Day 8 Confused again...Schubiner recommends surgery?

Last week I posted regarding my struggle to attribute my symptoms to TMS. I have a herniated L4/5 and severe sciatica in my right leg (can't walk).

One of the suggestions was to be assessed by a trained TMS practitioner to help confirm my TMS diagnosis.

So, I reached out to Dr. Schubiner who did an assessment of my condition.

He recommended surgery for my herniated disc.

Now I am really confused...maybe I misinterpreted things along the way, but it was my understanding that the mind-body/Dr. Sarno theory believe that herniations are the grey hair of the spine and thus don't cause pain? And if they are a natural part of the ageing process then they don't need to be operated on?

Feeling confused...if anyone has some helpful insight I would greatly appreciate it.

 

Hi, momoftwins. I don't blame you for being confused about getting surgery for your herniated disc, and I don't understand Dr. Schubiner's recommendation for surgery since it does go against Dr. Sarno's TMS theory.

I am not a doctor, but would avoid surgery as much as possible.

Surgery may not stop the pain, as others have posted. There are also nonsurgical techniques regarding herniated discs and you might look into them.

Give TMS a longer chance to heal you. Try to believe in TMS 100 percent.

 

Thanks Walt.

I was very surprised to hear this from him. I have watched many of Dr. Schubiner's lectures online and I was of the understanding that he did not believe in surgery when it came to herniated discs.

 

Hi momoftwins,
Did you ask the Dr. why your case was different? Or does he disagree with Dr. Sarno's approach on this specific problem? It seems to me it would be very helpful to have your confusion addressed. I suggest you call, and ask him to answer these questions.
Andy B

 

Did you see him in person?

 

You posted that you cannot walk. If that is so, that likely is what makes your case different in his eyes. Having pain and not being able to walk are two different things. What did Dr. Schubiner tell you was the basis for his thinking?

In the end of course only you can decide what makes the most sense for yourself. But as a general proposition, if both your original doctor who you said believes in TMS and previously advised against surgery, and a TMS specialist such as Dr. Schubiner, are telling you this is an urgent situation and that you need the surgery, I would give that serious consideration. If you still aren't sure, ask more questions. Be specific and don't be afraid to challenge Dr. Schubiner, I am sure he will explain his thinking if he has not already. But don't make the decision on the casual advice of non-medical message board posters.

 

Did you see Schubiner in person?

Did he make his assessment on the basis of the radiological report?

Did he see your images?

 

MOT,

FWIW, here's a thread describing a visit to Dr. Schubiner, by North Star, a member here:

http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/my-meeting-with-dr-schubiner.5208/ (My meeting with Dr. Schubiner)