Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

I had been suffering with severe back pain, severe pain from siatica and extreme weakness in both legs. I could only walk for a short distance and then with a cane. My son mailed Dr. Sarno's book to me as it had been helpful to him. I read the book. Within two days, the strength in my leg muscles improved to 90% of normal. Simply put, Dr. Sarno suggests that most back pain is caused by oxygen deprivation to the muscles (TMS) as a result of emotionally induced factors such as anger or anxiety, particularly for the 30 to 60 age group. Being 70, I was concerned whether my partial recovery was the placebo effect or if I had TMS or a structural problem or a combination of both and whether the cure would be permanent. I had been diagnosed as having spinal stenosis and in need of a laminectomy (removal of a portion of a vertebra to release pressure on the spinal column) on L3 and L4. I found the website listing doctors who are familiar with the TMS treatment. I made an appointment. I was informed that I had TMS beyond any doubt. In four weeks I was back to normal. Most treatments for back pain result in temporary relief which could be a placebo effect. Dr. Sarno's program offers permanent relief because the cause of the pain is correctly identified. I wish that all people suffering from chronic pain could be aware of this procedure. It is certainly working for me. Thank you Dr. Sarno.

I am a " textbook " lifetime psychosomatic back pain sufferer. I give the book 2 out of 5 stars simply because the author's concept of TMS and description of how it works is a unique one, and reading this book provided me that " theory " ( which seems to be working for people, so I take my hat off to Dr. Sarno ). I neglected to give it the other 3 stars for many other reasons. I found the book was unable to further expand on it's basic premise, leaving many questions unanswered, but rather go to great lenghts to do many other things ( such as give medical knowledge and history regarding these mind - body issues ) that are largely irrelevant to the pain sufferer, but instead fill pages in a book. I would have preferred to know more about the specifics of what brings pain or TMS on, why some have it and others don't even though they seem like they fit the same personality descriptions, why we in particular have such a difficult time following the internal path of our emotions, and relevant things of this nature that would help us learn more about ourselves and how this theory works rather than the constant sales pitch and redundance that it goes through to convince us that it's this particular theory that's going to save us. I'm not so sure about that. To put this in perspective, a person can basically believe in anything of their particular choosing, as long as it's somehow believable and logical to them, and it will work. All one has to do is look at the history of medicine with all it's " snake oil " stupidity, or the work of faith healers who get people to believe, or any other reason for a change in one's consciousness that produces a healing. Sarno himself gives us our first clue and points out that the reason that so many of us have back pain now is that it's " in vogue " and so accepted as a part of our culture ( with all of our Chiropractors and massage tools and car seats etc ), rather than our " unacceptable " emotions. This is true, and we are all aware of that. Yet, to the person that wants to truly recover and get more serious about it -- he feels the internal anger and rage lying underneath consciousness, and it could be a very " acceptable " thing for him to now believe Sarno's theory as, for sure, this is now " in vogue " as an alternative to the sincere seeker of relief to his pains. After all, it must ring true to this person on some level that he has a deep set anger that would love to express and be accepted, especially when confronted with this new evidence of the " TMS " theory and it's current popularity. But even still, all this psychological stuff has been most respected and preferred in our society now to anyone truly in the know, and it really doesn't take much these days to realise that our medical doctors live in the dark ages when it comes to this kind of stuff. Sarno's theory has great timing. But could it not also be that other people who have the same kind of condition may be more able to appreciate something else or some other theory if it happens to be down their particualar alley ? EX. A man who has back pains because he works 7 days a week ( or so he thinks ). " All I need is a day or two off " he says to himself. A day off might simply be his particular cure. Or a woman who has to give up her child and will not get to see him until he's a man. She becomes relieved of her painful condition upon finally meeting him. A student getting stressed out over final exams meets the girl of his dreams. He's instantly " cured ", and then he totally forgets about the seriousness of the exam etc. and the back pain that goes with it ! The power of belief is everything whether it is logical or not. Look at our world religions, and better yet all of these cults who have people die for their causes for absolutely no logical reason, but that it seemed logical to them. The life force is in the faith, the shortage of it is in the fear. Are John Sarno's books our saviour, or are we letting him save us because we have chosen them logical to believe at this point in time ? You don't need an $800 vacuum cleaner until you hear the salesman for 2 hours telling you how good it is ! Has John Sarno just found himself a particular marketing niche for a very old principle in religion and medicine, and the study of the mind ? You decide. Feel free to email me your comments, and I'll write back. I hope this doesn't discourage anyone from reading this book, as it very well might help you regardless ! So far, my pains are still there, and intermittent ( as usual ) but I'm looking forward to reading his latest book -- " Mindbody Perscription " next.

What can I say? I am the biggest skeptic I know. When I originally injured my back shoveling snow, then reinjured it playing basketball, someone recommended that I read an article about this guy Dr. Sarno. I didn't take the advice -- xrays indicated a physical injury -- and who was this guy to doubt my pain.

I spent over 10 years limiting my activity with an average of every third day in substantial pain. So finally, after getting a tip from a co-worker I respect, I read this book. Two weeks later... no more pain.

After several orthopedists, physical therapists, and chiroquackters, finally no pain. After thousands of dollars of treatment, a $15 book fixed me. To be totally honest, every three months or so when a major storm goes through I get a twinge. But my worst day now is better than my best days three years ago.

I'm still a skeptic in every other area and can laugh about what I call the "I believe in Tinkerbell cure." But it worked. Try it, believe it and you'll probably have a good result. And if this works, what does this say about the rest of traditional medicine?

Good luck.