When true physical symptoms become mental

Hi, haven't written on here in a long time. I was doing really well and if issues came up I knew how to not attach to them and they usually went away. Then few months ago actually 11 weeks ago today I tripped over my golden retriever not paying attention and fell down hard and fractured my hip. I had emergency full hip replacement and have been recovering ever since. Before the operation I was walking my dog miles every day, going on short hikes, going to better bones and balance gym class and doing yoga. Was feeling pretty much the best in decades. Then surgeon told me I would have long recovery because of fracture and how they have to cut muscles during operation. I had all these expectations since I was in great shape before, I did everything they told me to do and was progressing fine until last 4 weeks as I have moved more my muscles which are healing are very sore. I started pt at 7 weeks and first guy gave me too much to do and overworked my muscles. I haven't been able since then to get to soreness to go away. I found myself doing everything I know in mindbody not to do, checking for help online, in books, becoming completely obsessed and thinking about my body and muscle pain all day.

Even though this is a true physical thing, it's become mental with my obsession about it and fear that I am not getting better. Surgeon said at last appt 6 weeks with xray all is healing fine, sore muscles are normal and can last for months. I was hoping someone can tell me how I can go back to trusting my body again and stopping the fear? I feel like if I keep this up it could become chronic and I want to stop those scary thoughts.

 

Hi Marla:
I think you are in a place many TMS-ers hope they won't be. Sorry for your fall.
Hips take some time to heal, and I would imagine that you are experiencing muscle pain because you are using the muscle as it is trying to knit. Please give yourself some grace and time to heal. Your body has been though a lot!
Have you tried meditation? That might give you a little peace of mind, and a bit of training to be able to move your mind away from rumination topics and worry. I found it incredibly helpful and now I can more easily re-focus on other things instead of the symptoms when they are trying to get more attention.
You might also try writing down your worries and frustrations, thinking also about personality traits that might make you apply a little more self-pressure to heal quickly. I find a short writing exercise can be helpful to weed out some of the emotions I might be carrying that I don't realize or don't want to realize I'm carrying. Your doctor seems to be giving you some great and helpful guidance. How do you feel towards your PT - especially after they gave you more than you could handle? Have you tried talking to them about your anxieties and worries and how, in the past you could get really caught up in symptoms? Perhaps from a nervous system perspective?

I'm dealing with some medical health issues right now, and I understand the worry. I keep re-framing things from my Dr.'s perspective: he has some concern but not any worry and is simply making sure I am seeing the right type of specialist. Sounds like your Dr. is offering you the same.

 

I should try meditation, I miss yoga but can't do it. I only had that pt guy first time, then they switched me to a lady and she lowered my exercises. She is fine. I didn't mention it but daughter and I have trip planned to Kauai in June for my birthday and closer it gets the more freaked out I am that I am not good enough to go. I think the trip is what's causing me not to have patience and worry for future. I decided today to relax for a few weeks and if I am not better by mid May I will cancel. Dr told me he thought I would be fine by June.