John E. Sarno (1923–2017)

About 15 years ago this book saved me from the chronic pain of RSI. Dr Sarno says that our emotions and particularly our unconscious anger cause chronic pain. He believes in the knowledge cure, that we have to understand and accept that we have a great unknown reservoir of rage and chronic pain is our body trying to distract from that. It sounds completely woo-woo and it may not be what the mainstream medical establishment (ie the money making machine) wants to hear but it made sense for me show more and it worked. Unfortunately I am suffering a flare up of a different kind of chronic pain at the moment and I had stopped doing the journalling that Sarno recommends, so I am currently rereading this book and some of the newer stuff that has been published (this is still the best though). But you can't just casually read it through, you have to reread and reread and makes notes on the bits that resonate with you and reread again until you are actually sick of it. I have returned to journalling to explore this current chronic pain. I know it won't be quick but it will work.
I am also reading for the first time the book by Ozanich - "The Great Pain deception" and that is so far striking me as a good companion for Sarno's book. Will reread that also and make notes.
If you would like a more scientific read on the control your brain has on your body, then "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace Pert is a good back up - but read Sarno first. show less

So after nearly an entire lifetime of no back issues, bang I was hit with sciatica. Ouch. No pain in the back really but a lot down the leg supposedly caused by the back. So I embarked upon the medical jungle circuit. GP, X-rays, Ortho, pills, PT, MRI, possible injections, next, next, next. The condition, about the same.

So with no discernible help I embarked upon my own research and came across this audiobook from years ago. Dr. Sarno flatly states that all back pain and related issues are show more 99% from your brain not your back. Really quite a different approach to try and wrap around.

It is quite persuasive in its presentation but quite short on remedy other than heavy counseling to get in touch with the inner demons that cause this pain. Preferably with a doctor or psych that subscribes to Dr. Sarno's ideas.

So I reflected upon this and tried to determine in my mind if I was improperly potty trained and it manifested itself in repressed anger that finally surfaced at age 65. This drew a blank, but I continue to search. Of course I am being a bit facetious here but it is only to illustrate the difficult journey this condition puts you on and the seemingly never ending search for answers.

I continue the search and if I discover my own root cause for the pain somewhere in the inner recesses of my mind I look forward to the relief. show less

Anyone with back, neck or shoulder pain may look at all types of solutions. This book was published in 1982. Yes, it's dated but there's some interesting points discussed and it's certainly a quick book to read.

Typically, pain is resolved with physical therapy, meds and heat or cold packs. What Sarno suggests is that pain meds may improve someone's mood but it doesn't take away the pain. Just thinking about it is enough to start the pain. He says the heat may feel good in a particular area. show more But..."the pain however, invariably returns because the process is governed by the brain and not by what is done locally." It makes a lot of sense.

Sarno says a physician must treat the emotions of a patients as well as the physical body. While it's an interesting thought, doctors still tend to do what they know: drugs, surgery and then more drugs. Yet, it also requires more reading with current mind-body views. show less

Although I wish there were a more up-to-date and less defensive version of this book, the premise is excellent - that our own repressed emotions cause physical pain. I've been wondering myself if I might, for that reason, keep an anger journal, password protected on MS Word. I'm going to explore other ideas for expressing anger but I am reluctant at the same time, to fan it. Back to the book: I agree with the premise, but wish the presentation were better.