Rating: 
Summary: Amazing recovery
Review: After reading an article about Dr. Sarno, I saw a link to this book. At first I felt all these people were crazy if they thought they could "think away" back pain. However, as a formerly athletic, active person who was more and more debilitated every day, I decided I had nothing to lose. Result of doing the exercizes in the book - I can walk, run, jump, kneel, do yoga, play with my grandchildren. I recommend this book and the forum on Fred Amir's website to anyone suffering any type of pain.
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful!!!
Review: Before starting my review, let me say that I am a particle physicist and a quite skeptical guy. Nonetheless, I think it is important to be open to new ideas. In my opinion, the work of Dr. Sarno and his followers is great science. Like most important and revolutionary scientific ideas, it takes a while (one generation, Planck said) before they are generally accepted by the scientific community. But we can profit from their insight inmediatly!This book, together with the ones by Sarno and some info on the web, has made my life worth living again. It is amazing how many different manifestation this TMS thing seems to have. My problem was not back pain, but a condition urologists classify as non-bacterial prostatitis, neurologists as pudendal nerve entrapment, musculo-skeletal therapists as coccydynia, physiotherapists as piriformis syndrome, ... (by the way, many of these doctors suggested surgery was the only solution, even if they did not really know what was going on!). At any rate, the physical symptons were real and the pain excruciating. And the worst was that I could hardly work or lead a normal life. When I started reading Sarno's books, I found them very interesting and even believed that his ideas could help other people... but not me. It took me three months to accept that my (unconcious) mind could be doing these nasty things to me. But suddenly there was a click inside me and I felt strongly that the answer was inside my brain. And I also felt that my (concious) mind could control it. In three weeks I was 90% better. But I found it hard to progress to a 100% recovery. It was here that Fred Amir's simple psychological techniques were extremely helpful. Before I had finished the book, I was 99% OK!
I should add that I love the way the book is written: it is very enjoyable and creates a lot of empathy, which is also helpful. Now I can say I am "cured" of this protatitispudendalnerve... horrible thing. Furthermore, I have also recovered from my "lazy stomach" problem, which apparently had the same origin. And last but not least, I have a great feeling of power and control over my life and my health. I am convinced that TMS (and equivalents) is, as Dr. Sarno claims, a very widespread problem, and that many people could benefit a lot from getting a correct diagnosis. Amir's book describes the practical side of Sarno's theory.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I hoped
Review: First, let me say I appreciate Fred Amir's effort. He was in agony for 25 months and took the time to share his experiences with the general public in the hopes of helping other TMS sufferers as well. It appears he has helped many people, too. For that, I thank him. That said, I had to order this book blind...and have been subsequently disappointed. Though I found some of his tips interesting, by and large, I have not gained much from his nine steps in terms of short-term or long-term relief. During my most recent TMS attack, I perused his book and employed all his techniques with an open mind. However, they did not seem to help at all. In the end, I resorted back to rereading Dr. Sarno's book again, which seemed to help more. You see, when I read Dr. Sarno's book, I really feel like he knows what he is talking about. His writing style exudes knowledge and wisdom, so it's easy to respect and trust his thoughts and ideas. However, Fred Amir's writing style is a little too gushing for me. Many sections read like an infomercial "This worked for me! Just wait until you see what it can do for you!" It's simply overdone and in some ways infantile, so it's hard for me to have the same confidence in his ideas as I do in Dr. Sarno's. Ironically, I silently wonder if Dr. Sarno does not feel the same way. Fred Amir acknowledges Dr. Sarno's help in proofreading the manuscript for this book, but nowhere does Dr. Sarno endorse Fred's ideas. Just something to think about... Like so many others, while Dr. Sarno's book has brought a sense of relief to my mind and back, what it hasn't done is be able to help me make a permanent recovery from TMS. Since first learning I suffer from TMS in 1999, I have had two SEVERE episodes, so severe that I was literally incapable of standing for 72 hours following each of the attacks. Because I know I suffer from TMS, I can (and usually do) rid myself of TMS-related pain within two weeks following an attack. Nonetheless, I would like to rid myself of attacks all together. This is what I was hoping Fred Amir's book would help me do. Alas, it has not. In conclusion, it is not my intention to disparage Fred's book. I... For those of you out there who suffer from recurrent back pain like me, I know you're looking for that magical solution. Unfortunately, while I was truly hoping this book would be it, it is not. At least not for me. Good luck to all of you as you work against this sinister pain.
Rating:
Summary: For Sarno disciples & other chronic pain sufferers - a must!
Review: Fred Amir has drawn on Dr John E Sarno's principles of chronic pain management (see: "Healing Back Pain - The Mind-Body Connection") which, combined with the experience of his personal ordeal and research into natural healing techniques, forms a potent recovery formula. I had chronic back pain for 15 months and painful feet for 5 months. I was disabled. The back progressed well over six weeks under the Sarno principles but plateaued. Fred Amir's book gave me more tangible strategies to work with and I have achieved significant improvement in two weeks, for both back and feet. Like Sarno..it works,only better..get both!
Rating:
Summary: A Must for TMS sufferers following DR. Sarno's principles
Review: Having been greatly helped by DR. Sarno's book towards recovery from a long standing TMS syndrome my condition plateaued and started going backwards. It was then I obtained Fred Amir's book which rapidly took me to a full and lasting recovery. He gives you some simple treatment strategies based on Sarno's principles that allow you to take more positive active control of your own recovery. With just having Sarno's program I felt I was in more of a hit or miss situation. Fred Amir's strategies gave me more of a personal empowering over the TMS. It has taken away a lot of the fear of reoccurrences. I am happy for any one to email me for furthur explanation of my own experience with TMS and for support in your own recovery.
Rating:
Summary: This book is so helpful
Review: I had been suffering with severe back pain, severe pain from siatica (pain in the buttocks and legs from the siatic nerve) and extreme weakness in both legs. I could only walk for a short distance and then with a cane. I had been diagnosed as having spinal stenosis and in need of a laminectomy, removal of most of the back of the vertebra, to release pressure on the nerves of the spinal column on L3 and L4. I also had a herniated disc that required surgery. An orthopedic surgeon reviewed the MRI with me and pointed out how the vertebra was impinging on the spinal cord and causing the pain in my back, sciatica in my legs and weakness in my legs. He also pointed out the herniated disc which clearly was pressing against the spinal cord. Surgery was absolutely essential if I wanted to eliminate the pain and walk again with strength in my legs. I had confidence in the medical profession and I was desperate, Fortunately it would take weeks to schedule surgery. Also fortunately, in the meantime, I read Dr. Sarno's "Healing Back Pain" and Fred Amir's "Rapid Recovery from Back and Neck Pain." I recovered completely and cancelled the surgery. Fred Amir's footnotes were astounding and very informative. One such reference was to a study of 10,000 back operations that found that only one percent of such operations were beneficial. Some were actually harmful. I found that the combination of Dr. Sarno's book and Fred Amir's book, was very effective. I recommend reading both books. I believe that Dr. Sarno gives one the complete history of how the pain is emotionally induced and how one must accept it, but Fred Amir gives one a detailed action program to follow. I still can't believe that I am now completely pain free and have all the strength back in by legs and that I can live a normal life again. I sincerely hope and pray that the word spreads about how it is possible to recover from back pain without surgery.
Rating:
Summary: It really works!
Review: I was diagnosed with a herniated disc (L5 S1)and my Orthopedist said I would never be the same. At the time I was lifting weights and running 3 times a week. The Dr. told me that those activities will have to be significantly modified due the the herniation.He scheduled me for Cortisone shots in my back to eliminate the swelling thus reduce the pain. Just one caveat, I could very easily irritate it once again If I return to my vigorous lifestyle. The day before I was scheduled for my treatment I was told about Dr. Sarno's book, and after doing some research discovered Fred Amir's book as well, so I bought them both. I pushed off the treatment to give these books a shot. I first read Dr. Sarno's book which gave me an understanding of his theory, then proceeded to read Fred Amir's book which helped turn theory into reality. I had read another review which said that the person experienced relief as he was reading the book and I laughed, but I did too. The next morning I went back to my old routine of running outside and in the beginning there was pain (Nobody says the pain is not real) but I fought thru it and within a few days I was pain free. I do have occasional flare ups but if you go back to the principals of the book the pain disappears. Give the book a chance, and don't be so skeptical.Thank You Fred!
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING -- It really works!
Review: My husband was extremely athletic... hiking, running, tennis, biking, surfing. Then all of a sudden he had extreme joint pain and muscle fatigue that progressed to the point where he had trouble walking. The doctors diagnosed him with ten different illnesses but no treatments were working. He started reading Amir's book and before he had even finished half of it, he went for a one hour walk and went swimming and diving. What I've heard about people feeling better WHILE they're reading it is not a joke or exaggeration. The book is remarkable and can apply to anyone who's suffering from pain -- it's not limited to back and neck pain. In addition, it seems like it has a cliff notes version of Sarno's theory, so it probably wouldn't be necessary for someone to read both books. If you have any kind of body aches and pains, I can't recommend this book enough. I'm going to buy ten copies of them just to have one on hand in case I know anyone who could benefit from it.
Rating:
Summary: Real relief from very real pain
Review: This book has just enough new information to solidify everything I had already read and tried to believe about Tension Myositis Syndrome. Although Dr. Sarno's research on the subject left little additional that could be said, he never lived through the long term torturous agony that we have suffered with. Fred is one of us. He has been there and come back from the edge. I've known I have had this syndrome for more than two of the four years I have suffered. The pain I have experienced first hand was worse than anything my conscious mind could dream up. Unfortunately, my unconscious mind is much more sinister, to say it is sadistic is being too kind. It has tricked me into useless and costly chiropractic manipulations and many acupucture treatments as well as hundreds of wasted hours doing physical rehabilitation and many hundreds of dollars in supplementation to try and stem the progress of osteoarthritis that I don't have. This book is not for people with closed minds. For them there are drugs that will destroy the stomach lining or cause physical addiction that will destroy their lives. Eventually they can have back sugery that may provide temporary relief if they are one of the lucky one percent. Maybe after they've wasted as much time and money as I have the doors to their minds will swing open and embrace the truth. If not, I don't really care...because I FEEL GREAT.
Rating:
Summary: Very helpful!!!
Review: This book offers a practical implementation of Dr. Sarno's theories. I read "The MindBody Prescription" as well as this book to cure Repetitive Strain Injury in my hands. Now, six weeks after first encountering this approach, I am 80% cured. I still have some symptoms in my hands but I'm no longer scared of the pain. I don't know if this book will work for everyone but it had a lot of good advice for me. Thanks Fred.
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