TMS - Ski boot compression/rub Ankle Talus Joint question

I have tendon ankle TMS..injury that healed. Does it still apply to me? I feel it when I am walking, or doing any exercise….

However I feel it way more when I am skiing, the ski boot compresses against my tendon and obviously I feel it way more… as the boot is compressing against my tendon talus joint.

Any suggestions? Does the recovery tools and techniques brain retraining still apply to me..? Do i graded exposure to walking or certain shoes/boots? I feel it every step so unsure how to do this….

I know it’s all about overcoming fear to move body parts and resume all normal activity .. tho for me it’s the actual boot compressing/rubbing against my sensitised tendon.

Or is it also general nervous system sensitisation and the tendon will calm down sensitised wise once my brain calms down…

Thanks a lot

Johnny

 

Hi Johnny,

It's not called Tension Myositis Syndrome for nothing...

"All this tenseness derives from the fact that we don’t want to make up our mind. We are afraid we’ll have to blame ourselves." ~ Dr Abraham Low (from his book 'Mental Health Through Will-Training')...

... And it is evident that you haven't made up your mind about whether or not the discomfort/pain you feel from the ski boot pressing on your tendon is mind/body/TMS or structural -- and if the discomfort were to be structural, as Dr Low says, you don't want to 'blame' yourself for possibly making it even more structural.

So, as you're 'on the fence' about it, I would suggest doing the following so you can be less fearful of 'doing yourself a mischief ' and still be able to challenge your brain:

• Take tiny 'baby steps' with wearing footwear that gives you discomfort in the area of your tendon.
• Ski boots can generally be uncomfortable because they are so rigid, so get some retro-fit cushioning for your boots (you can instead or also get gel cushioning patches to put on your ankles) and/or get the best fitting boots you can find.

Yes, I do, of course, recognise that Dr Sarno said along the lines of: 'throw away your cushions and other aids and get on with life despite the discomfort and pain'. However, with me, I didn't do that and I still lost TMS symptoms, some in areas of my body where I'd previously suffered an injury and in other areas where there'd been no injury. Why? Because those cushions and other aids enabled me to 'get on with life' and I was never under the illusion of that they would contribute to 'curing' me of a structural issue... I knew they wouldn't 'cure' me whether the symptoms were mind/body/TMS or structural. I used those cushions and other aids always with the intention and mindset of gradually being able to do more... more sitting, more walking, more standing, more exercise and so on -- They didn't hold me back, they helped me move forward because of that aim/mindset.

 

I'm similar in the cushions regard. I got rid of the socket seat I was using at work for my hamstring but I still have a body pillow for support of my side/back in bed. Baby steps. It's more a comfort thing now, like a security blanket.