Biggest piece of evidence yet! It started with the common cold...

Huge piece of evidence! Maybe the biggest piece of evidence since getting symptoms. As some of you know, I’ve had low back pain since November 2024 (diffuse, dull, achy throb), that in September 2025 morphed into butt and pelvic pain neuropathy (pin pricky, burning, chafing). It was gradual, but that was a pretty big piece of evidence—the pain had shifted in location, quality and intensity! Last week, I got an even bigger piece of evidence that my symptoms are neuroplastic: I got a cold.

Yep, it started with the common cold.

I noticed it come on, paid a lot of attn to the signs, started on zinc, nasal spray, bought all the stuff…but the cold came on anyway. And a funny thing happened: Two days later, by Monday am, I barely noticed my butt symptoms at all!! They were like 1/10, which has never happened before.

This was the first time I got sick in 15 months—first time I got sick since the symptoms started.

On Sat, two days earlier, I had a body awareness session with my PT friend Nida (who is a mind/body focused PT in Portland, Oregon working closely with Rebecca Kennedy). She suggested to give up PT altogether, which I’d been considering. But this time, perhaps that permission was what I needed. Especially from a PT. I decided to give it up. Perhaps my brain liked that powerful decision.

By Monday 2/9, I realized that my brain was so preoccupied with these new cold symptoms, that it took it’s eye off of my butt symptoms! The alarm bell was much louder in my sinuses, that my brain was drawn there, sending all kinds of attention. I kept checking in w the butt symptoms and they were negligible. Here and there a little surge of pin pricky, burning but I was so on top of it. “Nope. You are being silly, brain. Hit me with your best shot” And the symptoms died down again. I was living my life, not preoccupied with my body.

I keep saying to my brain: “You’re doing good in there—you moved to my sinuses as you were supposed to do. When this cold ends, you will let go of your grip there—as you are supposed to do. You don’t need to come back to my butt, bc, as you can see, we’re healthy. We’re living our life.”

It is WILD to finally experience what I’ve only read about from many of you in the forums and my work in Dan Ratner's weekly group sessions with the Three Columns work: Trust the process, do the work, send constant messages of safety. And finally, I’m feeling some real progress. When the symptoms flare, I just keep sending these firm (but loving) messages back to my brain. It seems like it’s finally beginning to listen.

I love this cold!!!!

Thank you to all of you who bring hope to us who read these forums, but seldom post. You matter. And your feedback really matters.

The positive maybe,
Greg

 

Excellent post GREG! Now try explaning that to your mom, friends, aunt, grandma as to why They shouldn't get the knee surgery or that ankle surgery or back surgery etc. Not just surgeries but to quit going to the doctor or slowly stop with the tylenols and Motrins. LOL

I do have a stubborn mom and about a year ago, these events happened all at once. Loss of her cat, lost of her good childhood friend, hearing bad news from a family member. Now she has been retired from her job for many years now but she has had newer symtoms (after knee surgery on both knees). She has had frozen shoulder, ibs, finger joint hurting (xray showed no broken bones, everything clean), now she is dealing with phantom UTI. All this in 2025! plus taking all tylenols etc to ease pain.

ALL these symptoms (and the past ones) Ive known deep down NO matter what the mri's and xray showed that its ALL MIND BODY! I dont care what anyone says. too much stress on her..and not counting the many times she walks and goes does yoga and goes to dance class at 65 years old) and goes to PT also.

blood work is always fine but the symtoms are there shifting around. Many times have I tried to explain but cant get through which is ok! I rather her learn on her own.

What did work last time was about her finger...I explained to her things like that happen just to get our attention off of whats really bothering us. Too much stress...overloaded nervous system...and she Actually READ that from some doctor in a magazine! She said she will never go to the doctor if she had pain in her fingers again. I jumped for joy! but its still a far situation from where i really want her to be.
Nothing against the medical industry but I think ALL is mindbody! and ALL starts with stress dude to a overloaded nervous system. if not ALL certainly 95% and up!

Again great story man!