Sciatica

Hi all

I haven't been around for a while. I have been generally feeling better but over the past few days I have had a lot of pain. I just went to the GP and he said he thinks it's sciatica and is sending me for a referral to a back pain clinic where I will probably have an MRI. I am okay with this in some ways as want to get it checked out but feel saddened and frustrated as I was doing so well and the thought of lots of assessment and treatment seems to be the opposite of how to recover from TMS. I feel like I don't know what to do.I want the pain to go but don't want to get obsessed with something wrong with me. I sort of feel like I have failed at dealing with TMS and am now back to therapies and treatments and restrictions.

Any advice, dear friends?

 

if the MRI isn't costing you anything it wouldn't do any harm to hear what they have to say. if something does show, take rest and read success stories of people who recovered from sciatica. it is likely there will be no structural reason for the pain and this could enforce the view that the origin is TMS

 

Heleng,

I had sciatica (together with many other symptoms) and im almost healed now with TMS treatment. What was your original pain? This sounds like a typical ''symptom imperative'' case you have. The symptoms are changing because you managed to deal well with the previous source of pain.

Goodluck!

 

My original problem was low back pain and knee pain and symptoms similar to sciatica. As I have been seeing the problems as TMS the pain has subsided a lot and things have improved. Last week I found out that a close friend has terminal cancer and since then the pain has been bad and upsetting and I went to see my doctor as I was worried and I wasn't surprised about his diagnosis but unsure of how to tackle it. I feel I need treatment but am disappointed with feeling this way.

 

I recovered from 16 years of chronic sciatica by reading Dr. Sarno's books and doing his suggestions. It wasn't easy, but it worked. This was after 2 years of intense chiropracty (which did no good), PT, and a surgeon recommending spinal fusion. Thank God I never did that!

There's no harm in getting an MRI, but take anything the so-called experts tell you with a BIG grain of salt.

I guess my questions for you is, what are you doing to try and get better? If you're not doing it already, the Structured Educational Program may help. http://www.tmswiki.org/ppd/Structured_Educational_Program

 

Hi, Heleng. Thinking, worrying about your friend's terminal cancer probably triggered TMS repressed emotions in you
that are causing recurrences of pain. I too hope you will get the MRI and whatever the results, start the SEP.
It will help you to discover those repressed emotions and find ways to solve them. Dr. Sarno says it's not even necessary
to solve them, just recognize them.

 

Hi Heleng,

I had a ruptured disc in my lower back L4L5 over 20 years ago. I had back surgery, lamenectomy, but my sciatica stuck around for several years after the surgery. I want to mention this because even if they do find a "structural" cause, that doesn't mean that the prescribed treatment is effective. Have you read Hascom's "Back in Control" book? I know its hard because when you are in pain, you just want a solution and it is enticing to think that perhaps surgery would solve it. If you already know you have TMS, I would stick with all you know about TMS recovery. Its not that its bad to get an MRI or anything, but several years ago when I had severe neck/shoulder/occipital pain I felt compelled to get an MRI and then when it showed multiple bulging and ruptured cervical discs and the doctors were recommending I see a neurosurgeon, it really conflicted me and I think slowed my recovery considerably. Here I am 2 years later with no neck pain or shoulder pain and no surgery. It was a long road to get here though.

 

HelenG
As IrisSkeptic suggested, if it doesn't cost you, get it done and you might soon have the peace of mind that your back and hip are just fine, and continue with the TMS approach without distractions.

Just remember that you are in an emotionally vulnerable state right now, worrying about your friend's cancer, so don't let any negative or confusing news alarm you - remember self-care comes first and worry=pain. And keep in mind the poor correlation of medical imaging findings with actual symptoms, as per this poster: https://zl163.infusionsoft.com/app/linkClick/3282/4760de0fa3a1e27a/138220/5393b012e16823f4

But most of all, use your intuition. If you think getting more tests will disturb your peace, don't do it. Sciatica is no emergency, it won't get worse just because you don't treat it right away. Wait and see what happens, listen to your feelings and do whatever seems right.

 

I see neighbors and even strangers who have had hips replaced and they still walk like they did before, and in pain, too.
I see the same with people who have gotten back surgery but never healed. George Clooney and James Garner both had repeated back surgery
but never healed. It's all TMS.

Anne, you've proven it... Pain is from TMS, repressed emotions. Your belief in TMS and subsequent recovery from pain is an inspiration to us all.

 

That MRI scan can create powerful nocebo I found. The image of degenerating discs stuck in my mind for a long time when I was trying to visualise positive things and tell myself my back was healthy. Do what you feel gives you most peace but if you haven't had an MRI before be aware that it can send you down the path of medical intervention. It did for me before I learnt about TMS. That MRI image made me desparate for surgery, I would hate it to do that to you.
Like others suggest, can you start the SEP again. I sometimes give it all a break and feel better, then some emotional turmoil happens and I have to do the hard work again. It is a life long process. You have a huge emotional turmoil with your friends diagnosis, so exploring this would be important.

 

It's as slow as an atomic cesium clock, but one thing I've noticed, HelenG, is that the further I move away from the deaths of my parents, in particular the death of my mother in 2001, the less and less back pain and sciatica I have. When you get perspective on your own situation and correlate your emotional state with the appearance of your symptoms, your sciatica will begin to subside just like mine did. The hard-earned part is acquiring that perspective of course. Journaling to uncover those emotions. Meditation to get distance on them. Takes time to change your neural biochemistry, at least it did for me.

 

Hi all

Many thanks for all your support, it really helps. I have calmed down a lot the past couple of days and the pain has too. I have mixed feelings about the MRI but my instinct is to have it as I honestly believe it will show there isn't too much wrong and I feel that will spur me on. I am like most people in that I want a pain free life but the pain does seem to be here for a reason and I doubt it's purely medical. I feel I want to speak to a specialist but I know it is just for some information and I will do what I feel is best for me. I too have friends who had surgery and are no better. I do not intend to put myself through that. My muscles and back pain are an extension of deeper pain which I know is there and I feel my biggest obstacle is to learn how to understand my inner self and create the peace I need. I feel meditation would help but I find it frustrating and upsetting. This reaction shows me that I am resisting going deeper and letting go. And I need to keep going. I am fed up of fighting myself.