new comer - need to chat

Karl

KarlNewcomer



Am new to this forum, so am hoping that I can hear from others.

My story - will make it quick and manageable to read.

Last year:

•Start new job
•Turn 50
•Fall in love/lust
At around the same time.



•Stand up and walk out restaurant and feel stab of pain in lower back.
•Felt like fluid coming out.
•Bad pain for about 4 weeks, which lessened.
•Left with foot drop.
Had MRI.


•Herniated disc
•Suggested surgery - but I declined (extremely frightened of surgey)
•Have had foot drop since.
Am walking long distances most days and swim about 1 km each day, so not impacting majorly on lifestyle. I'm a 'perfect fit' for Sarno's person type that will experience TMS. Am reading his books but not sure if I'm in agreement.


Anyway, has been emotionally stressful for the past few weeks. Walking ok and still some movement with foot, but sometimes it feels heavy; especially when I stand still. Heaviness goes when I walk.

For the past year have constantly been focusing on this. Get stiffness in lower back and more recently tingly burning in butt. Am writing a thesis at the moment and tingliness and burning occurs when sitting and writing. I also get this when driving car.

At my wits end and would like to hear from some of you.

 

Hi Karl,

Welcome to the Forum and Wiki. You are among many, many others who have similar experiences and are working to put this behind them, or are already successful.

From your description you could definitely have TMS. Your continued physical activity is obviously a great way to use Sarno's work to become pain and symptom free.

I wonder what about Dr. Sarno's books you doubt? I think it is important to make space for this doubt and inquire. I think re-reading and understanding Dr. Sarno's words is very important, and this takes time and patience. It seems you're doing this work.

I wrote this article and link here regarding my own doubts, in case this might help you.
http://www.tmspainrelief.com/doubts-about-dr-sarnos-work/ (Doubts about Dr. Sarno's Work | TMS Pain Relief with Andy Bayliss)

I strongly recommend you do the TMS Recovery Program.

Good luck, and understand that I was scheduled for nerve surgery and could barely walk. In pain for several years...
http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/skiing-two-years-after.14222/ (Skiing Two Years After)

Andy B

 

Also Karl, if it helps you to embrace Dr. Sarno's work, you may want to have a consult with a TMS physician. There are lists at the Wiki...

 

Thanks for the prompt response Andy and suggestions. Am based in New Zealand - the nearest TMS specialist is in Australia I believe. Am continuing reading Sarno each day and am watching mind body ppd clips found on good old YouTube.

 

I agree with Andy. Your docs have laid a huge NOCEBO on you with their dx and "surgery" talk. Your sub-c wants to believe the docs, so it can use the TMS for protection from all the emotionally charged events you are going through (see the HOLMES-RAHE list) :

THE HOLMES-RAHE STRESS SCALE:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_and_Rahe_stress_scale​

Keep reading and re-reading your Sarno and other TMS books and materials until YOU believe it's TMS and NOT physical. All the answers are in the books. You must be in control and NOT your sub-c. Dr. Sarno will answer all your doubts, he says it's VERY rare for discs to get damaged requiring surgery--the odds are great that it's TMS. If after reading all the book, etc. and your still in doubt, you will need to get on a plane and see a TMS doc for an objective dx.

 

Thank you Tom - that scale makes a lot of sense.

 

Hi Karl ,Im on day 33 but have been a big sarno fan for a lot longer. I think you just have to give yourself over to the belief 100% there is nothing to loose when we have been through so much . I just read and reread the books and highlighted all the crossovers where I saw myself which was legion and then I could see "hey that me 100%" It also allowed me to pick up a book and see passages highlighted that I could read just walking around the house of standing cooking dinner. I can't wait to get out of this pain and anxiety but it took a long time to manifest so I don't care if my Rome take more than a day so to speak to build. Good Luck.

 

Yes, it may likely have taken all of our lives to become conditioned to using psychosomatic pain for a defense mechanism--and maybe some womb time if you believe in the "Mozart Effect"--so, it may take a wee bit of time to un-condition ourselves from the bad psychological habits. Accepting Dr. Sarno's MINDBODY theory, will put us on the path to developing new instincts when we feel pain--that it may be excruciatingly painful--but benign.

I'm re-reading Monte Huefle's old TMS book geared to runners, "GET RID OF THAT PAIN IN YOUR BUTT NOW!".

https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Your-Relief-Knees-Sciatica/dp/0974401145 (Get Rid of the Pain in Your Butt NOW! Pain Relief For Your Back, Legs, Knees, Feet & Sciatica: Monte Hueftle: 9780974401140: Amazon.com: Books)​

http://www.runningpain.com/contactus.html (Get Rid Of The Pain In Your Butt NOW!/piriformis/sciatica/pain/relief/contact)​

Re-reading it years later, I'm deriving new insights from it--I almost feel like training for a marathon--but I'll start with maybe a jog around the block first.:stinkyfeet:

 

Thanks for the good tips. Life feels messy for some reason so symptoms feel worse. Although it seems the more you read the worse it gets before it gets better. True?

 

Thank for your great advice. Yes it will take a while.

 

Thank you

 

A messy life is tough for us perfectionists TMS'ers to adjust to--but it's like brushing one's teeth or good sex, if it's done right it's messy.

Which reminds me of another good quote : ~We come into this world naked, covered in our own blood, screaming in terror - and it doesn't have to stop there if you know how to live right~

 

Haha nice quote Tom. Sitting here writing my thesis and burning feeling in small part of lower back, but just ignoring it. I think there's a bit of the Pavlov situation going on.