Hello,
I just discovered the existence of TMS two days ago, and it has given me some hope. I read Dr. Sarno’s book The Mindbody Prescription, but I have some questions regarding my symptoms, as I don’t know which ones are TMS and which ones are not. Let me also say that I been evaluated by doctors for all of my symptoms.
The following are my symptoms:
Sciatica/piriformis syndrome - 4 years
Started out of the blue right after high school. I had an MRI and underwent physical therapy without any success. It is now four years later and it’s not as severe as when it first started, but still very bothersome. Sitting can be unbearable.
Bilateral wrist and hand pain - 1 year
This forced me to drop out of university and quit working. I can’t use a computer or even hold a book for very long before my hands and wrists begin to ache. The more I used them the more they hurt. If I'm writing with a pen or pencil the pain gradually ramps up and my handwriting becomes illegible after a couple of minutes. It started one day when I was playing video games for an extended period, and it sounds very similar to what @Forest described. I saw a rheumatologist and went to occupational therapy without any success.
At the same time that that started, my hands started to become sensitive to heat and cold, and they turn red when the temperature is above 70 degrees fahrenheit or below 50. They also turn red if I move them too much. I suspect that the aching is TMS, but what about the redness? Does TMS ever show visible symptoms?
And three months ago I was doing some stretches, and I must have been overdoing it because it caused one of my wrists to pop every time I rotate it, which is painful. Unfortunately, I don’t think this new symptom is related to TMS because I can hear it as well as feel it. Or could it be TMS?
Pain in my whole back - 6 months
This started when I tried to go back to college last fall. It makes sense that it would be TMS because it was a very stressful time for me. Because this pain is very distracting, I can usually only sleep once I’ve become sleep deprived. I went to physical therapy and did the exercises but no improvement.
Knee pain - 2 months
This pain developed after I started taking the supplement Wobenzym N, which I thought might help with my “tendonitis”. The knee pain has gradually improved, but it’s still very painful run or to sit cross legged.
Left shoulder pain - 2 months
I think this started initially from putting too much pressure on my arm the way sit. I have adjusted my posture but I still have the pain. I can't put any pressure on my shoulder when I'm sleeping or else it hurts. The shoulder pops when I rotate it, so this may be structural and not TMS.
I would appreciate some help figuring out what is TMS and what isn’t.
Thank you for reading.
I just discovered the existence of TMS two days ago, and it has given me some hope. I read Dr. Sarno’s book The Mindbody Prescription, but I have some questions regarding my symptoms, as I don’t know which ones are TMS and which ones are not. Let me also say that I been evaluated by doctors for all of my symptoms.
The following are my symptoms:
Sciatica/piriformis syndrome - 4 years
Started out of the blue right after high school. I had an MRI and underwent physical therapy without any success. It is now four years later and it’s not as severe as when it first started, but still very bothersome. Sitting can be unbearable.
Bilateral wrist and hand pain - 1 year
This forced me to drop out of university and quit working. I can’t use a computer or even hold a book for very long before my hands and wrists begin to ache. The more I used them the more they hurt. If I'm writing with a pen or pencil the pain gradually ramps up and my handwriting becomes illegible after a couple of minutes. It started one day when I was playing video games for an extended period, and it sounds very similar to what @Forest described. I saw a rheumatologist and went to occupational therapy without any success.
At the same time that that started, my hands started to become sensitive to heat and cold, and they turn red when the temperature is above 70 degrees fahrenheit or below 50. They also turn red if I move them too much. I suspect that the aching is TMS, but what about the redness? Does TMS ever show visible symptoms?
And three months ago I was doing some stretches, and I must have been overdoing it because it caused one of my wrists to pop every time I rotate it, which is painful. Unfortunately, I don’t think this new symptom is related to TMS because I can hear it as well as feel it. Or could it be TMS?
Pain in my whole back - 6 months
This started when I tried to go back to college last fall. It makes sense that it would be TMS because it was a very stressful time for me. Because this pain is very distracting, I can usually only sleep once I’ve become sleep deprived. I went to physical therapy and did the exercises but no improvement.
Knee pain - 2 months
This pain developed after I started taking the supplement Wobenzym N, which I thought might help with my “tendonitis”. The knee pain has gradually improved, but it’s still very painful run or to sit cross legged.
Left shoulder pain - 2 months
I think this started initially from putting too much pressure on my arm the way sit. I have adjusted my posture but I still have the pain. I can't put any pressure on my shoulder when I'm sleeping or else it hurts. The shoulder pops when I rotate it, so this may be structural and not TMS.
I would appreciate some help figuring out what is TMS and what isn’t.
Thank you for reading.
Last edited:
