Susan1111

I have had tension in my neck for as long as I can remember. This past summer while on vacation I started getting a shooting pain in my upper trapezoid muscle. I couldn't relate the pain to any activity as it would happen at the oddest moments as in just sitting and having breakfast.

When I got home I spoke to my friend and acupuncturist and she gave me a few sessions prior to her trip overseas. However the shooting pain remained. I then mentioned it to my Pilates teacher who recommended that I see her chiropractor. I've never had success with them but I trusted my teachers recommendation. Fast forward to my appointment and he couldn't believe what lack of motion my neck had. He kept away from my neck and did manipulation on my upper back which also was quite tight. His advise keep moving. So I kept moving/exercising and the pain became so bad I couldn't sleep.

I had an appointment to see my general Dr. I mentioned my issue to him and he could see that my muscles were in spasm. He recommended PT. I would try anything at this point! The PT diagnosed me as having a pinched nerve. Stop moving wear a collar as you have a foward head and we need to correct that. I saw him twice a week for stimulation therapies, etc...I was slowly improving and started to exercise again but not without using a collar.

Having a massage was mentioned to me and that sounded like a wonderful idea. I found someone in my neighborhood who was more than someone who gave massages he had a very strong spiritual guidance side. To make this story shorter it was him who mentioned Dr Sarno! I went home got one of his books immediately and started reading. There I was on his pages...he was talking about me!

It turns out that my Pilates teacher had worked with Dr Sarno way back when and was very familiar with TMS...she knows me well and concurred that TMS was an accurate diagnosis. I went on line and found Dr Rauchbaum. I waited two months to see him. I was officially diagnosed by him this past Nov. Yes he saw my X-ray of my severe degeneration ( that of course put me over the edge).

Currently the pain has moved around so have my emotions. I'm taking a good hard look at myself and have started therapy.
Although I believe my issue is TMS and not structural I have yet to convince my brain....

I am still obsessed with my neck...I'm trying and do have another appointment with Dr. Rauchbaum the end of Jan as I wanted to give myself time to work this out.

That's my story...tbc...