Video: Mind-Body Syndrome and healing chronic pain
This is my story about healing from chronic pain and fatigue that lasted 6+ years following a back injury. It's also about how learning from nature led me to grow empathy for others, and myself.
You may be thinking my healing is a miracle depending on your faith or perhaps you're questioning the severity of my pain. All I can say is I am confident in my own integrity. Those that know me understand my pain was always real, debilitating, and originated from the structural misalignment in my lower spine. I've had two neurosurgeons and an x-ray technician tell me my back looked line an 80-year-old's. Challenging feedback to receive at age 26 when I was first injured.
Luckily, I didn't listen to them about how functionally limited I would be, or how after bedrest, physical therapy, injections, and steroids didn't work, surgery was my last option for a 50% chance it would help keep the pain where it's at (i.e., a coin toss on whether my pain wouldn't get worse than it was then). I was offered coping mechanisms with the chronic pain that would be with me for life. What a hopeless prescription that came from purely good humans truly wanting to help me.
I did find a way to live with the daily chronic pain for 6 years. I moved to Hawaii, cycled, worked out, dove in the ocean, hiked miles on uneven terrain. I tore the disc a couple times over the years, and after the MRIs confirmed, rest came, and gradually I would return to activity, and then eventually bounce back to my painful - yet mostly functional - 'normal'.
Then I wiped out on my scooter December 2020. I was in denial for how much pain I could tolerate. I thought - I can walk, so it's not a big deal (Silly). After the road rash healed 3 weeks later, I jumped right back into an active life. For the next month I ignored my body's signals. I was overwhelmed with the struggle from an emotionally traumatic relationship, financial instability and debt, COVID fears, loneliness and sadness from separation from my family, and not knowing how to let anyone in to ask for help.
By mid-February, an MRI confirmed a new tear on the disc that was much larger than any of the others had been. Loneliness grew deeper with bedrest. In March, physical therapy didn't seem to be helping, if anything, at times making it worse. And from then on I suffered more each day till eventually I had to take a disability leave from work. The pain had reached such epic proportions I was no longer capable of performing at my job. I am so grateful my ED supported me in taking the time to heal and my team was supportive along the way.
In June, I began a 6-week intensive healing journey - seeing medical specialists, alternative medicine practitioners, and therapists. I consumed videos, read books on mindbody healing, and started a 30-day program for understanding Mindbody Syndrome (Tension Myositis Syndrome/TMS). There is a deeper lesson to be learned from pain in the body - all pain is created in the mind. And all pain is real.
Along with my own healing, this immersive education and journey inward (and outward) allowed me to better understand other chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and gastrointestinal problems. My hope is that by sharing my story, it can help someone else who has suffered for years with chronic pain and is out of options.
I'm officially stepping out into the vulnerability arena. Thank you for watching (and reading). Here's to healing. ❤️ With gratitude, Lex Amore
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If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away. You can call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255). If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line. I understand you are in pain and are close to giving up. Your pain is real. But it doesn't have to be over yet.
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I've included a few resources below that helped me on this journey, which will continue for me for many years to come.
Unlearn Your Pain, Dr. Howard Schubiner: https://www.unlearnyourpain.com/Unlearn%20Your%20Pain%20Book
Curable has great resources on mindbody health: https://www.curablehealth.com/resources
Understanding Neural Pathways by the Pain Psychology Center: https://youtu.be/D36yy63CHq4
Breakthrough with Healing Chronic Pain | Howard Schubiner | Talks at Google: https://youtu.be/0VyH1laOd2M
Freedom From Chronic Pain: https://www.freedomfromchronicpain.com/
Therapy in a Nutshell: How to Process Your Emotions: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiUrrIiqidTWje-Oc4uA6LZZO8vSaHaDL
The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain (Dr. John Sarno): https://www.amazon.com/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pain/dp/0446675156
Brene Brown's SECRET To Healing YOURSELF & MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD | Lewis Howes: https://youtu.be/J7xEDxzmGzo
