Those constant symptoms...

I see what you're saying. I think it's just too draining on me mentally this time to start over. The PT process for PHT is extensive and kinda exhausting to return to sport.

 

You're disheartened and disillusioned, I get that.

But you don't even know anything just yet. Your TMS brain has you fully catastrophizing based on scant evidence of anything. Some day in the future (hopefully near) you're going to look back on this period of despair and laugh.

 

I do know I have PHT and the hip issues, that was already diagnosed. The only unknown right now is the shin stuff.

 

For what its worth, I feel like I'm still playing whack-a-mole with my symptoms every now and then. Some random pain shoots down, or I'll be bloated again, or I'll lose a night of sleep. But the most important lesson I think I have ever learned on this forum is.....outcome independence. I have to remind myself almost every single day. "It will be FINE, even if this never goes away". In fact, recently I've been having a lot ringing in my ear (tinnitus), and it scares me....but then I have to check myself and repeat the same safety phrases I've learned over the years. And just not care as much. And then it seems to always go away...

 

I don't know your full history, but at my bottom I was basically helpless and had no hope (well, I tied up all of my hope into an upcoming surgery). Constant pain, and fear of making it worse, I limited my mobility and did a lot of laying in bed, and even navigated my home in crutches! I recall being in the shower and thinking my hip was going to throw itself out of socket. I also lost significant weight (15lbs under my high school weight). I was a mess.

My point is I look back at that and marvel that I could let it get that bad, but it was TMS all along. You may not believe it now, but you'll navigate this the same way and look back in awe that it could get this bad. I know it.

 

It's just weird, I guess. I was doing okay and even getting ready to start a new half training plan. Now I can't run at all.

 

That's the way it went with me. First it took running away, then it took cycling away, and then finally even walking would flare up symptoms. I went from 50mpw running, to being afraid to walk. TMS is a powerful syndrome.

 

Were you completely symptom-free before you got back to it?

 

Not until I discovered Sarno/TMS and figured things out.

My story is detailed in another thread, but basically:

- Had the surgery
- Followed the post-surgery PT regimen to a T
- Returned to running following the established protocol, got to 30min consecutive running and had pain
- Started over with the return to running protocol 2 more times (total of about 4months)
- Somehow got turned onto Sarno and within a month I was 20+ mpw and running races again. 5 months more and I was doing 3+ hour trail races in the Rockies.
- In a year I had done my longest race ever (105km)
- All this at 49yo

 

I think I have read it, just couldn't quite remember. Thank you for sharing.

I really don't want to do a PT regimen again for my hamstring but doing the TMS stuff all these months, I've just gotten worse. Head banging the wall for sure.

 

Well I should add on to that earlier post that it makes me sound like some kind of badass. And while all of that is true, what is also true is that I am still getting "fooled" by other TMS symptoms to this day and therefore not 100% cured. The difference was I had had ENOUGH of that particular issue and was full-bore intent on eradicating it with extreme prejudice. And I did!

So the TMS brain went in search of other fertile ground to dig....

 

I went back and re-read your original thread.

EDIT: Hit to post too soon. I definitely get the multiple symptoms. I just can't seem to land on the right method here.

 

Unfortunately you really have to find your own path. But I am here to tell you that there is a path.

 

Yeah. We'll see after the scan. Just hate I have to wait another week and then however long for a full body report.

 

Find some other activities to fill the time:

- Take a spin class at the local Y/Gym
- Incline Treadmill walking already mentioned
- Swimming? (personally I hate but some people love it)
- Water running (google it)

And that's just cardio. I scratch my activity itch doing other stuff too like:

- Core workouts (I have a core routine I do, but you can find lots of examples online)
- Weight bearing strength work (I absolutely love doing Dave Goggins' "Nickels & Dimes" routine - I started it a few years ago when prepping for a Spartan OCR race I was doing with my son as I was worried that the old man couldn't keep up on all the obstacles. Turns out I love doing it and it has made me more functionally strong than I would've ever imagined such a simple routine would)
- Stretching/Yoga/Pilates (not for me, but again people love it)

Of course, all that said, these are just things to occupy your time and give you a sense of movement. None of these should be approached as any kind of "fix" for your TMS pain.

 

Can't do anything just yet until this settles down, I'm limping. I wish I had access to a pool but doing the single parent thing, I can't get there. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

There's a possible source of rage and anxiety to explore.

 

I've done some journaling on it.

 

Some small part of me was hoping finally stopping exercise would be the "trigger" to some relief. Doesn't seem to be, unfortunately.

 

That's an item for your evidence sheet.