TMS + real injury

[D. R. Martin]

I've had TMS going in my knees, hands, & wrists for a few months now. Last week I twisted an ankle on a walk, and it's not exactly mending up; more pain now than a earlier. A fairly mild sprain, I'd say. I had some TMS in the ankles, too, that came and went. How do you distinguish pain from the injury from TMS pain? What's the best strategy to mend up the ankle, without giving in to TMS?

 

[Gigi]

Hi DR.
I think that if the pain is from an obvious source, like a twisted ankle, I'm lenient with it, and give the body time to heal. Once past a reasonable time frame, I start talking to my subconscious and giving it heck. Then I challenge the pain to "do its worst" and move on to thinking of something else. That's a formula that I've had some success with.
It is true that TMS is often expressed at the site of previous injury, so the brain is fooled into believing it's real.
Hang in there!

 

[Forest]

I agree with Gigi. With something acute such as a twisted ankle, it is wise to give it time to heal. Staying off it for a few days won't make you go backwards in your TMS recovery.