Plantar Fasciitis also TMS?

I’m 57 year old man who’s successfully treated my severe lower back pain (with two herniated discs) through Dr Sarno’s book and recommendations. I’m a believer in TMS.

I recently developed a bad case of plantar fasciitis, which is keeping me from my usual exercise routine. I attributed it to doing a particular karate kata that involves slapping the foot down hard on the ground, not to mention the foot stresses of walking around NYC in a hurry all the time.
However, even after stopping karate, the pain is still strong a month in, and there’s no escaping the similarities between this type of chronic pain with disc/lower back TMS. A further curiosity is that I developed the PF shortly after a colleague at the dojo developed his severe foot pain - I even thought at the time, I bet that’s TMS!

So I recognize that PF is quite possibly TMS, yet it’s not getting better. Any suggestions?

As I write this I’m thinking that I ought to reread Sarno’s classic Healing Back Pain. Maybe start seeing a (mind) therapist again?

 

Yes PF is a TMS diagnosis! Especially in chronic form. Sarno includes this on his initial list of TMS diagnoses, maybe go back and read that, and his other books as well. Other TMS docs also recognize PF as TMS. Walking and doing a hard slap on the ground shouldn't be causing chronic pain at that distance, you have good evidence that you listed above! Have you tried doing the Pain Recovery Program or SEP on this site? Or doing other TMS programs?

 

Yes, adding to what MindBodyPT says.

You're in the right place, sbmumford. You can see my story, which was debilitating foot pain for years, diagnosed often as PF. Surgery offered several times. Traveled by air to see specialists. All TMS.

Every time you read "back pain" or "pain" in the programs at the Wiki or the Dr. Sarno books, think "foot pain." Foot pain is usually TMS if it does not resolve in a few weeks.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Mind/Body. I’ll look into that.

 

Thanks, Andy. I like what you say in your story, about an invitation to “come back to yourself”.
Do you believe that therapy (mental) is an important tool?

 

Hi sbmumford,

Each person is a little different. Some want therapy/coaching (which overlap in many ways) right off the bat, because they they're excited to get to bottom of their issues, or want direction and reassurance, and /or are deeply exhausted from years of pain and symptoms.


I suggest you do the free programs at the Wiki, read lot's of Sarno, deeply connect all you read to your life. If you're not seeing improvement after a couple of months, then deeper work, or assistance with deeper work is helpful. Dr. Schubiner's book Unlearn Your Pain is like "therapy in a book." Good luck!

Andy B