Hi All,
I thought I'd make a post to introduce myself and my story. I have come on here several times as a guest to read various threads but decided to make an account and start sharing as well.
I learned about this site through the Mind and Body Fitness podcast, specifically an episode where Mr Hip Guy was interviewed. Due to my current hip pain issues, I started reading his threads and found a lot of comfort and validation in his blogging of his journey and TMS struggles especially when it relates to fitness/running (thank you!). I also can see how sharing can be therapeutic. So here it goes.
I'm in my mid 30s and have been a recreational runner for the past 4ish years. I've ran 3 half marathons. I joined a running club in my community about 4ish years ago as well and have really loved it. However, every single training block has been riddled with what I now know as TMS symptoms. Every single one was faced with fear and anxiety and the pressure of wanting to keep running etc. I basically was in physical therapy for 3 years straight with three separate physical therapists constantly trying to take control of my pain through PT. I am definitely the typical "TMS personality" as well.
So it started with Post tib tendonitis that I rehabilitated for a year (cortisone shot, walking boot, physical therapy) and then started training for my first few half marathons the next year still sort of battling little PTTD flares here and there.
Then for the the third half marathon training block I had crazy sharp knee pain that magically went away while I was on vacation and only showed up consistently 3-4 miles into a run. CLASSIC TMS. Focused on strengthening my glutes per PT.
THEEENNN I started experiencing what felt like pelvic floor issues and pain. I went to a well known pelvic floor therapist who ruled out pelvic floor dysfunction TWICE. I worked my ass off with her for 6 months strengthening like crazy to 'stabilize my pelvis'.
However, after 6 months of working with her my pain didn't go away and it started to get worse. I then got an MRI and was diagnosed with 'sports hernia/athletic pubalgia'. I saw the general surgeon who specialized in core muscle injuries and he ruled me out as not a surgical candidate. He couldn't quite explain my pain. That is when I encountered the curable app, nicole sachs, dr sarnos, etc.
I started journaling and meditating daily and doing the Nicole Sachs method of addressing the pain. I started to read all the books and listen to all the podcasts. I found Alec Kassin's Pain Free Comeback program for athletes and completed that. I can happily say that all my pain is gone that was lingering from the so called 'sports hernia' diagnosis. Thanks to Alec's program, I also returned to running this past summer consistently.
I got to a point where I felt confident in myself again and safe in running again. I signed up for a half marathon in January of next year and thought it would be GREAT practice for me to exercise everything I learned and hopefully go through a training block without chronic pain. Plus it brings me JOY to train with my running club and running friends.
I will say that this summer of getting back to running, I've definitely encountered the symptom imperative. I started to get knee pain again. I laughed it off because it was soooo obviously TMS because it happened in my sleep. It lingered for 2 weeks but it didn't stop me from running and I was able to successfully approach it with light heartedness, positive self talk, and not fall down the fear cycle. It went away.
Then a month later I had really scary symptoms I've never experienced before: pelvic pain that was mimicking UTI symptoms, infection, and pelvic floor dysfunction. I went to the doctor and had all the lab work done. It all came back normal. I was able to recognize it as TMS and it was gone in a week. (Looking back on these things, I'm simply blown away at how powerful the brain is and how REAL the symptom imperative is. crazy.)
NOW!!! NOW I'm having sharp right sided hip pain that is mimicking possible stress fracture, hip flexor strain, WHO KNOWs. It's been a month and the first few weeks, I blew it off as the TMS Brain continuing with the symptom imperative. I've continued my journaling, meditating, and talking to the pain, etc. I even went on a bucket list trip to the canadian rockies. I didn't let the hip pain prevent me from enjoying it to the fullest. I did some hiking using trekking poles and had a blast. The pain never went away but didn't get worse either. Okay, maybe it seemed to improve a little bit the more I hiked, but then would feel a bit worse and more sore the next day.
Anyways, I'm a month into this now. I haven't ran at all because the pain is so sharp and intense, I simply can't imagine running on it. I'm now battling with the concern of "what if this is a stress fracture?". I feel like I have to get an MRI to rule that out before I can move forward with my healing.
As Mr Hip Guy has put so often in his posts, this is a bit of a therapeutic vent/story time for me. Thanks for letting me share and feel free to add any thoughts.
I thought I'd make a post to introduce myself and my story. I have come on here several times as a guest to read various threads but decided to make an account and start sharing as well.
I learned about this site through the Mind and Body Fitness podcast, specifically an episode where Mr Hip Guy was interviewed. Due to my current hip pain issues, I started reading his threads and found a lot of comfort and validation in his blogging of his journey and TMS struggles especially when it relates to fitness/running (thank you!). I also can see how sharing can be therapeutic. So here it goes.
I'm in my mid 30s and have been a recreational runner for the past 4ish years. I've ran 3 half marathons. I joined a running club in my community about 4ish years ago as well and have really loved it. However, every single training block has been riddled with what I now know as TMS symptoms. Every single one was faced with fear and anxiety and the pressure of wanting to keep running etc. I basically was in physical therapy for 3 years straight with three separate physical therapists constantly trying to take control of my pain through PT. I am definitely the typical "TMS personality" as well.
So it started with Post tib tendonitis that I rehabilitated for a year (cortisone shot, walking boot, physical therapy) and then started training for my first few half marathons the next year still sort of battling little PTTD flares here and there.
Then for the the third half marathon training block I had crazy sharp knee pain that magically went away while I was on vacation and only showed up consistently 3-4 miles into a run. CLASSIC TMS. Focused on strengthening my glutes per PT.
THEEENNN I started experiencing what felt like pelvic floor issues and pain. I went to a well known pelvic floor therapist who ruled out pelvic floor dysfunction TWICE. I worked my ass off with her for 6 months strengthening like crazy to 'stabilize my pelvis'.
However, after 6 months of working with her my pain didn't go away and it started to get worse. I then got an MRI and was diagnosed with 'sports hernia/athletic pubalgia'. I saw the general surgeon who specialized in core muscle injuries and he ruled me out as not a surgical candidate. He couldn't quite explain my pain. That is when I encountered the curable app, nicole sachs, dr sarnos, etc.
I started journaling and meditating daily and doing the Nicole Sachs method of addressing the pain. I started to read all the books and listen to all the podcasts. I found Alec Kassin's Pain Free Comeback program for athletes and completed that. I can happily say that all my pain is gone that was lingering from the so called 'sports hernia' diagnosis. Thanks to Alec's program, I also returned to running this past summer consistently.
I got to a point where I felt confident in myself again and safe in running again. I signed up for a half marathon in January of next year and thought it would be GREAT practice for me to exercise everything I learned and hopefully go through a training block without chronic pain. Plus it brings me JOY to train with my running club and running friends.
I will say that this summer of getting back to running, I've definitely encountered the symptom imperative. I started to get knee pain again. I laughed it off because it was soooo obviously TMS because it happened in my sleep. It lingered for 2 weeks but it didn't stop me from running and I was able to successfully approach it with light heartedness, positive self talk, and not fall down the fear cycle. It went away.
Then a month later I had really scary symptoms I've never experienced before: pelvic pain that was mimicking UTI symptoms, infection, and pelvic floor dysfunction. I went to the doctor and had all the lab work done. It all came back normal. I was able to recognize it as TMS and it was gone in a week. (Looking back on these things, I'm simply blown away at how powerful the brain is and how REAL the symptom imperative is. crazy.)
NOW!!! NOW I'm having sharp right sided hip pain that is mimicking possible stress fracture, hip flexor strain, WHO KNOWs. It's been a month and the first few weeks, I blew it off as the TMS Brain continuing with the symptom imperative. I've continued my journaling, meditating, and talking to the pain, etc. I even went on a bucket list trip to the canadian rockies. I didn't let the hip pain prevent me from enjoying it to the fullest. I did some hiking using trekking poles and had a blast. The pain never went away but didn't get worse either. Okay, maybe it seemed to improve a little bit the more I hiked, but then would feel a bit worse and more sore the next day.
Anyways, I'm a month into this now. I haven't ran at all because the pain is so sharp and intense, I simply can't imagine running on it. I'm now battling with the concern of "what if this is a stress fracture?". I feel like I have to get an MRI to rule that out before I can move forward with my healing.
As Mr Hip Guy has put so often in his posts, this is a bit of a therapeutic vent/story time for me. Thanks for letting me share and feel free to add any thoughts.