ter456

Hello to All:

I am brand new here and I want to apologize in advance for this very long post.

I am experiencing a multitude of what I believe to be TMS symptoms. I actually saw Dr. Sarno in NYC 17 years ago for chronic pelvic pain, shoulder pain and a few other things. At the time, there was a lot of switching (symptom imperative). I was in a horrible marriage and when I left the symptoms gradually disappeared.

Fast forward 17 years later (I am now 65). The pelvic pain is now back in my life for the last 3 years. My husband and I have moved 7 times in the last 5 years and with each move existing pain got worse or new ones developed. And of course other losses (deaths, shutting down my small business after 10 years, etc.)

We are now in California, but our previous move to AZ is when I developed shoulder pain (worse in right) and back pain (pretty bad) that radiates into my buttocks. I have had the shoulder and back pain for over a year, Didn't see a doctor then because no one took my insurance.

I have recently had an MRI of my pelvic and lumbar spine. Pelvic totally normal and spine only the normal degenerative issues (e.g. 2 bulging discs, mild spinal stenosis).

I recently went to a shoulder specialist who diagnosed me with bursitis/impingement syndrome. One shoulder near the top portion indicated that I had less space there then the left. He gave me a cortisone shot which did ZERO and in fact feel more pain since I had my visit. He gave me a prescription for physical therapy which I haven't done yet.

I read a fascinating thread hear about inflammation in TMS and how many of you have had it. I requested an MRI to be done on my right shoulder because I was trying to determine if there was inflammation to warrant the bursitis diagnosis (this was before I read the thread here on inflammation).

The MRI (I picked up the report and haven't discussed with the shoulder specialist since I am seeing Dr. Schechter, TMS doc in less than two weeks in LA. Just wondering if any of you have had some similar things show up on an MRI and still being diagnosed with TMS or following the program and having your symptoms improve?

It indicated that I have "trace fluid in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa." I find this very confusing since there should be some fluid in there for cushioning/protection from what I've read. I also read that bursitis occurs when there is more fluid in there that what is considered normal. So, "trace" amounts seems very confusing to me. It also indicated mild tendinosis under the "Rotator Cuff" section. Yet, it said "no edema was present." So, under "Impression," it included "Trace Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis."

I know at least one of the doc's in "Divided Mind," indicated that there was no proof that inflammation even exists (which I found odd) and that even Sarno said that in many cases inflammation is not the cause of pain.

I know Dr. Schechter mentions in his book that some things such as partial rotator cuff tears or swollen bursa could warrant physical therapy or cortisone shots (while many other TMS doc's look at partial tears as not concerning including Sarno. X-Ray did not indicate tears, but MRI indicated that I had or is suggestive of "long'standing, partial-thickness articular-sided tears." I have no idea what "long-standing" means in terms of time....5 years...10 years...20 years?

Anyway, I am hoping my shoulder issue is TMS. At least one doc in "Divided Mind," indicated he thought that shoulder bursitis, impingement and rotator cuff issues were usually TMS.

Anyway, thank you for listening/reading this long post and feel free to comment.