SCIATIA HELP

Hi, I had a pretty traumatic fall down stairs more than 3 months ago. At the time, my MRI showed a herniation, annular fissure and rethrolisthesis. Since then I have been experiencing sciatica, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on my activity. I have read Dr. Sarnos books and I want to believe that this is TMS so bad. I saw neurosurgeons and they said no OP in my case. I tried everything, chiropractor, PT, epidurals, all of which made it worse! I am at my wits end and just want to break out of this cycle. I am currently going through my worst flare and cannot imagine working on my emotions right now, as the pain is so high.... how do you know you truly have TMS? Part of me is still putting the symptoms on my fall, and I have a hard time getting into the right mindset!

 

Hi @Doreesiree
Having a traumatic fall might take a little more time to get over than you're giving it. I have a similar (but not the same) form of one vertebrae that likes to slip over the other. Muscles tend to tense up when I feel this because I simply don't like the feeling - it is attached to the danger signal, and it really gets physically stuck. The physical stuckness doesn't cause pain, but it limits some movement until it budges.
Occasionally I have had sciatica due to body tension - almost always once again related to doing something "scary" or having what I associate as "scary" sensations, which are often not painful but are associated with past pain. I would imagine this is a similar situation that you find yourself in.
Sarno's theories apply more to people who's pain began "out of nowhere" or continued LONG after a traumatic event like a fall. Yours might still be in the healing mode, but I still think it's wise to begin utilizing TMS methods.
My personal suggestion is to consider Sarno's theories in the light of Alan Gordon's work. Gordon's work is slightly different and focuses a bit more on the fear of associations and what that does to the nervous system. There is less psychological work involved in eg. dealing with past stressors. Alan deals more with the stress and emotions surrounding your current situation.
It's up to you to decide if Sarno's descriptions of a typical patient: anxious (even before your fall), reactive, fearful (in many parts of life), perfectionist, black/white thinking etc. fit you or not.
Alan Gordon's book is The Way Out, and one of the therapists who works with him wrote a workbook that encompasses his theories and throws in some of Sarno's work into the mix, and that might be very helpful. Take a look at The Pain Reprocessing Therapy Workbook by Vanessa Blackstone - here's a thread of @BloodMoon talking about the book that might help you: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/the-pain-reprocessing-therapy-workbook.30102/

We also feature a free more Sarno-esque program here on this Wiki. You do one "day" at a time (or break it up, if one lesson seems longer than you can do per day). No faster. The idea is to do is more slowly so that it sinks into the mind. You are stressed and probably desperate and the mind wants to race to a solution NOW, but taking your time is the best route: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threa...-resources-during-the-home-page-outage.33394/

How do you get over the fear: slowly. Step by step. You don't need 100% buy in to Sarno to start. Over time your anxiety will ease and you will find adopting a different mindset easier. Alan Gordon's work is big on that mindset shift.

Good Luck!

PS, you know you are experiencing some mind/body symptoms when you feel panic and fear about your symptoms. "True" medical or structural issues or not, you will heal more wholly if you utilize a mind body approach.

 

Thank you so much! I definitely am a very fearful and anxious person and the pain and symptoms give me so much stress and anxiety! I’ve had a few good days already but I feel I’m just not ready or there yet! I’ll look through all the links! Thank you so much you answer is very helpful