Psychosomatic Disorders

[Cephalopod]

Firstly I read the article here of some years ago on this website:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/treatments-health-professionals-and-therapies/mind-body-medicine-and-mood-disorders#qdLUv3HzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A

From personal experience over a very long period of time I would say the article is quite accurate.

In the 70s I went for banks of tests for pain around the kidney area, neck pain, headaches etc. All negative, and obviously stress related. In the current millennium it's my feet -- always only one foot that becomes so painful that I can't walk without some assistance. I've had all the medical checks, which are always negative. Amusingly, an X-ray once totally cured the afflicted foot instantly; in fact I walked out of the facility without any assistance. This, of course, was that either consciously or sub consciously I knew the X-ray would render nothing, and my cerebral network seemed to agree. The symptom didn't return for years. But it's back right now -- and yes I have been trying to repress anxiety and anger over everything from corporate bureaucracy to the stress of driving on roads now dominated by aggressive and reckless drivers, to problems that impact on my family -- and even my own boredom and lack of motivation.

I suppose the annoyance is that long ago I visited a very good psychiatrist -- a professor who specialised in hypnotherapy. He taught me self-hypnosis. This is extremely useful for my insomnia, and I've reduced all the procedures to simply imagining a void -- no conscious thoughts -- and next thing I'm off to sleep. But I can't seem to get it to work for the foot.

Does anybody know any physical or cognitive exercises that can convince by brain to tell my foot that there's nothing wrong with it -- or do I have to go and get another X-ray?

[PamelaR]

Hi Cephalopod and warm welcome to our community forums

Pleased to hear you've had such wonder results in keeping your symptoms at bay. There are many things you could try to help alleviate psychosomatic disorders, though, it's been awhile since your last xray and I think, just to be on the safe side it might be best to go and get another one done. You never know?

Some other things you could try if the xray doesn't show anything is - EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) or tapping. I've used this technique along with acupuncture to help with my menopausal symptoms. It was quite effective. Generally I don't recommend searching google as a source of 'truth', however, if you do a google search for EFT you'll find a lot of sources that will show you the 8 spots you tap (5 on your face and 3 on your upper body).Then there is the tapping on your hand and wrist that accompanies your facial taps. During the tapping, you focus on what it is you are concerned about and turn the focus into a positive for your body to work on.

Please have an xray done on your foot though! Extremely important.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Cephalopod]

Thanks Pamela,

I did try a bit of tapping, but (there's always a but isn't there?) part of it is believing it will work, and I'm having trouble convincing myself of that. But every little bit helps, so instead of constant rubbing and massaging I'm also doing some tapping. Recently I went the dentist with a throbbing pain. After the dentist prodded and probed my teeth he reported that if any of those teeth were causing that pain that I should have hit the ceiling. I walked out of there with zero pain. So it's all to do with totally believing nothing is wrong, which is harder than it sounds.

[Missing_Akaboo]

Hi Cephalopod,

I have had chronic back pain for a long time now. When I get shooting pains down my leg the overload of pain is painful, upsetting and I struggle to maintain my SUCK IT UP attitude.

Over time I have developed a toolbox of novel drug free pain management strategies and one of them involves sticking a small annoying object in my shoe that doesn't break skin. I walk around with it in there and on occasion I will deliberately sink into it to exacerbate the pain. Then I take it out. The pain is still there, but its more bearable than having that pebble, bean, rice etc in there.

I think it has something to do with if nothing else works then at least I know how much more I can actually put up with on my own terms rather than let the pain boss me around. Rice is super distracting too and I get quite annoyed. I prefer annoyed and coping with pain because I feel somewhat strong and putting stuff in my shoe somewhat controls what's going to make me hurt. When I am in an annoyed and in pain mindset and endure a trigger, that mindset seems to keep me aware its a trigger and more focused on coping strategies.

When I am in a sad and in pain mindset, I end up feeling overwhelmed, helpless and the shooting pain makes me hysterical. Throw in a trigger and I'd go straight to 'yep, it's all pain, despair, self hate and loathing and the climb back way too hard and way too much effort for someone as worthless as me'. I know I am not worthless, but it's a lot of work to remind myself when I am that overwhelmed and hurting, and giving up seems so much easier.

Anyway I hope my share gives rise to considering novel ways to tackle your foot pain when you have exhausted as many therapeutic avenues as you have. I hope your poor feet can have happy thoughts of enjoying a nice hot salt bath, pedicure, massage and cuddly comfy socks ASAP.