I broke my neck years ago. But now i wonder…

Hello. I broke my neck (c1, c5, c6 cervical vertebrae) when i was 22 years old. I wore a surgically attached halo brace for 6 months and was mostly ok for the next few years until more severe chronic pain in my neck and back started in my late 20s and early 30s. I was warned of this at the time of my accident. It was debilitating at times in that earlier period, but I had always been able to “manage” it on some level until the past 8 or so years. It has now become close to unmanageable for me both physically and (perhaps especially) psychologically.

I have seen countless doctors and gotten various treatments over the years— none of which have worked in any meaningful or lasting capacity. The majority of neurologists and surgeons I have seen recommend against surgery, mainly because it is unclear a spinal fusion would help and not make the problem worse.

My pain for much of the last decade has been daily and often excruciating. At some point, the pain moved from just my neck and upper back to my shoulders and arms. This year has been exceptionally difficult and i have had horrific pain for the first time spread into my lower back. Every day, i can barely move my shoulders and neck by midday. I have to lie down constantly. I have become increasingly desperate.

Here is where i get to my question. Though I have long been aware of Dr Sarno’s work, I had always been under the impression that an event as extreme as my particular accident and injury (a broken neck!) surely meant my pain is a residual consequence. Doctors of all stripes have reinforced that notion and similarly assumed it to be the obvious conclusion, even if they haven’t always known exactly how the initial trauma caused it or how to address the problem. I have now read Sarno’s books and am really wondering for the furst time if this has all (or mostly) been TMS all along. My MRI images show herniation and desiccation and all the other terms associated with structural back problems. Maybe i am not all that different from anyone else with back pain? Maybe it’s not the neck break whatsoever?!

Has anyone here suffered a particularly traumatic injury like mine (interested especially in anyone who may have broken their neck or back) and come to realize the residual pain actually is TMS?

 

There is nothing to lose by applying a mindbody approach here, especially considering the modern medical model has nothing to offer you except for omens of pain and doom. I suppose at least they’re recommending against jumping to surgery, kudos to them.

you don’t need someone in your exact shoes or situation, you need to start doing the work - https://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program is a good place to start, and then you can see where that takes you. Doubt is normal, but as you stick to a path, you’ll hopefully start to acquire evidence that your pain is being caused by TMS and then you get momentum and the rest takes care of itself. Even if what you are dealing with is purely physical there is much to be gained by practicing self compassion. Not catastrophizing over the symptoms, meditating, journalling, etc.

It’s interesting you note that by midday it becomes unbearable, which to me sounds like the pain resets overnight, this screams TMS to me. We can put these self imposed physical limitations on ourselves that are rooted in fear, and it can become a conditioned response that after x hours I’ll be in pain.

you’ve been through a lot, ignoring all the emotional trauma we accumulate, I can’t really fathom what it’s like to have dealt with such an injury. You’re stronger and more resilient than you realize, I think if you follow this mindbody path you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve.