Healing Back Pain : The Mind-Body Connection

Rating:
Summary: Is it for you?
Review: This book didn't take away all my pain but definitely made me take a good long look at any psychological stressors that might be keeping me from getting better. Probably will help those that have had low back pain for a long time, rather than those who just hurt their back. Other self-help books I liked include "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide To What Works."



Rating:
Summary: Take this book very seriously -- it's for REAL!
Review: After over two years of debilitating neck pain and countless visits to chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, orthopedic surgeons, etc. -- reading this book helped me cure myself within 30 days. To the skeptics I say -- get a clue! All of those professionals were unable to fix the problem. I am living proof that Dr. Sarno knows what he's talking about. TMS is a very real condition that can be overpowering and cause depression. I was out of options when a friend recommended that I read Dr. Sarno's book. I strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with chronic pain.

Rating:
Summary: A Miracle!
Review: Dr. John Sarno is a genius. By simply reading this book (I'm only halfway done) and becoming aware of how my crippling sciatica might be caused by psychological rather than physiological stressors, my pain has greatly diminished...overnight!! I don't have to crawl out of bed each morning and wonder how I'm going to get through another day. I am confident that by the time I finish this book, my sciatica will be completely gone. I literally feel like I have a new lease on life. If you think this is all hogwash, I encourage you to at least consider the possibility that Dr. Sarno might be right. You have nothing to lose but the pain!!

Rating:
Summary: Kat, PT Spine therapist
Review: I deal with many different type of people of all ages with many different type of injuries. I am always on the look out for new books on the subject of spinal pain. While this book talks about the pain and how the mind tricks you into pain rather than just being in phyiscal pain, the author does not offer sound advice to active people trying to improve themselves and thier condition as far as being for the lay person,
I disagree, the reader needs a strong back ground to understand what the author is trying to say.
I strongly recommend instead of this book is the BackSmart Fitness Plan by Dr. Adam Weiss, this doctor takes the subject matter of back and neck pain not as a lession in why you have back pain rather he teaches you how to over come your pain and how to get into shape without inuring yourself. A very good book for anyone of any fitness level and age.

Rating:
Summary: It fixed my back problems - forever!
Review: It wasn't until I read this book that I saw the connection between building stress in my life and by back pain. After reading this book and doing some of the simple suggested mental exercises, I have not had a problem with my back for 5 years!

Rating:
Summary: This book is the worst kind of scam...
Review: Like so many "health" books, this one just tells you about the author's personally discovered "syndrome". He doesn't tell you how to heal it (as the title suggests), but rather tries to drum into you the idea that you may, indeed, have his syndrome. After which you discover that the only way to heal it is through workshops/videos/personal consultations.

While his syndrome may have some basis in fact, this book is nothing more than an exercise in quackery - if the doctor wanted to heal you, he would talk about healing.

Rating:
Summary: lee,lee reader
Review: I think when doctors tell me it's all in my mind suffering from chroinic back pain-I felt hopless then picking up this book made me think there was a connection to the mind and pain- I felt the author spent most of thier time trying to tell me it's all in my head and there was no phyical problems? My MRI showed otherwise!
I went to a seminar by an Dr, Adam Weiss and felt incredable afterwards! in just one hour I learn how to stretch out my muscles while at the same time get stronger without injuring myself!Now he has written a book so every one can get into great shape and not feel the aches and pain along the way. Check out the Backsmart Fitness Plan by Dr, Adam Weiss- it's well worth it!

Rating:
Summary: This book helped me so much
Review: I suffered from sciatica for over 6 months. I was on disability, could barely move, couldnt sleep... I was in pain 24-7. I saw the book by accident in a bookstore. I sat down and started reading it, understanding the concept immediatley. When I went to get up from the chair, my sciatica and back pain were gone. They have never returned. The TMS that Dr. Sarno talks about came back in other areas, and to this day I have to make mental notes about what the true source of my pain or affliction is.

If you are suffering from migraines, back pain, shoulder or neck pain, knee pain ect.. and medical doctors have been unable to help you, please do yourself a life saving favor and read this book. It cannot hurt you, it can only help. The path Dr. Sarno helped me through via this book changed my life.

Rating:
Summary: I'm a Believer
Review: I "injured" my back two nights ago playing basketball. To that point, I had honestly thought I was through with back pain. After all, I'd done what they said I should do--strengthened my abdominal and lower back muscles, sat with good posture, stretched, etc. But there it was, back again and worse than ever.

As I was leaning against the water fountain, grimacing in pain, a friend recommended I pick this book up. He told me it was kind of hard to explain, but that it had changed his life. Having gone through back pain before, I figured rest and painkillers would do the job, so I thanked him, and filed Dr. Sarno's name away in the back of my head for possible future reference.

After spending most of the next day dosing myself with near-toxic levels of ibuprofen, lying flat on my back, and trying not to move, I realized it wasn't working, and I made myself go get the book. I figured that I may as well try something different, and at the very least, it would give me something to read while lying down.

So I read the book, saw myself and my situation on every page, and realized that I've spent years basically training myself to suffer from back pain. After making it a quarter through the book, I realized it was all a trick in my mind, and lo and behold, magically, the pain started to disappear.

I'm still feeling a bit of lower back soreness, but whenever it starts stiffening up, I tell myself it's all in my head, and it loosens back up. It'll probably take me some time to unlearn what I've learned with regard to back pain, but it's been a very promising start.

I was skeptical going in--Dr. Sarno's ideas are kind of hard to explain, and if it were just explained to you in laymens terms without you reading the book, it would sound like a bunch of new-age hippie garbage. But believe me, the power of the mind over the body is very real.

So if you're open to trying a new approach to healing your back, then by all means, get this book. If you don't believe that the mind could possibly cause you physical pain, then you should probably stick to the ab-strengthening and stretching routines until you can accept the possibility that it could all be in your head.