PotentialPenguin
Newcomer
Hi everyone. I just joined the forum.
I developed RSI in both of my arms in late 2024. I was unable to type on a keyboard without pain. I did physical therapy for 6 months which moderately fixed my issue. I was able to type for 3-4 hours a day and go to the gym. There was still some lingering pain, but nothing crazy. I continued to do maintenance exercises every other day.
Then, in March of 2026 it came back after a slight increase in activity. I did physical therapy for 3 months and was able to type for 6 hours a day and exercise at the gym again. The pain still wasn't and isn't completely gone though.
In January of 2026, I bent over while shaving to splash water in my face and my low back spazzed out and gave me a ton of pain. I couldn't sit or walk much after that. I did physical therapy for 5 months and was able to walk and sit as much as I wanted, but the pain still wasn't completely gone. I couldn't do any exercise in the gym I wanted, just very slow/light rehab work. I continued to slowly build up on those rehab exercises.
At the end of July, I went on a 5 day vacation. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary - I sat the same amount of time as I normally would. Walked slightly more than usual. Had a 4 hour car ride there and back. I got out of the car and walked around every 1-2 hours. I felt great while I was there, I had nearly 0 pain. The day after I got home my low back pain was the worst it's ever been. I couldn't sit or walk at all. This time I also have pain around my pelvis, glutes, and quads. I started doing extremely light exercises again in hopes of healing. I haven't gone to the doctor for my back because they never help me.
Where I live is a bit of a breeding ground for negative emotions. I could see why it would have an impact on my pain. Since I had nearly 0 pain while I was on vacation I'm tempted to travel again and see if my pain disappears. I have some hotel points so it'd be almost free. I work remote so I could do it but I'd like to return to sitting for a few hours so I know I can at least make the car ride. Or maybe doing it asap would be a good TMS test? Do you think that's silly?
I've had a lot more injuries over the past two years such as vocal strain, tinnitus, knee pain, shin splints and shoulder pain. I've had a similar pain pattern in these areas. Physical therapy improves, but doesn't 100% fix.
I have a significant amount of evidence that my issue is TMS that I haven't mentioned here. I understand that doing rehab exercises can make you doubt the TMS diagnoses, but I'm not sure if I can make that leap of faith since PT has helped me before in nearly all of my injuries. Right now I'm at least able to do my job. If I end up back in pain again, especially with my arms, I'm not sure if I can avoid doing the exercises. If I'm wrong and my problem isn't TMS, I will lose months of progress. I'm tired and afraid.
Has anyone else had some success with PT but solved the problem fully with mind body work?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I developed RSI in both of my arms in late 2024. I was unable to type on a keyboard without pain. I did physical therapy for 6 months which moderately fixed my issue. I was able to type for 3-4 hours a day and go to the gym. There was still some lingering pain, but nothing crazy. I continued to do maintenance exercises every other day.
Then, in March of 2026 it came back after a slight increase in activity. I did physical therapy for 3 months and was able to type for 6 hours a day and exercise at the gym again. The pain still wasn't and isn't completely gone though.
In January of 2026, I bent over while shaving to splash water in my face and my low back spazzed out and gave me a ton of pain. I couldn't sit or walk much after that. I did physical therapy for 5 months and was able to walk and sit as much as I wanted, but the pain still wasn't completely gone. I couldn't do any exercise in the gym I wanted, just very slow/light rehab work. I continued to slowly build up on those rehab exercises.
At the end of July, I went on a 5 day vacation. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary - I sat the same amount of time as I normally would. Walked slightly more than usual. Had a 4 hour car ride there and back. I got out of the car and walked around every 1-2 hours. I felt great while I was there, I had nearly 0 pain. The day after I got home my low back pain was the worst it's ever been. I couldn't sit or walk at all. This time I also have pain around my pelvis, glutes, and quads. I started doing extremely light exercises again in hopes of healing. I haven't gone to the doctor for my back because they never help me.
Where I live is a bit of a breeding ground for negative emotions. I could see why it would have an impact on my pain. Since I had nearly 0 pain while I was on vacation I'm tempted to travel again and see if my pain disappears. I have some hotel points so it'd be almost free. I work remote so I could do it but I'd like to return to sitting for a few hours so I know I can at least make the car ride. Or maybe doing it asap would be a good TMS test? Do you think that's silly?
I've had a lot more injuries over the past two years such as vocal strain, tinnitus, knee pain, shin splints and shoulder pain. I've had a similar pain pattern in these areas. Physical therapy improves, but doesn't 100% fix.
I have a significant amount of evidence that my issue is TMS that I haven't mentioned here. I understand that doing rehab exercises can make you doubt the TMS diagnoses, but I'm not sure if I can make that leap of faith since PT has helped me before in nearly all of my injuries. Right now I'm at least able to do my job. If I end up back in pain again, especially with my arms, I'm not sure if I can avoid doing the exercises. If I'm wrong and my problem isn't TMS, I will lose months of progress. I'm tired and afraid.
Has anyone else had some success with PT but solved the problem fully with mind body work?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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