Structural Issue? Start Physical Therapy? Feedback Please

[c is for cow]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum. I've been listening to Nicole Sachs for a while and in the middle of her audiobook "Mind Your Body."

Here's my situation:

1. I'm an avid runner. 5 miles/day several days a week.
2. I've had left hip (SI Joint) pain the last few years. It's in 3 spots in my hip, pelvis, lower back.
3. The pain ebbs and flows, but when it initially occurred, the chiropractor fixed it over several visits. (stopped running during this time)
4. About a year ago, the pain returned, and the chiropractor visits didn't help. (minimized running during this time)
5. After the chiropractor, I went to PT. I did dry needling and stabilization exercises which got me 95% better over a few months. The pain the dry needling relieved is very deep soft tissue trigger points/knots, which are still my main source of pain (I think). I quite the exercises after I after Sarno's advice to "stop all stretching." I only stretch before I run now.
6. I've since ramped my running up over the past 12 months, 20-25 miles a week. The pain ebbs and flows. If I run a few days, or if I sit all day at work, the pain will flare up. I stretch and foam roll my hip prior to any run.
7. I finally had an MRI done on my hip last week. The MRI showed in my back I have old L5/S1 bilateral pars fractures. Obviously, that's structural but my pain is in my hip. The doctor thinks the "diffuse" hip pain could be from the back. The left hip part of the MRI was "unremarkable" per the doctor.
8. I was doing pretty well belief wise with the mind body approach, but this MRI finding has set me back. I see a spine doctor next week.
9. I thought running/overuse probably caused these fractures because I've read repetitive motion/sports can cause this, but I'm not sure now because I had a fall off an embankment while hiking with other injuries a few years ago that coincides with the timeframe of the original SI joint issue. I had other injuries at the time and never thought I had a back injury. Truthfully, I am not sure what caused the fractures. According to doctor Google, the fractures can lead to Spondylolisthesis eventually, which is ironically what Nicole Sachs has that drove her to Dr. Sarno.

Goal: I want to keep running and eliminate pain and not damage my body. With this MRI finding, I was going to start PT and work on strengthening my core, but Sarno says to stop all PT and stretching. Is core training for the purposes of stabilization and strengthening (for running) part of what Sarno says to stop doing? My thought is strengthening my core will help stabilize my lower back for the purposes of running, but I'm also concerned I will get in a doom loop thinking it's all structural. Thoughts on this please?

Thanks!

 

[Cactusflower]

You are already in a doom loop of thinking it’s “all structural” re-read your post. Nothing about your stress, emotions etc. Your anxiety is causing doubt.
I’m not going to tell you what to do. You need to make those decisions yourself to find your own power and confidence in your choices. Why would you give your personal power to Dr Google? You are way too smart for falling into that rabbit hole.Lets get to the real meat and potatoes: where do your stressors lay? What is your self-talk like - Sach’s talks about “patience and kindness” . What is running like for you: are you a runner for exercise or competitor?
My own TMS coach is an athlete, a pain exercise therapist (former coach and pro-athlete) and writes blogs with excellent insight into her own TMS journey. We both basically discovered we were TMS-ers together. She used the confidence gained through PT to heal a “hole” in her hip and back pain however had many relapses and symptom imperatives including cancer. Discovering TMS, she still has occasional pains etc but manages them within minutes to hours by focusing on her thoughts and personality traits which generate internal stress and her emotions. Here’s one of her blog posts that might help: https://www.thepfathlete.com/blog/racing-chase-results-or-enjoy-the-experience (Racing: Chase Results or Enjoy the Experience?)

 

[c is for cow]

Is core training for the purposes of stabilization and strengthening (for running) part of what Sarno says to stop doing (i.e. stretching/PT)?

 

[BruceMC]

Is core training for the purposes of stabilization and strengthening (for running) part of what Sarno says to stop doing (i.e. stretching/PT)?

I just notice c is for cow as observed above that you don't mention anything about your emotional state prior to the onset of your pain symptoms? Was anything going on stressful in your life at the same time you began experiencing the chronic pains?

 

[Cactusflower]

Is core training for the purposes of stabilization and strengthening (for running) part of what Sarno says to stop doing (i.e. stretching/PT)?

We don't answer these kinds of questions here because that is focused on the PHYSICAL. If you are in doubt re-read Dr. Sarno. Basically his gyst is that if you are focusing on the physical to "cure" a psychological/emotional issue, you will never succeed because you aren't doing the work. Even if you try to do the work while you are focusing on the physical, you are not understanding his protocol.

This is 100% about doubt, attitude, faith in yourself and belief. Basically, you have to choose how you are going to proceed.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

I’m not going to tell you what to do. You need to make those decisions yourself to find your own power and confidence in your choices. Why would you give your personal power to Dr Google? You are way too smart for falling into that rabbit hole.Lets get to the real meat and potatoes: where do your stressors lay? What is your self-talk like - Sachs talks about “patience and kindness”

100%.

Everyone wants black and white answers, but there is no such thing! Accepting that fact is probably the first thing that everyone needs to accomplish before they can proceed to succeed.

Exercise for your personal goals. If one of those goals is pain relief, you're playing the reluctant host to doubt - it's the unwelcome houseguest that won't leave. You have to get tough and kick it to the curb.

Remember that Nicole tells us (often!) that "life is a choice between what hurts and what hurts worse". Right now your brain has you convinced that facing the emotional truth about reality is worse than physical pain.

Keep reading, also listen to Nicole's podcast episodes (yesterday's is really good) and maybe also start doing our free Structured Educational Program on the main tmswiki.org. Just do one "Day" per day, and don't rush through it. Read the top introductory post for effectively doing the SEP here: https://www.tmswiki.org/forum/forums/structured-educational-program.16/ (Structured Educational Program) You will find overlap with Nicole, and that's fine. Relax into the new knowledge, and let go of expectations, which are never helpful.