Surgery Complications or classic TMS

Hi there, quick question
I hope that maybe some of you who had back surgeries can comment on this issue.

I had a minimally invasive neucloplasty at L5-S1 4 months ago, where they do a discogram beforehand to see I the pain comes from that disc etc.. Apparently I said yes to the pain when they did the discogram, but I cannot remember that at all.

Surgery didn't help but Since the surgery I have been getting this nasty pain which seems to be coming right from the L5-S1 disc and which comes only at night! Not every night but when it does I have to give it a couple of days to go back to normal. I wasn't getting that pain before, I used to sleep really well.

I also got an MRI after the surgery which doesn't show anything wrong, as a matter of fact it looks identical to the one before the surgery.

I believe I have TMS but this is really making me doubt that there could be something more to it. Should I get an MRI with contrast??

Thanks for your comments

 

You've had surgery that hasn't helped, and medical exams which find nothing wrong with you. I think you now have to believe 100 percent that your symptoms are caused by emotions you are repressing. You'v already gotten an MRI and it showed no problems, so why get another? You seem to be hoping you don't have TMS. Don't go that route. Believe in TMS and I am confident it will heal you.

 

Hi Walt, thanks for your comment.
No on the contrary, I am hoping I do have TMS. I guess it is just hard to let go.
I have an appointment with a psychologist tomorrow actually and hopefully they are able to help me with those emotions.

 

I had a spinal fusion and guess what ? It didn't help...like Dr. Sarno God rest his soul said "PLACEBO".

 

Hi loathfoals,

I personally take issue with any health treatment when it "requires" a unconditional 100% acceptance.

I injured both shoulders in a surfing accident about 18 years ago. I was out of the country when it happened and didn't get home for about 3 weeks. I went to one Dr. who x rayed and told me he couldn't find anything and that I probably tore some muscles, 2 weeks later as my pain was not subsiding, i went back and said I wanted a MRI taken, he tsk tsked me but I got the MRI, it showed nothing. The way the Dr. treated me was condescending to say the least, you know, one of those guys who is on his way out the door as soon as they come in. Well, got rid of him, did some research and found a Surgeon who was a well respected shoulder specialist. I brought in the X-rays and MRI and he told me he wanted to re do the MRI with contrast. I don't like the idea of stuff being put in my body, but he took the time to explain clearly why it was important so that he could properly address my problem. After the MRI he told me that I had rotator cuff tears in both my shoulders, one of which was quite substantial and in addition, I had some arthritic changes in the joint where the clavicle meets the shoulder. I discussed my options with him, again, he took full time to answer all my questions and was not in a hurry to get out even though I was aware he has a busy practice. I was concerned about the down time, he said if it was repaired using the micro surgery, it would be about 4-6 weeks recovery which was ok with me.

I asked him if I would have full movement after and he said "well, the only thing you might have trouble with would be undoing your bra everything else should be fine". I told him as long as it didn't effect me from taking bras off others i'll be ok with that.
He did say that he could not guarantee that he could do it all during the microsurgery because he did not know if he could stay at the scope for that long as he was going to address the arthritis at the same time. so, there was a possibility that he might do a conventional opening up. I asked him about the recovery time for that and he said 6 mo. I simply could not afford to take the chance of that much down time and asked him," How about some PT geared towards strengthening the area, and if I eventually did something to blow the whole shoulder up would I be doing further unrepairable damage or would he be able to fix it up at that point. My thinking being that if I could postpone or prevent surgery for several years, the technology would be better. He agreed that that would be good alternative to operating and explained that no matter what I did to it he would be able to fix it.

It took me quite a bit of time, and I was fortunate to have a PT willing to work and push me, but I have been able to strengthen the area to the degree that I swim 8-12 miles a week doing a fairly intensive work out.

my advice, find a DR you can talk to and gain some trust, if you don't think they are interested in you getting better, run for the door and find another one. one way I have found to deal with Drs in this day and age is to write down your questions before you go and stand between the dr and the door when you ask them so they do not do that talking to you with their hand on the doorknob routine!