community peers: feel free to copy and keep on hand if you think this might be useful).
The main website associated with our forum is at https://www.tmswiki.org (The Tension Myositis Syndrome Wiki) (The Tension Myositis Syndrome Wiki), inspired by the ideas of John E Sarno, MD.
To learn more about TMS we believe that it is essential to first read one of Dr Sarno's books. Here is a short biography and bibliography: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/John_E._Sarno,_MD (John E. Sarno, MD) (John E. Sarno, MD) Many public and school libraries carry his books, and they are readily available as used copies as well as audio and e-book formats.
There are two easy and anonymous self-assessment tests that we recommend:
1) https://ppdassociation.org/ppd-self-questionnaire (Symptomatic – Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms) (Self Quiz — Psychophysiologic Disorders Association) from the PPD Association (the professional group of mindbody/TMS doctors, therapists and other practitioners)
2) To get a big picture overview of your childhood issues, use the questionnaire that's discussed in this forum post which describes and links to the well-regarded ACEs questionnaire for childhood experiences: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/aces-quiz-online-printable-versions.27061 (ACEs "quiz" - online & printable versions)
Anxiety is a common TMS symptom, and needs to be addressed directly as part of the recovery process. Resources by Dr. Claire Weekes are very effective in dealing with anxiety. You can find more here: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Overcome_Anxiety_with_Dr._Claire_Weekes (Overcome Anxiety with Dr. Claire Weekes) or read her seminal book "Hope & Help For Your Nerves" which is also readily available in multiple formats.
The TMS Wiki has a free online program which does not require any kind of registration and is accessed via easily managed modules: https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program (Structured Educational Program)