Facial nerve pain 7 months after surgery, pretty sure it's TMS. Need help with anxiety.

I've always been a pretty anxious person growing up. 3 years ago my entire life got turned upside down due to severe eye pain that eventually led to me losing my career, friends and relationships. My eye problems were mostly structure issues, but I do believe my pain was amplified by my brain. Fast forward to Sept 2023, I got orbital decompression surgery that fixed a portion of my eye issues. The 3 months after surgery, all was well. My eyes were feeling better, I had a little bit of nerve pain on my cheeks but it wasn't anything serious. It got better and better until Feb 2024 where I wore a tight eye mask that worsened the nerve pain on my cheek and lower eyelid. The nerve pain got worse, extremely hypersensitive, and the area spread. I've become extremely anxious because of it, and I have a LOT of fear around the pain since the face pain is preventing me from treating my eye issues.

Here is why I think the facial pain is TMS:

• Started during a period of stress and worsens from stress; very clear correlation actually
• Delayed onset - the pain often gets worse AFTER an activity, not during the activity
• Pain area spreads, and feels different all the time. It alternates between aching, soreness, tingling, pins and needles and itchy
• My surgeon says this complication is very very unusual, and never had anything similar happen. Bc the nerve pain after surgery got better, and then worse which is very unusual
• I started experiencing sore joints, IBS and constant muscle twitches around the eye when the pain flared again
• History of childhood adversity, and have all the classic personality traits of being high risk of developing chronic or neuroplastic pain

There are also some factors that indicate that it might not be full TMS:

• I did have surgery which probably did cause nerve damage
• The pain got worse after I wore the tight eye mask which could have compressed or irritated my already damaged nerves
• The side of my face with nerve pain is still visually more swollen and red from surgery

To address the anxiety and TMS, I am currently:

• Exercising at least once a day
• Getting into meditation
• Somatic tracking
• Talking to a pain reprocessing therapist
• Consuming TMS content on youtube
• Taking nerve pain supplements and changed my diet to extremely healthy to promote nerve regeneration and reduce inflammation

Unfortunately, the above isn't enough. I'm still extremely anxious and my fear level is very high.

My questions for the community:

1. It's been 7 months post-surgery, so it's possible that my nerves are still regenerating. For TMS to work, do I have to completely believe that 100% of my pain is TMS?
2. What else can I do to calm down the nervous system naturally? It's hard for me to take medications because it dries out my eyes which increases my eye pain.
3. Are there any specific TMS programs or anxiety reducing programs that you recommend? I'm struggling...
4. Should I be doing multiple TMS approaches at once? Or just focus on one thing, like only do somatic tracking? Ex. There's also Nicol Sach's journal speak, Moskowitz visualization for neuroplasticity, processing repressed emotions, etcs.
5. I feel like I could be over researching TMS and neuroplasticity. Could that make it worse?

Thank you!!

 

You do not have to believe 100% in TMS. That you are open to the idea is enough, and it is wonderful you are so open minded.
My suggestions are to stop doing things like "interventions" to "cure" TMS or symptoms. Do it slowly if you need to, but these things like dietary changes etc. only reinforce that something is "wrong" in your brain. Inflammation is actually proven to be caused by chemicals related to the stress response. Once your nervous system is more calm, inflammation is reduced.
We carry MUCH stress in our eyes, head and jaw - remind yourself that you will begin to feel better soon. Right now your goal is to end the suffering which is going along with the symptoms. You might still feel the symptoms, but you are exactly right about the current goal, to calm the nervous system and begin to let your brain know that you are safe.
The idea of safety at this stage is often difficult because people often equate safety with "feeling nothing". You are alive, otherwise healthy, and I am assuming you have a roof over your head, food to eat and warm bed. You are safe. This is your message.
First thing you need to do, if you have not yet done so is read or listen to a book by Dr. Sarno, the Divided Mind might be a good start because it presents a wide variety of TMS symptoms.
Pay very close attention to Sarno's "Treatment" - which includes emotional work in particular with unrecognized (subconcious rage) and the idea that we have created a presence to the world which may not align to our true self. This is a cause of much rage, and tension. This is the part that Nichole Sach's deals with in particular with her Journalspeak. You can begin this, or not. Whatever you prefer at this stage. You can always do it later on, in a few weeks or a few months if you feel the need.
Continue with your pain reprocessing therapist, and after reading Sarno, if you have not yet, read Alan Gordon's book The Way Out.
Claire Weekes is the mother of anxiety therapy. Her easy to find and cheap books (also audio available and she reads the books herself) give explicit directions on how to deal with anxiety, and her suggestions WORK. They are absolutely in line with mindfulness and meditation and I highly recommend reading her after the other two books. You'll see where her work meshes so well with Sarno and Gordon.

Know that you are here with people who understand and are "listening". You are not alone. It can be hard to grasp, after the medical issues you have deal with, that the suffering you are going through is the worst of all of this.
I do not recommend Somatic Tracking at this point in your journey, it is recommended for people with more moderate symptoms and less anxiety. Your therapist can help you work up to Somatic Tracking, meditation or breathing exercises are a great way to begin working up to Somatic Tracking when you have a lot of pain.

Medication is not necessary and does not "treat" TMS.
Exercise is a lifestyle choice and does not "treat" TMS.
Supplements do not treat TMS.

Over researching and focusing on all the more "cognitive" elements does, indeed not help at all. Dial it back! This is not rocket science, although it can feel like some of the concepts are so impossibly "different".
Hurrying, desperation, searching for a "cure", creating massive amounts of self-pressure to "heal" etc. creates much internal anxiety and stress.
Focus on: Read the recommended books in the order suggested, and take your time doing it. Work with the pain reprocessing therapy, take a look at the Nichole Sach's journaling and see what you think. Give your hand to meditation or breathing practice. Start small and see which you prefer.
Occasionally watch a TMS video on youtube. Just one every few days.

Live life as fully as you can at this time. Find anything you can do to enjoy even one second of each day right now. It will help you remind yourself you are safe and even for one second, get your mind off of the symptoms. Exercise is an excellent way to do this, if you enjoy it!

What was going on in your life in February 2024? How were you feeling mentally?
You realize that the idea of something as benign as an eye mask causing these symptoms really does make sense. Dr. Sarno's first line of treatment is to "Think Psychological", so think back to what was going on at that time for you and leading up to that time.

You are doing great! You are on your way by embracing the ideas and concepts as possibilities.

 

Thank you, I private messaged you!

 

Thank you, this is an amazing message. I'm so glad to have found this community.