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Summary: This is an excellent reference book!
Review: The chapters on psychology may be a bit too detailed for most people, nevertheless, this is an excellent reference book for understanding a variety of ailments and bodily pains, often misdiagnosed, but usually caused by tension. It is also a good complement to Dr. sarno's Healing back pain, which helped me recover from chronic pain in my back, legs, knees, feet, neck, arms, and hands, and almost completely disability. Combining guidelines provided by Dr. Sarno with techniques used by Olympic athletes, I was able to design a nine-step repid recovery program that allowed me to improve immediately and recover within four days. After my recovery I shared my research and experiences with individuals as well as in seminars I conducted for the University of California, CIGNA, and other organizations. My story is detailed in Rapid Recovery from Back and Neck Pain: A Nine-Step Recovery plan and serves as another testimony to the accuracy of Dr. Sarno's diagnosis. Rapid Recovery from Back and Neck Pain is now available at Amazon.com.
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Summary: Cured after 10+ years of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)
Review: After more than 10 years of excruciating pain from fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), I've been cured...something doctors claim is impossible. I tried everything before I found this book. Conventional medicine in all forms, alternative medicine & even Chinese medicine. Nothing helped...in fact doctors hindered me from finding the truth. Though I complained often about my pain & how determined I was to find a cure, my chiropractor never mentioned Dr. Sarno's book (which he had just read) because he didn't want to lose me as a patient. So much for conventional health"care". I found Dr. Sarno's book by chance on a bookstore shelf on the way to see a movie one Saturday night. After reading two paragraphs I sat down and immediately began to cry because I knew I'd found the answers I'd been looking for all these years. I knew Dr. Sarno was absolutely correct because, 1) I knew my pain was related to traumatic incidents in my life, 2) I realized that immediately after anything that increased oxygen to my muscles (exercise, acupuncture) the pain decreased, and 3) whenever I talked to anyone about my problems, which was rare, I felt immediately better. (All these topics are covered in the book.) Dr. Sarno lead me down the trail of facing my true feelings & not living in denial. It's been hard work these past two months & I have to constantly remind myself that any pain can be stopped if I face my unconscious rage, but IT'S WORTH IT! I'm nearly painfree already. My personality has completely changed & I can now interact normally with the people I love without living life through a fog of pain. I can also play the violin again which I had to quit due to the intense pain. Don't miss this book if you have any sort of emotional pain...It will give you your life back!
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Summary: helped cure my RSI
Review: I had bad Repetitive Strain Injury in my hands. I could only work at a computer for 20 minutes without pain. I discovered Dr. Sarno's theories in this book and the book by Fred Amir and six weeks later I am working at a computer for five hours per day. I don't know if it can help all cases of RSI or even most cases but I wouldn't be surprised.
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Summary: If you have back trouble and don't read this book, I'm sorry
Review: I finished reading this book three days. I have be diagnosed with an L4/L5 disk herniation and it has been recommended that I have a Laminectomy. The pain I've been suffering has been totally disabling for about 9 months now, and has been with me on and off for 5 years. The day after reading Dr Sarno's book (two days ago)I had 75% reduction in pain, I'm still in a pretty bewildered state since this seems far too good to be true. It is True !. If you suffer from back, neck, leg, shoulder, headache or any other painful ailment you MUST READ THIS BOOK ! It is probaly the best thing I've ever done for myself and family. Thank You Dr Sarno.
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Summary: If you suffer from chronic pain, this is a must read.
Review: This doctor really knows how to fix chronic pain. I went to see one of his collegues about terrible chronic muscle problems due to overuse and fibromyalgia that had spread to all parts of my body. I had been dealing with this for 3+ years; even the Mayo Clinic told me that there was nothing they could do. I finally gave up and tried this approach as a last resort (I am horribly skeptical of all forms of non-conventional treatment.) It seemed like a miracle when my pain cleared up and I got my life back. Most of the pain went away in 3-4 months. I still deal with it from time to time but I have the tools to deal with it now. This approach isn't easy, but with persistence it absolutely works. I still apply Dr. John Sarno's methods today, and am now very much in control of my disorder, thanks to his help. I highly recommend reading it and Dr. John Sarno's book, "The Mindbody Prescription." It really does work, especially it all conventional treatment has failed you.
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Summary: worked for me
Review: A miracle of a book. I'm still pain-free 2-years after reading it.
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Summary: This book saved my life
Review: I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels ill but cannot find lasting relief through western or natural medicine. This book has changed my life completely - For countless years, I had barrett's esophagus, chronic yeast syndrome, allergies, multiple chemical sensistivies, you name it - and this book showed me what was really going on. Please do yourselves a favor and try this book.
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Summary: Potentially helpful, but mostly a unscientific miracle cure
Review: Dr. Sarno suggests that most chronic pain is of a psychogenic nature (caused by unconcious, repressed emotions). Being psychogenic also means being psychosomatic, so he is literally saying that for most cases it's all in your head. His claims are based mostly on speculation and are unscientific. It is true that emotions do contribute to chronic pain, but Dr. Sarno is suggesting that the emotions are the _primary cause_ of the chronic pain and not just a contributing factor. Because emotions due contribute to the pain, his emotional treatment does appear to help (to some extent) for a small number of people. Since you can check this out of your local library for free, it's at least worth a try even if the chances of it working are slim. In other words, give it a try, but don't hold your breath.
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Summary: Sarno is right!
Review: My problem was what urologists call non-bacterial prostatitis, neurologists call pudendal nerve entrapment, musculo-skeletal therapists call coccydynia, physical therapists call piriformis syndrome, ... Summarizing, no specialist knew what what the ... was going on with me but all of them claimed that it was something within their field. Moreover, many suggested surgery as the only solution. The pain was very bad and I could not lead a normal life. After a lot of internet searching, I came across Dr. Sarno's books and, because I was so desperate, decided to give them a chance. Now I'm 100% OK. (A piece of advise: don't wait till you're desperate!) I also recommend Fred Amir's book for practical tips, and, for people with chronic pelvic pain, the valuable book by R. Anderson and D. Wise, "A headache in the pelvis".
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Summary: This book saved my life.
Review: This book brings Dr. Sarno's brilliant discoveries beyond back pain into other realms so common these days: fibromyalgia, chronic fatique syndrome, candida, multiple chemical sensitity syndrome... this book hit his point home for me. I want the readers to know that you really do need to be willing the book over and over again several times depending on how long going and how deeply ingrained your pain syndrome might be. Trust me though, it is worth it!!!! My own pain syndrome was unsolved by western doctors and preyed upon by holistic doctors for years until I finally discovered that only I am responsible for my own well being and only I can help myself in this way.
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