Mclean

My story starts at 17 following a dislocated knee in a hockey game (more than 25 yrs ago). While all tests showed a perfectly healed knee within weeks, my pain persisted and spread to my lower back, then to buttocks, thigh, and ultimately all the way down my leg. Knee surgery, knee and back braces, PT, Chiropractic, shoe lifts, TENS unit, acupuncture, and countless meds. Ultimately, I had to give up sports and after about 4 years, while in college, I made the decision to forgo any more forms of medical treatment. My parents were incredibly supportive but I felt like a burden and the efforts were futile anyhow. What I realized (before I ever heard about Sarno), was that my pain was no worse after using my back and leg than it was sitting around doing nothing. My roommate and I started lifting weights religiously, yet I refrained from doing leg and back exercises at first. I then gradually introduced leg and back workouts and was as healthy as I had been in years but still in pain. My only recollection is walking up a usually dreaded hill to classes one day and coming to the realization that I was no longer in any pain. I was in shock and celebrated alone as not many people knew what I was dealing with all those years. Pain free was short lived as the next year found me with a frozen shoulder and I fell back to a similar mindset of being careful, etc. While at home on break, Sarno's Healing Back Pain book was on my Dad's bureau and for some reason I picked it up and dug in. I had the experience like so many others and saw myself on every page. I had found the answer. For the most part I have lived my life and worked through several other pains including wrist pain, multiple bouts with plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, constipation, and many others. With a few exceptions I have always successfully leaned on Sarno's books and moved through these pains mostly with ease. ( I did get hung on my piziform wrist bone pain early when learning about Sarno). When I went back to the gym and tried to forget about it, it went away. Yet here I am at 43 with symptoms consistent with trigenimal neuralgia/glossopharygeal neuralgia. Of course it started with a sore throat in February and COVID didn't help with fear. Other symptoms converged now to include globus sensation, metallic taste in mouth, excess throat clearing, severe, stabbing ear pain, swallowing issues, etc. Endoscopy was clear and no ear issues CT scan negative (ER visit). I then develop shock like pain on same side as throat and ear on my head and now some dizziness. Im in it again. While i should know better, I find myself struggling with what direction to go as it is difficult if not unhealthy to toe the line with TMS and structural. However, I feel compelled to rule out or in a diagnosis (although just a collection of symptoms) and I have a neurologist followup. I'm a bit ashamed to say I took my first medication today. Im encouraged by the amazing TN success stories while still being scared about its symptoms. I also want to work through this programs not on the diagnostic fence. Also important to note is that anxiety and depression played a role in my life even when not in pain.