Oops, I did it again?

I think you’re wise to discontinue pt, but I don’t see what’s wrong with the run/walk advice. It’s up to you and the foundation you feel you have, some people can just resume their activities totally normally others take breaks and others modify them (like alternating running/walking). I’ve played sports with moderate to severe knee or neck pain, and sometimes I take breaks, sometimes I’ll modify how I engage in exercise or sports like not jumping while playing volleyball and just passing. There’s no one size fits all approach here. The only wrong option is panicking at an increase in pain while running. You know you best.

 

I would clarify with her as to why she is saying that's necessary? If she is recommending that because she thinks something is wrong, then you're obviously at a crossroads and by the sounds of it you disagree and think it's TMS instead (so following her advice wouldn't make sense).

If there's nothing wrong with you structurally, then there's no reason to behave any differently than a runner with your fitness level/running experience (unless she thinks it initially was an injury, but an injury that heals in 10 days probably isn't serious enough to alter your training too much, maybe build back up and be cautious initially with the running, but you should only need to do that for a week or two I'd imagine to reflect the non-serious nature of the injury - that's not going to get in the way of TMS recovery unless you start questioning whether it is TMS or not).

 

Went for a three mile-run yesterday, and a four-mile run today. Feeling a good amount of pain. Trying not to get lost in it, and break the fair-pain loop, but it’s hard.

 

If the pain is only really activated with physical activity, that points to it being TMS, right? My PT’s theory is that I re-aggravated it with running (I tried explaining mind-body pain to her and it didn’t take).

 

Honestly, I have no idea, however, I've been running and sometimes you just get sore afterwards. I pushed myself last night and I'm so proud of myself for running farther and longer. But today, getting out of a chair reminds me that my muscles are a little sore! You may have to relearn your body's signals again. I know TMS has tried to stop me by making me knee hurt. I ignored it and it went away.

Maybe go slowly to learn your signs. Running isn't going to tear your body up like the doctors want you to believe. But you also might be triggering your brain with running and it thinks it's in danger. TMS is finicky and so individualist.

 

I think the cyclical nature is more important than when it’s happening in the moment. Like, no pain while walking, to slow increase of pain while running to return to baseline once done screams TMS to me. But the reality is TMS runs the gamut, you can have pain in one spot 24/7 that doesn’t move for years be TMS likewise it can be as obvious as the jumping around pain or conditioned responses to physical activity.

your anecdote is the reason why there isn’t a one size fits all approach to resuming activity. It’s depends on your foundation. Is the pain forcing you into a panic? Even if it’s a physical injury what good is stress and worrying about it going to do in the moment it’s happening?

if you had to take an extended break from running how would that affect your psyche?

 

The pain being triggered by things other than physical activity would be more of a sign - but that doesn't mean you don't have TMS. Honestly, I appreciate your desire to have a quick turnaround but I think you've taken this all way too quickly and confused yourself. You also seem to be panicking and jumping around from one idea to another, which isn't going to help, especially if it's TMS.

As Rabscuttle alluded to, a rest might be good just to take stock and see where you are at. If it is indeed structural, then that would give whatever is needed time to heal. It's very difficult to tell whether something is TMS within 2 weeks when there was an initial physical stimulus that could mean an injury (even if you've had TMS before). In other words, you're being way too hard on yourself

 

I don’t think I’d have an issue taking an extended break from running, but the issue is that I have a half marathon in 10 days!

 

Why is that an issue?

 

Because I signed up for the race and I’d like to run it.

 

I was kinda just being facetious, but should’ve been clearer in my comment, just wanted you to reflect on the situation.

you know you best. I hope you can run it too. It just sounds like a lot while you’re still finding your TMS footing with this specific issue. If you run it I hope it’s out of desire for joy and not pressure because you signed up and are ‘committed’ (I’m assuming you aren’t executed if you don’t run). Take it easy on yourself and if you do run it try and have no expectations.