URGENT: Breast/Chest Pain

URGENT: Has anyone ever heard of TMS pain in the left breast/chest area? It is intense and CONSTANT. Extremely sensitive to touch with slight pressure. Aching, throbbing, burning, gnawing and.... constant pain for 9 months now. Cause is unknown (had extensive testing and seen every specialist). I have been reading the books about TMS and am having a hard time connecting because I haven’t come across anyone saying that their pain is in the breast/chest area with my symptoms. It has taken over my life, leaving me unable to drive or work. I’m frozen. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Hi Rooted,

It's good you've had testing done and they've ruled out a medical cause to your pain, so you can safely conclude it is TMS. TMS can occur in literally any area of the body and can take so many different forms. Although back pain and others are more common, there is no reason why TMS couldn't be in the chest area. I think a common TMS symptom is chest pain mimicking heart attack pain- i've personally seen this as a clinician (not even treating TMS specifically, just patients who go to the ER thinking they're having a heart attack and all tests are negative, doctors tell them it's panic/stress). I'm sorry you are in so much pain, but you're on the right track! What books are you reading? Have you tried any structure programs yet?

 

Not quite the same, but I had palpitations in that area and after an EKG and overnight heart halter test I was told I was perfectly fine. I ended up chalking it up to TMS and it never returned.

 

I've had it - and still get it - but, after examination, my TMS doctor diagnosed it as costochondritis, a TMS symptom. As a result, I don't worry about it.

 

PS: I do you believe that mine was my pectoral muscle in the end. I think it was just spazzing. TMS

 

The pain is too much. It is a CONSTANT INTENSE burning throbbing pain where my heart is and spreads to the side of the rib cage. Costochondritis has been completely ruled out. Has anyone ever felt “end of the world” pain constantly? Without a break? I have been practicing mindfulness and trying to remain calm but I am at my precipice.

 

I’m in desperate need of help. The pain does not stop for one second. It is horrifying.

 

Yes, I've dealt with end-of-the-world pain 24/7; in fact, my profile will show you a status update from a very low point in my life during June 2017. I couldn't take it anymore. It was a complete nightmare and too much for me to handle. But I ended up coming out of it better than ever and living my happiest life without pain or other bizarre symptoms. You can get there, too.

I know it's scary, but I promise you're going to be OK. It's great that your tests were all negative! As Steve Ozanich and many others say, the brain can and will create any symptom it pleases - even breast/chest pain. You can absolutely come out of this better than ever. One thing that helped me during my darkest days was understanding that even cancer, diabetic neuropathy, neck injury, etc. patients can train their brains to beat pain, so why couldn't I?: https://sslcam.news.com.au/cam/authorise?channel=pc&url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2fnews%2fhealth-science%2ftraining-the-brain-to-beat-pain%2fnews-story%2f45ad7b7daaaf3c4bbbab6c76b0190ac7 (Nocookies)

We're all here for you. I know it's not easy, but the first steps are learning to accept the mind-body symptoms/TMS diagnosis, overcoming fear and obsession over the symptoms, and then getting back to fully living life again. Sometimes trying to heal prevents us from healing.

Your sympathetic nervous system is clearly in overdrive right now. I totally understand what it feels like to be devastated and lost over the incredibly painful symptoms, but that fear is only making your sympathetic nerves more overactive. However, the good news is that it's not permanent! This will not be your life forever.

You are not alone. One of the reasons I took so long to accept the mind-body/TMS diagnosis is because I didn't see anyone with the same exact set of symptoms as me. I had SO many symptoms, and some of them were visible (e.g., skin mottling, muscle twitching, purple feet, etc.). It was terrifying! But then I healed, and suddenly I found myself helping lots of other people who were dealing with those symptoms. Please stick with us.

 

So much I want to type, but have no strength. The pain has not given me one second of a break and has continued to intenesly throb in the same spot on my breast. It is absolute agony.

I also haven’t slept in about a week. I wake up after an hour of sleep and remain FROZEN for many hours. Any suggestions on how to get sleep when dealing with excrutiating pain. I have a hard time with the meditations, etc. It feels near impossible to get into that parasympathetic state.

 

Hi Rooted,

I'm sorry you're suffering. There is great advice above on how to get through these times, such as using a program like the SEP...it sounds like you are having trouble telling your brain that you are safe. Have you worked with a TMS (or other) therapist at all? It might be beneficial given the difficulty you've been having, and give you someone to help guide you through the pain recovery process. Sending healing vibes your way during a difficult time.

 

I do not have a TMS doctor in my state. What do you think of an online consultation?

I did see an psychoanalyst the other day but I did not click with her at all. She did not fully agree with Sarno’s theories.

I’ve surrendered to the acceptance of TMS, but you are right. I do not feel safe. This level of CONSTANT nerve pain is unbelievable. Since I don’t know the physical cause I can logically accept TMS... but it does feel like nerve pain. Has anyone ever beat permanent nerve damage like neuralgia? The books mention neuropathy, but not neuralgia.

 

If your pain is constant and relentless like that, I would suggest you get a scan for a blood clot. Did they test for that?

 

Sweetheart, I’m hoping that this issue has resolved for you but in case it hasn’t I wanted to post a reply. I’ve been taking a break from the forum (much, much needed), but I remember seeing your post before I signed off. Forgive me for not responding before now but my life has been a ring of hell and I needed to focus on myself for a while. The truth is at that time I was experiencing awful, terrible breast pain (my left breast, coincidentally) and like you, I was scared out of my mind. Me, a TMS veteran and yet there I was, as terrified as someone with no mind~body knowledge at all.

A part of me really believed it was TMS, yet another part could not shake the fear. I had the pain intermittently for around 9-12 months before it ramped into an all consuming obsession. There were so many triggers, the seatbelt in the car, yoga poses, clothes, any touch at all. It sounds pretty much like the pain you describe.

I was going through some epic stress and this really made me think it was TMS but I couldn’t shake it. Then came the day when something flipped me over the edge. I was reading a news story on tinternet and a huge, f’ing petrifying article on the big C caught my eye, and snared my mind. I completely lost the plot. I decided I was done with the terror and the worry and I went to see my doctor.

*Incredibly Important Disclaimer*
I really, really, really do know and understand TMS and for this reason alone, was really sure this was stress-induced and was targeting my breast because it was a place TMS “knew” would freak me out. Fellow old timers will, I hope, appreciate this. To anyone new to TMS, please see your doctor. Unless and until you know TMS like the back of your hand, do not be reckless. If nothing else it’s not worth the stress.

Back to business.
I’m literate in the symbology of why pain manifests where. The breasts symbolise nurturing, care, looking after others. It’s mothering. The emotional causes of breast problems are putting others first, neglecting the self, not tending to your own needs.

Yes, this was me. Even after all this time my body was still teaching me an invaluable lesson.

I needed some help over the hump of doubt. Cue my wonderful doctor. We chatted. I told him my symptoms and fears. He explained that my symptoms were not those of the big C. He examined my breasts and declared them healthy. I explicitly asked him if stress can cause boob pain and he said most emphatically, it can cause any problem, anywhere. He said if he could, he’d give me a prescription for no stress (ring any bells?). My TMS began to dissolve the moment I left the surgery.

That was in March. Since then I’ve had the odd twinge here and there but nothing much and nothing that has caused me an ounce of fear. Because I’ve done a LOT of TMS healing and know the ropes the confirmation of all being well was sufficient to kick TMS into the long grass. If you’re new to all this then be kind to yourself and give yourself the time you need to learn about mind~body healing and more specifically what you need to do in order to soothe yourself, feel safe and feel loved. This is all about self-love. Not some navel-gazing, self-indulgent bullshit but actual healthy self-regard, self-respect and self-esteem.

Yes, I have. Read my story.

Much love,

Plum xxx

 

Have you ever read about precordial catch syndrome? A stabbing pain in the chest that even the medical community diagnoses as harmless, and which is undoubtedly TMS. It is incredibly painful.

 

I’ve had a rough month and everything seemed to ramp up including a new and very unpleasant breast issue. I woke up this morning to get ready for the hospital visit for mammogram, ultra sound and biopsy. AND opened up wiki and here’s this thread. My gut said straight away “it’s TMS” and 4 hours later the hospital gave me the all clear. Pays to get the creepy stuff checked and the celebratory drink tonight will be extra special.

 

Marls, this is fantastic news!

The relief of the all clear is sublime. Tonight I’ll raise my glass in your honour.

(I’m so glad I posted.)

Plum x

 

I’m glad too Plum. Slainte