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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Somatization disorder
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
Somatization disorder
by Sweetpotatoe57, Oct 05, 2008 01:17PM
I hope someone can answer this question! I was told I have somatization disorder after a 30 minute interview with a Neurophyscologist. I had a injury to the back on New Year's Eve, suffered nerve damage at L5 S1 which is healing, and should not be causing this much pain. I have had MRI's which show, DDD, Spinal stenois in the area of L5 S1, 3 Tarlov cysts, at S1 and S2, which the Neurosurgeon does not think are the problem, and have not been able to sit since the injury. No one can tell me why I am in pain, can't sit, and have all the burning in my arms, legs, sciatia, and everything is mostly in my left side. I am now on Xanax, 0.25mg 2 times a day, and 25mg of zoloft, and 300mg of Gagapentin at bedtime. I can't lay on my back, only my sides. Now they are burning all the time. The neurosurgeon thinks something else is going on, my GYN thinks something else is going on, and I can't get my PCP to send me to a Rheumatologist, as both Dr's have suggested. I have also had Lyme's twice. I was told, that I have somatization disorder, and that is that. How can someone say you have that on a 30 minute talk? Any help, or thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks so much. sweetpotatoe57
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Oct 06, 2008 11:22AM
, Oct 06, 2008 11:22AMTo: sweetpotatoe57
Somatization is just a different way of saying that the anxiety you are experiencing in your life is expressing itself through the pain that you have described. That could be a correct diagnosis if everything else has been ruled out, but if you and your doctors think there is an organic cause of your pain, then you should pursue that...
Member Comments (2)
by Sweetpotatoe57, Oct 06, 2008 12:03PM
To: Roger Gould, M.D.
Do you think 30 minutes is a long enough time to base that decision? Can somatization cause swelling, and burning pain? Muscle weakness? Sciatia? Thank you, sweetpotatoe57
