Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection | John E. Sarno | Learning to read might be the first...

Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection | John E. Sarno | help is on the way

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Healing Back Pain:...

	Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection John E. Sarno Warner Books, 1991 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 356 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The renowned author of the classic Mind Over Back Pain has written a new guide examining revolutionary treatments to relieve pain without exercise, medication, or physical therapy.

Learning to read might be the first emotional problem to overcome

I was sort of amazed that at least five reviewers here knocked Dr. Sarno's book because they couldn't find a method in the book to follow. For example:

"I read it, and it didn't change a thing. And there is no description of the actual method."

"Sarno's book helped me understand the cause of my back pain, but I was left with no clear steps to take to get rid of the pain."

"Be warned -- there's no actual treatment plan in this book."

"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."

"There's not one thing about his program. I certainly wouldn't have purchased it if I knew this wasn't his actual program, just a sales pitch for it. This was a waste of money."

While other reviewers' critiques consisted of (inaccurately) boiling the method down to something like "If you're in pain, ask yourself what you're angry about and you will be healed."

Well class, if you will kindly turn to page 70 in the book, as the table of contents suggests, here you will find the step-by-step method outlined under the unambiguously titled chapter called, "The treatment of TMS." Here are the steps, edited for brevity, for those of you who missed it, or haven't quite got the hang of learning how to read yet:

© 1991 by John E. Sarno, M.D. Text quoted under fair use copyright law. No infringement is intended.

The treatment program rests on two pillars:

1. The acquisition of knowledge of insight into the nature of the disorder.

2. The ability to act on that knowledge, and thereby change the brain's behavior. So, one must learn all about TMS. What actually causes the pain, and what part of the brain is responsible. Then one reviews the psychology of the disorder. The fact that we all tend to generate anger and anxiety in this culture, and that the more compulsive and perfectionistic of us generate a lot.

3. What one must then do is develop the habit of "thinking psychological, instead of physical." I suggest to patients that when they find themselves being aware of the pain, they must consciously and forcefully shift their attention to something psychological. Perhaps, something they are worried about. A chronic family or financial problem. A recurrent source of irritation. Anything in the psychological realm. That sends a message to the brain that they are no longer deceived by the pain. When that message reaches the depths of the mind - the unconscious - the pain ceases.

4. Talk to your brain. What one is doing is consciously taking charge, instead of feeling the helpless, intimidated victim which is so common in people with this syndrome. The person is asserting himself, telling the brain that he is not going to put up with this state of affairs. And it works. Patients report that they can actually abort an episode of pain by doing this.

5. Resume all physical activity, including the most vigorous. Though it is often difficult, every patient has to work through his or her fear and return to full, normal physical activity. One must do this to liberate oneself from the fear of physical activity, which is often more effective than pain in keeping one's mind focused on the body. That is the purpose of TMS, to keep the mind from attending to emotional things. As Snoopy, the great contemporary philosopher once said, "There's nothing like a little physical pain to keep your mind off your emotional problems." I suggest to patients that they begin the process of resuming physical activity when they experience a significant reduction in pain, and when they are feeling confident about the diagnosis. One has to confront TMS - fight it - or the symptoms will continue. Losing one's fear and resuming normal physical activity is possibly the most important part of the therapeutic process.

6. All forms of physical treatment or therapy must be abandoned. Conceptually, prescribing physical therapy contradicts what we have found to be the only rational way to treat the problem. That is, by teaching and through education, invalidating the process where it begins - in the mind.

7. Review these 12 key thoughts at least once a day:

1. The pain is due to TMS, not to a structural abnormality.
2. The direct reason for the pain is mild oxygen deprivation.
3. TMS is a harmless condition caused by my repressed emotions.
4. The principal emotion is my repressed anger.
5. TMS exists only to distract my attention from the emotions.
6. Since my back is basically normal, there is nothing to fear.
7. Therefore, physical activity is not dangerous.
8. And I must resume all normal physical activity.
9. I will not be concerned or intimidated by the pain.
10. I will shift my attention from the pain to emotional issues.
11. I intend to be in control, not my unconscious mind.
12. I must think psychological at all times, not physical.

Patients are then urged to give this information an opportunity to "sink in," to be integrated, to be accepted at an unconscious level. Conscious acceptance, though essential as a first step, is not sufficient to reverse the TMS.

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help is on the way

This particular Dr. Sarno book has been extremely helpful to several of my acquaintances and myself in over-coming physical pain such as backaches, sciatica,headaches, arthritis, and more. If you follow Sarno's thoughts, and are able to be objective and self-analyze, you may find that many pain issues can be helped and conquered with TMS. It's worth the read.

I can't believe it works

I stumbled on Dr. Sarno's book while I was searching for cure to my pain. I have had neck, leg and back pain for 6 months and it gets worse everyday. I tried everything I can find, nothing worked. Even pain killer didn't work. MRI shows L5 disc pressed the nerve, disc degeration... I was convinced that I will be bed ridden when I am in my 60s.
After I read the review here, I bought the book and read it as soon as I got it. The pain went away in a day!!! I shared this with my mother in law who is considering back surgery. She was in doubt. That alone will make her recovery long and slow. I strongly recommend this book.

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No more confusion. Follow Dr. Sarno's advise. You will heal.

As a personal fitness trainer I have seen how diet and exercise works
in preventing the reacurrence of back pain. Recently however, I saw a close family member in the midst of excrutiating back pain. We both felt helpless, and confused. Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection
Dr. Sarno's book really helped!
Richard Walters, MA. in Ed.
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Author The 16 Minute Body Sculpting Kit: Attain Your Dream Body in Just 16 Minutes a Day!

It will take more than just reading it but it DOES WORK!

Some people say just reading it and they aren't "cured" It won't happen right away.. But it will happen you need to believe in it and give it a chance. I used this book years ago and it worked for me. Now I had another stressful event of being abandoned and lied to and yup here is the pain again. I had to reread the book and talk to my mind.. try and let out all the emotions I was holding back. It's getting better. You can tell. The pain moves around. 1st it was in my shoulder blade, then my neck , now in the middle upper back!! Clearly its stress. I know alot of people this worked for too. You just need to be open minded!!!!!

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