The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief

Rating:
Summary: Arthritis and other pains
Review: I was in so much pain that I couldn't sleep at night. I was diagnosed with arthritis (hip, back, etc), but I was not satisfied that this explained my pain. Then I found Davies' book and started to work on trigger points with the rubber ball he recommends. It didn't solve all my problems, but it reduced my pain to the point where I could sleep without pills (and demonstrated that my pain was at least partly muscular)--and all for the cost of a ... little ball! And now (several other therapies later), I still keep the book and the rubber ball by my bed, and still follow its directions to massage key areas on a daily basis.

This book is terrific--the best "self-help" book I've seen. It is clearly written, well organized, mostly well illustrated, and contains a wealth of really useful detail. It is definitely not one of those "glossy" books--all photos and no useful information. The author really does take the approach of someone who was himself helped by this therapy and who wants to make it as clear and accessible to his readers as possible. Very highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book (not Quackery)
Review: I was really worried that this book might have been a standard new-age, make-a-buck, quack title. Thank goodness that turned out to be a groundless worry. This is an excellent book (with medical references) that does a very good job of helping you get rid of pain. I had hurt my lower back by performing the arduous task of putting on my underwear. The doctors and physical therapist couldn't really come up with a reason for it. After a month, it still wasn't getting any better. Searching the web gave me references to this book. Within three days of reading it and poking around in my UPPER (not LOWER) back, my thighs, and my abdomen, the pain has faded to just a reminder. I'm still not able to bend and reach like I used to. But, I'm exercising and stretching again, so hopefully that'll change. Best of all, it no longer hurts just to SIT (or lie down or stand, for that matter). After showing my wife that her lower body has just about every active trigger point known, she's also reading the book and working on her points. Hopefully, her pain will reduce in a couple of days, too.

The only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is that it's kind of hard to find and reference ALL the trigger points associated with a specfic pain FOR THE FIRST TIME. The book does have a diagram for pain locations at the start of each chapter. But, in many cases, the pain will be caused by multiple trigger points in multiple body locations. It takes quite a bit of paging through the book to figure out what you're supposed to do. Once you figure it out, though, the book is great. Of course, in the author's defense, I can't come up with a better organization method outside of having some kind of software with an anatomical display using hyperlinks.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book if you suffer from any kind of chronic pain. Even if your doctor has pronounced judgement that he/she knows what's causing things, try this book. As the author says, trigger point therapy should be the first course of treatment: it's easy and cheap.

Rating:
Summary: A Manual for the Body
Review: If the body came with a manual, The Trigger Point
Therapy Workbook Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, by Clair Davies, N.C.T.M.B. would be it! If you only live once, you might as well do it pain free. This book shows you how. The illustrations are clear, if you do the recommended massage (and it is not hard) there is no need to suffer from pain caused by trigger points (and they cause a lot more pain than you might suspect).

Rating:
Summary: Clair Davies et al. should be canonized
Review: If you suffer from mysterious and FRUSTRATING chronic musculoskeletal pain and are at your wit's end (like I was), ORDER THIS BOOK NOW. This book SAVED ME by helping put an end to about 4 months of "unexplained" pain in my thighs, knees, buttocks and hips. I had spent hundreds of $$ getting x-rays, MRI's, bone scans, and seeing numerous physicians as well as a physical therapist, chiropractor, and a naturopath. None had a clear expanation of what was causing me so much pain for such a long time. I was prescribed massive doses of ibuprofen (which did nothing but ruin my stomach) as well as Valium, Flexeril, Elavil, and finally Prozac. I tried various supplements including potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, but they didn't seem to do anything. I was completely unable to exercise as it made the pain much worse..at times I was unable to walk a couple blocks. I finally got this book last week and realized that little "knots" in my muscles were the source of all this grief. No wonder nothing else (physical therapy, diet, medication) worked! With the book I figured out that I had at about ~10 trigger points in my buttocks/thighs, some which were EXTREMELY painful to massage. Since it was so painful i was a bit skeptical at first but I stuck with it. I began to massage with a tennis ball several times a day. Some trigger points responded immedately after a massage and others took several days, but after a while the aching pains in my legs have subsided! I couldn't believe that something so SIMPLE (something I could do myself) could end such a debilitating problem that numerous doctors & specialists couldn't figure out. Combined with acupuncture and craniosacral therapy & occasional professional deep-tissue massage I would say my pain is 99% gone. I am so glad I discovered this book...I never thought I would find the explanation (and the solution!) for all this pain!! I can now look forward to returning to a normal, pain-free life! Thanks so much to Clair Davies and others who contributed to making this book!!

P.S. I have just started reading through ALL the sections of this book (not just the ones for leg pain) since trigger point massage seems to help with all sorts of pain (i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, etc). So from now on I will consult this book FIRST before seeking a doctor or some medication for any type of pain. My only regret is that I didn't buy this book sooner!!

Rating:
Summary: The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guid
Review: Like this book needs another rave review... I just had to give it some more stars! This book has helped me tremendously! After 5 years of dealing with pain, physical therapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, pain management clinics, and a handful of doctors.... I finally have found something that WORKS! ... and it's FREE (except for the minimal cost of the book, of course) If you have pain that recurs, you NEED this book! Amen.

Rating:
Summary: I tell everyone about this book.
Review: Mr. Davies has created a very useful reference for my practice as a registered nurse and a massage therapist. I like to show the book to all my clients and most of them end up buying it. Trigger points and the self massage therapy for them are explained in an enjoyable manner. The author's writing is so down to earth that it seems as if he's right in the same room talking to you as you read. It's well organized and based on the works of Travell and Simons. It's easy to look up a particular muscle. The detailed therapy instructions for each site have helpful illustrations and the author explains the usual causes for specific trigger points. I tell my friends, fellow massage therapists and clients that this book is the best resource for self-treatment of muscular pain I have discovered. All health care providers and receivers will benefit from this book and it's not unrealistic to say it will reduce health care costs. The book is a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: This is a book that keeps giving
Review: Mr. Davies writes in a lucid and articulte manner about trigger point therapy and how to apply it. Having dealt with chronic back pain due to a strain while swimming, I had been to a doctor and chiropractor and endured MRI, X-rays, and physical therapy all to no avail and great cost.

Thirty minutes after opening this book and focusing on the areas I hurt I had elminated knee pain that had been around for over a year and greatly reduced my back pain. Follow-up with a massage therapist who works on trigger-point and myofacial release therapies made me pain free for the first time in over six months.

Since then I've bought several copies of this book. I've given them to friends and even acquaintances who have pain and can benefit from this essential information.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book (first thing I'd save in a fire)!!
Review: Suffered a sprained/strained right knee in March. VERY painful, but just minor swelling. After trying a couple of extended acupuncture sessions without any pain relief, plus trying a homeopathic remedy without success, I turned myself in to an orthopedist who did basic x-rays & put me on a 3x day regimen of ibuprofen, which, after three weeks, cleared up about 80% of my problem.At this point, I accidently came upon Mr.Davies' book, ordered it, & have been using it for pain & stiffness relief "wherever" ever since. It quickly cleared up the residue of my knee pain (& my prior constant "buckling" knee, which well may have been the original instigator of my knee pain).I particularly like the book as it's just so easy to use (anything medical usually makes my eyes glaze over). Concurrently, and for comparison, I did also purchase Bonnie Prudden's book, also on the subject of trigger point massage therapy, but DEFINITELY prefer Mr. Davies' version. Ms. Prudden's book does go heavily into remedial exercise though, which Mr.Davies, for whatever reasons, doesn't cover. Perhaps another book is in the offing???

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Anyone with Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Review: This book can help people with MPS, sprained ankle, tennis elbow, & chronic back, knee, & neck pain because they are all the same thing! That back pain or sore wrist that reoccurs often can get worse & even spread. I had pain in my back after a couple of years it moved up to my neck. Then I got hurt at work & have been unable to work for a year. I got hurt because my body mechanics were messed up by trigger points which shorten muscles & put stress on the wrong areas of your body. Then I spent a year in incredible pain misdiagnosed as having sciatica. After getting a proper diagnosis I have used this book to relieve much of my pain. It does have some short comings, but it has a lot of good info & is easy to use Plus its cheep compared to chiropractor & Doctor visits. It shows the source of pain & has detailed info about symptoms & causes. I have been amazed at how many of life's aches & pains are caused by muscles & can be self treated ...

Rating:
Summary: Now here's information that everyone can use.
Review: This book has a wealth of information for anyone suffering from pain, whether it's chronic or acute pain. I am also a Nationally Certified massage therapist, and I recommend this book to my clients and colleagues. The techniques are simple and Clair does an excellent job of explaining everything one needs to know to understand the pain and become pain free. I have seen tremendous results time and again with my clients, and they can't believe how quickly their pain can be reduced or eliminated. This book is essential for anyone with pain and also for those who work with people in pain.