Strange Happenings

Hi All,
I’ve just finished a 40 hour fast, couldn’t make it to 48 as I was feeling wibbly wobbly.
I suffer from left hip pain due to arthritis and last night in bed the pain was very bad which is unusual as it only usually hurts when I walk.
Clambered out of bed this morning and did my usual little yoga routine and boom the left centre of my back developed a painful tightness that felt like the size of a football!
While on route to get my ice pack I noticed zero pain in my hip and I’ve been walking around ok for an hour or so.
I actually feel quite excited even though my back feels awful.
Time for bacon and eggs.
Al

 

Yep, that's a typical sign of TMS - it moves around (especially when you challenge it by doing TMS/mind/body work).

 

exciting isn’t it? I remember my first experience with this. I was dealing with chronic scrotal pain. I was super stressed out and as a result my GI system got extremely messed up, crippling abdominal pain, bad stomach inflammation, all TMS. But during those first few weeks, with the GI issues before knowing of TMS, my scrotal pain disappeared for 2 days, which I thought was interesting, my mindset was wow there must be something really wrong with my stomach/intestines if my brain stopped detecting the scrotal pain, lol. I was naive and thankfully very wrong. So congrats to you, because to the unaware person it can be very easy for this symptom shifting to make them think they’re really broken and send them into a full panic.

Good luck on your journey. And don’t be surprised if the symptoms continue to change and shift multiple times and even go back to old symptoms or to have multiple symptoms at once, never forget this post you’ve made and this moment where you have full understanding and belief of what’s going on. You will be challenged by your brain. I am dealing with the symptom imperative for several months now, but beginning to get an understanding on it.

 

I’ve noticed that I’m clenching my teeth a lot, this has been happening on and off for a couple of years along with puffy knuckles,
I think if these start to settle down I’ll be really getting there.

 

I used to do that and combatted it by relaxing my jaw regularly throughout the day. I use any time I go from sitting to standing and standing to sitting and also when I go to the loo, as a prompt/reminder to do this (you could obviously choose your own prompts). It's a physiological phenomenon that when you relax your jaw it relaxes your pelvic floor muscles and when they are relaxed the whole body tends to be more relaxed and function better. This is what perplexi.ai says about it:

"Relaxing your jaw can have a profound effect on your pelvic floor muscles, and this connection leads to several body-wide advantages. Here’s how this works and why it matters:

How Jaw Relaxation Affects the Pelvic Floor

• Fascial and Nervous System Links: The jaw and pelvic floor are connected through a network of fascia and nerves, specifically the “deep front line” of fascia that runs from the jaw, down the neck and spine, through the diaphragm, and into the pelvic floor. Tension in one area can trigger a chain reaction of tightness in the other.
  
• Stress and Muscle Tension: When you clench your jaw due to stress, you often unconsciously hold tension in your pelvic floor as well. Both areas are sensitive to the body’s fight-or-flight response, and relaxation in one can encourage relaxation in the other.
  
• Breathing Patterns: Jaw tension is commonly associated with shallow, chest-based breathing. Relaxing the jaw allows for deeper, diaphragmatic breathing, which naturally helps the pelvic floor to relax and lengthen.
  

Body-Wide Advantages of Relaxing the Jaw and Pelvic Floor

• Reduced Muscle Tension: Relaxing the jaw and pelvic floor can help release tension throughout the body, especially in the neck, shoulders, and lower back, as these areas are all part of the same fascial and postural chains.
  
• Improved Breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing, facilitated by a relaxed jaw, supports better oxygenation and can improve overall energy and stress management.
  
• Decreased Pain and Discomfort: Releasing tension in the jaw and pelvic floor can alleviate associated pain, including headaches, jaw pain, pelvic pain, and even hip and lower back discomfort.
  
• Enhanced Mobility: Studies have shown that hands-on releases to jaw muscle tension can improve mobility in the hips for people with chronic pain, even without directly addressing the pelvic area.
  
• Better Nervous System Regulation: Practices that relax the jaw and pelvic floor, such as mindfulness, massage, or deep breathing, help calm the nervous system, reducing overall stress and promoting a sense of well-being.
  
• Improved Pelvic Health: For women, especially during childbirth, a relaxed pelvic floor can make delivery smoother and reduce discomfort or complications.
  
• Support for Digestive and Urinary Health: A relaxed pelvic floor allows for normal function of the bladder and bowel, reducing pressure and discomfort in the pelvic region.
  

Practical Techniques

• Jaw Relaxation: Let your jaw drop, make low, deep sounds (“ahhh”), massage the masseter muscle, or practice clucking sounds to keep the jaw soft.
  
• Diaphragmatic Breathing: Focus on breathing deeply into your belly, allowing your pelvic floor to descend and relax with each inhale.
  
• Mindfulness and Massage: Mindfulness exercises and gentle massage can help release both jaw and pelvic floor tension, promoting overall relaxation.
  

Summary Table



Relaxing your jaw is a simple but powerful way to support your pelvic floor and promote relaxation throughout your entire body."

 

I think that if your anxiety, constant referring or measuring your physical symptoms etc can be lessened that THEN you are really getting there! Think psychological, not physical!

 

Appreciate all the great advice and encouragement.