Hi Everyone,
So glad to have found this site, and so thankful for those who created it and those who continue to help others here.
Just a brief history -
I underwent fusion surgery of my lumbar spine (L4, L5, S1) 4.5 years ago. I was doing really well. Not much pain at all, until this past May. I kneeled down and bent forward and felt a bad twinge in my lower back on the right. The pain continued to worsen as the day went on and by the evening, I was down for the count. I was in terrible pain and even breathing hurt. I was like that for almost two weeks and then started to feel a little better. But, the pain persisted and I was worried that something happened with the fusion, so I went to see my surgeon. The MRI showed normal, no nerve damage, the fusion looked fine. He said it was most likely my SI joint, as it is common with "successful fusion surgery". The SI joint looked fine, though - no arthritis, etc. He said that most of the time, it resolves within 3 months. A month later, I was still basically bedridden. I was not in much pain while lying down, but getting up and moving around, standing, sitting was torture after only a few minutes. I called him about getting an injection and he agreed. The injection in the SI joint did NOTHING. He put me on a prescription NSAID which also didn't help. He then said I should see a physiatrist, which I did. I saw him for almost three months and it didn't help. The physiatrist put me in PT, and after two weeks, I felt much worse. I left there and went to another PT, and after just one week, I was even worse. Throughout this time, I couldn't take anything for the pain, as opioids make me really sick.
I found a woman online who had SI joint problems and she said only a PT that understands SI joint alignment could help, but they were difficult to find. It took another month to find a PT that understood SI joint problems. My third PT began to tell me that structurally I was fine, and that fear was keeping me in the condition I was in. She recommended I read Healing Back Pain by Dr. Sarno. It made me mad that I went to her for help in aligning my SI joint and she had me read a book instead. I am so thankful for her! As many of you experienced, I saw myself on every page and I finally had hope after 8 months of despair and really not wanting to live anymore.
Two weeks after reading the book, my pain reduced by 50%, and then in another week, it was down by about 70%. I used to be down most of the day, but now I'm up most of the day. I can even sit for almost an hour with little pain. I am walking around and even cooking again. I went out to the grocery store with my husband for the first time and felt very little pain. I am 95% convinced it's TMS, but I am still afraid to bend forward. I get a sharp pain when I do. Also, the in the last couple of days, the pain comes raging back on and off during the day. It's in my right lower back, along with a burning pain in my groin. I am on Day 11 of the Structured Educational Program, and I am journaling. My main problem is being a goodist and people pleaser. When the pain comes, I immediately stop and think about what could be bothering me. It's always about a person I am close to, worrying about whether or not they are angry with me, or I've done something to upset them.
Anyway, sorry to be so long winded, but my question is, how am I doing? I am expecting too much after only 3 weeks? Is is normal for the pain to come raging back after feeling mostly pain free?
Thank you all for any advice/support you could give me.
So glad to have found this site, and so thankful for those who created it and those who continue to help others here.
Just a brief history -
I underwent fusion surgery of my lumbar spine (L4, L5, S1) 4.5 years ago. I was doing really well. Not much pain at all, until this past May. I kneeled down and bent forward and felt a bad twinge in my lower back on the right. The pain continued to worsen as the day went on and by the evening, I was down for the count. I was in terrible pain and even breathing hurt. I was like that for almost two weeks and then started to feel a little better. But, the pain persisted and I was worried that something happened with the fusion, so I went to see my surgeon. The MRI showed normal, no nerve damage, the fusion looked fine. He said it was most likely my SI joint, as it is common with "successful fusion surgery". The SI joint looked fine, though - no arthritis, etc. He said that most of the time, it resolves within 3 months. A month later, I was still basically bedridden. I was not in much pain while lying down, but getting up and moving around, standing, sitting was torture after only a few minutes. I called him about getting an injection and he agreed. The injection in the SI joint did NOTHING. He put me on a prescription NSAID which also didn't help. He then said I should see a physiatrist, which I did. I saw him for almost three months and it didn't help. The physiatrist put me in PT, and after two weeks, I felt much worse. I left there and went to another PT, and after just one week, I was even worse. Throughout this time, I couldn't take anything for the pain, as opioids make me really sick.
I found a woman online who had SI joint problems and she said only a PT that understands SI joint alignment could help, but they were difficult to find. It took another month to find a PT that understood SI joint problems. My third PT began to tell me that structurally I was fine, and that fear was keeping me in the condition I was in. She recommended I read Healing Back Pain by Dr. Sarno. It made me mad that I went to her for help in aligning my SI joint and she had me read a book instead. I am so thankful for her! As many of you experienced, I saw myself on every page and I finally had hope after 8 months of despair and really not wanting to live anymore.
Two weeks after reading the book, my pain reduced by 50%, and then in another week, it was down by about 70%. I used to be down most of the day, but now I'm up most of the day. I can even sit for almost an hour with little pain. I am walking around and even cooking again. I went out to the grocery store with my husband for the first time and felt very little pain. I am 95% convinced it's TMS, but I am still afraid to bend forward. I get a sharp pain when I do. Also, the in the last couple of days, the pain comes raging back on and off during the day. It's in my right lower back, along with a burning pain in my groin. I am on Day 11 of the Structured Educational Program, and I am journaling. My main problem is being a goodist and people pleaser. When the pain comes, I immediately stop and think about what could be bothering me. It's always about a person I am close to, worrying about whether or not they are angry with me, or I've done something to upset them.
Anyway, sorry to be so long winded, but my question is, how am I doing? I am expecting too much after only 3 weeks? Is is normal for the pain to come raging back after feeling mostly pain free?
Thank you all for any advice/support you could give me.
