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Shingles & Buttock Pain

Discussion in 'General Discussion Subforum' started by mikeinlondon, May 13, 2025.

  1. mikeinlondon

    mikeinlondon Peer Supporter

    Ok, I apologise for this thread beforehand. I'm new and trying to get to grips with TMS. I'm looking for support. I have read Sarno's books, his lectures and the associated movie. I also read Weeks's books. After 8 months on buttock pain when sitting I came to the conclusion that the pain is 100% TMS. Just a few days ago the burning increased to what I thought was a boil in my left buttock. I went to a couple of dermatologists and they said it's highly probable I have shingles. Shingles can cause neuralgia. I've been prescribed antivirals. Now, there is such a thing as internal shingles i.e. shingles that affect the organs without a visible rash. Now my brain is telling me "... you see, all along his pain is due to a viral outbreak and nothing to do with this rage you talk about ... silly you and silly TMS BS". Now I'm doubting again and it's driving me crazy. I know ultimately it's the brain facilitating this because stress could cause shingles but once there's a viral outbreak how could that be attributed to TMS? If shingles virus can damage the sensory nerves then that is the action of a virus. This is what my brain is telling me i.e. it's not me, silly you, it's the fault of a virus ... leave me alone and stop talking to me about this TMS garbage.

    On another note my psychologist thinks the teachings of TMS isn't incompatible with her EMDR therapy. She does not believe pain is a result of deep seated rage, of which I have no awareness of, within the unconscious. She believes I am aware of the reasons for my anger and rage (neglect from childhood and the associated injustice of it all) and the pains are a result of the brain reaching breaking point i.e. nervous system on high alert. She was telling me that talking to your brain isn't helpful and believes I must focus 100% on EMDR. Sarno advocates psychiatry for those individuals that need it and I believe that I'm one of those. My symptoms are too severe and extreme.

    I know I must put aside all diagnosis made by medical doctors but how do I tell myself that the pains I'm experiencing are not due to a viral outbreak in my nerves? What if what my brain is telling me is valid i.e. shingles -> nerve damage -> pain i.e. not TMS?

    Has any of you tried EMDR and do you think it's compatible with TMS? It's interesting that BloodMoon resolved her buttock pain as TMS. I'm literally exhausted from all the pain and symptoms. My brain is tiring me out and it's making me feel suicidal. Every time I make progress and I collate the all the evidence that it's TMS the brain brings a physical symptom that points to an infection. Several months ago I was urinating blood clots! It's insane as UTI's are so rare for males esp excreting clots of blood! The past year has been horrendous.
     
  2. Cactusflower

    Cactusflower Beloved Grand Eagle

    Shingles ARE a pain in the a**! I’ve had boils, I’ve had shingles. Yuck. The good thing is they are treatable and preventable in the future.
    I got both during times of high anxiety and excitement: both can affect the nervous system.
    I did see an EMDR therapist for a short time, and she also did not fully “get” Sarno (until after our sessions and reading Sarno). They believe our subconscious “filing system” has what I describe as a terrible secretary. Files of your life: experiences, memories etc don’t get filed correctly Essentially dumped in a big pile on the floor (which is true, the subconscious does not know time, and other human constructs). EMDR essentially helps you file those things in a way so they the emotions and even thoughts surrounding them become more clear and over time, no longer seem to be such triggering events.
    However after my therapy and what ended up being evident, my therapist agreed with the fact I probably had subconscious anger and was groomed not to feel it. Separation anxiety was the big fear.
    We never got to the root of where this began, we did not have to. We had a session that did not seem miraculous to me, but that was it. She ended things there (we had been slowing down) and within 4 months my anxiety was 95% better. During our sessions I did the SEP again so that the benefits of EMDR would carry over to that work, and I could do it with my heart instead of an anxious mind.
    Pain, I still had the same pain, but that’s when things started to get much better.
     
  3. mikeinlondon

    mikeinlondon Peer Supporter

    That’s useful! So what essentially helped you with physical pain reduction? Are you saying the SEP and reading Sarno helped you more with the physical pain than EMDR? I know of a TMS therapist that can do PTSD hypnotherapy. Have you tried that?
     

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