Responding to Back Pain. . . Again

@Nanell
My first thought was you are getting somewhere! Your TMS brain brought in some more symptoms in a place where you’ve been scared in the past. It’s got you thinking physical now. Right where it wants you. You guessed it when you said it’s rattling your cage. The timing of this just completely points to TMS moving around.

I’d get out some paper and a pen and just “write sh*t down,” as they say on here. Sounds like the trip was loaded with all sorts of emotional topics. Your sons are “comforting.” What’s not comforting, in comparison? Your whole family is going through things. “Since my adoptive mom died in’22, a lot of the family dynamics have undergone an amazing amount of change as we all process difficulties from our childhoods.”

it sounds like you work hard in therapy, which is awesome! What I’ve learned on here is sometimes it’s something in plain sight that your TMS brain is trying to keep you from uncovering.

So great to hear you had a fun vacation with the family. Have you read Alan Gordon’s new book, The Way Out? You might like it. In the audio version, he reads it.

stay the course! You got this!

 

There's something about that 6 - 0 number, isn't there?
That and parents passing and the feeling of "moving up" in the line who's next are really powerful fear inducers.

 

Valid points all around. Thanks. I’ve not had the same left pain today but a whole host of other symptoms. A firestorm for sure but lots of moving forward, good journaling and read, read, read. Aging for sure mixed with some post-Covid and lots of change, prepared to avoid alarm and hoping to arrive soon at a new growth stage.

 

Things are moving quickly from one pain area to a new one. Now that my back is feeling better, no longer a worry, and I made the decision to stop OTC pain pills because I think they're causing digestive unrest (been there, done that before) and not really helping, my body keeps morphing from one pain to another. Yesterday was front right groin pain, a point which the chiropractor said indicated some kind of allergy? Don't know. Today sunburned skin feeling all over chest, back and abdomen (I see the wiki threads are full of that symptom) and now most of the pain seems to have shifted from back pain to front pain, like I've done a hundred situps and spasming from it. Before most symptoms were on the right and now both front and back on the left are the ouchy area. I'm talking to my unconscious, deep down know I'm HEALthy! and trying to do soothing things and reading The Way Out which is great. I guess most importantly am more assured that I'm in the throes of a TMS storm. It's always hard for me to not feel guilty if I don't run to medical with each complaint that hits me but in this case, it about seems textbook TMS and attempting to schedule a zillion tests would only prolong and exacerbate the fear factor with me. It has also been significant to me that both the chiropractor and the PT I started seeing once a week, seem to think I'm actually doing well, no big concerns, and a little puzzled why I'm in so much pain. PT is not so much for pain relief but working on building core strength and that's exactly what she's doing. Both are good listeners and open to TMS info. Another positive is that I have been the most active and feeling closer to normal since this started a month ago!

 

Question for helpful long-time members. I see somewhere in the threads that Dr. Alan Gordon had made available some Pain Reprocessing tutorials. Also noticed a while back something about his having made a few counselors available for a more affordable price thru TMS wiki? I am not sure how to access that information and maybe it's old. Is that different than the Pain Recovery Program? I just read The Way Out and feel that that style of framing and coaching fits me the best.

 

Hi, Nanell,
If you liked the book, you would like the Pain Recovery Program! (I don’t know about any tutorials or counseling. Maybe someone else does.)

 

Thanks! About the time back pain was getting manageable, long Covid seems to have intensified and kicked all the above into high gear. Seems like a coach or guide would be good at this overwhelming point.

 

My current worst symptoms came on at the tail end of having Covid last year. I think I was just super pissed off that I got Covid for the first time and I was good and sick. All that time during the pandemic I was mortally terrified to get Covid, which also contributed to my hypersensitive nervous system. All in all, I’d say long COVID is just mega-TMS. My doctor diagnosed me with deconditioning due to long COVID. But she really didn’t have an explanation for what was happening to me. That’s all she could come up with.

 

It’s a complex thing and yes I am well aware long-Covid is also TMS/ neuroplastic pain. Have listened to many of the Nichole Sachs podcasts and lots of others and their great recovery stories.
I hear exactly what you’re saying Diana-M and appreciate and empathize with your background so much. Ready to continue on this journey of self-discovery.

 

Best of luck on your journey!