My success story

I have been lurking on this forum for a while and wanted to thank everybody here for the compassion expressed and wonderfully informative posts. Now I feel it is the right time to post my story. Warning - it goes on but I hope it will help others who are going through a similar process. I know reading the success stories here has helped me.

Here goes – it started seemingly out the blue over 2 years ago with pelvic pain, intense fatigue and stomach pains. The pelvic pain and tiredness was constant; the stomach pains just at night effectively ruining my sleep. The first dr I saw said I probably just sprained a muscle, take painkillers and stop all exercise for a while. As an active person who had always enjoyed exercise this was hard to hear but at that stage I believed him. I followed his advice and got steadily worse. I couldn’t sit down and became totally focussed on my pain. It took all my energy just to get through the day at work. At night I would go home and cry. I felt frightened, confused and didn’t understand what was happening to me.

Further visits to the drs followed and tests / scans all of which came back clear. My doctor put me on amitriptyline which helped with nerve pain but increased my tiredness. I started making mistakes at work. Going out became an endurance test rather than a pleasure. Exercise I thought was no longer possible. I felt my world getter smaller. The pain persisted and intensified spreading to my legs and lower back. Doctor suggested doubling my painkillers and sent me for a biopsy which thankfully was clear. By now my anxiety was through the roof and I was having panic attacks.

I saw a consultant privately at a pain clinic who diagnosed vulvodynia, irritable bladder and IBS. He didn’t really explain the fatigue. Over the next few months I tried the usual things CBT, physio, stretching exercises, trigger point therapy, Pete Egoscue method as the physio had said my posture was bad.
In desperation I went to a therapist who specialised in myofasical release. She was sympathetic, professional and explained that all my muscles around my pelvis, back and legs were incredibly tight and stressed which was causing my pain. Initially I went to her on a weekly basis feeling exhausted and beaten up – but it did give me a break from the pain. I think now knowing that my tight muscles could be eased gave me a glimmer of hope and I started deep breathing techniques and mindfulness which also helped. I also had some 1:1 pilates sessions which helped but cost a fortune. Four months later I came off the painkillers and felt better for it but my tailbone / back pain persisted. Sitting down was still a problem. By now I had purchased a coccyx cushion which helped me get through the day at work .
I first heard about Sarno on a pain forum where someone was saying it had been a miracle. I admit I was sceptical thinking “is this just another bandwagon I’ve got to jump on?” but later I went back and re-read the posts. I bought Healing Back Pain and saw myself on every page. My fatigue disappeared but the tailbone pain and anxiety persisted. So I started to exercise again very carefully at first – I had a lot of fear about making things worse but I gradually built this up and now I do yoga and kick-boxing without fear. I stopped using my props (rolled up towel under back, another one for feet, foam roll for trigger points, stretches, cushion). Giving up the cushion was hard, I did it in stages a few minutes at a time and now I can spend a whole day at work without using it. I started going out again. I stopped seeing the myofascial therapist. I also read The Great Pain Deception which taught me a lot of home truths and Claire Weekes which has helped me a great deal with the anxiety and panic attacks. I meditate on a daily basis too which really calms my mind down.
I’m not pain free yet and certain stressors (thanks to the SEP I know what these are) still trigger an increase in pain but now I know why, I know how to calm myself down and I know it will pass. I’m getting there – a work in progress. Sorry it’s a long read but hopefully if there are people reading this with similar symptoms it will help. Please don’t give up you can get there it takes time, belief, support and a lot of patience.

 

Hi, Labrador. I found your post very interesting and inspirational.
Dr. Sarno and Claire Weeks are both fantastic, aren't they?

I just watched a Youtube video on how imagery (imagining ourself in a calm, peaceful place)
can turn anxiety into calmness. I think it's worth watching:

How Your Brain Can Turn Anxiety Into Calmness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...ekjiAog

Wishing you well in everything.

 

Hi Walt, thank you for your kind words. I have been very helped and inspired by your posts in the past. Thanks also for the youtube clip, I'll take a look. I do use the imagining myself in a safe place imagery and also imagining that I have a more compassionate version of myself or a compassionate guide looking after me and soothing me. This helps me if I can think of doing it!

I love the Claire Weekes book / audio and find it really helps to just allow the feeling flow even when I'm rigid with tension...

Hi Jan, thanks for your encouragement. It was quite emotional posting but as you say I hope my story hits the right note for someone & helps them keep going. Here's to all of us and work in progress

Kate