3 ms·

Dr. Sarno has an interesting theory on chronic back pain. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2017/10/2/16338094/dr-john-s

Dr. Sarno has an interesting theory on chronic back pain. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/science-and-health/2017/10/2/16338094/dr-john-sarno-healing-back-pain https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/scienc... Some people call it quackery. I dismissed it when I heard about it. Some people swear by it and the connection to psychology and mental health should not be dismissed. Correlation, causation, mentally healthier people are probably more active... etc etc. still. A novel addition to your list of “add this to the mix” when troubleshooting.

aaronbrethorst 8y ago
I bought my then-girlfriend/now-wife a copy of Sarno's Mindbody Prescription a few years ago on the recommendation of someone on HN to help her with chronic back pain. It did her a world of good. Didn't fix everything, but definitely helped out quite a bit. https://www.amazon.com/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pain/dp/0446675156 https://www.amazon.com/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pa...
trafnar 8y ago
I'm very skeptical of these kinds of things, but when someone with a similar mindset to me recommended it, I checked it out with an open mind. Back pain I had been having for several months went away right after reading it.
- bitexploder 8y ago
  Same. I have never experienced this pain, but I helped my mother manage it. Years of surgeries, shots, and other failed efforts. She gave this book a shot and it has been nothing short of amazing. I think it works in many of these cases where there isn’t a good medical explanation. I still kind of don’t believe it, but.... she swears by it and we completely exhausted many other avenues.
Tharkun 8y ago
I read his book, and it's definitely quackery to me. If I remember correctly, he basically says back pain (and other kinds of chronic pain?) can be cured by forgiveness. Forgive your parents for abusing you as a kid. Forgive your robber for invading your home. And hey presto, no more pain.
- jvvw 8y ago
  I think some back pain is nocebo effect and his book basically also deconstructs the issues with many explanations for back pain helping alleviate those nocebo effects. If you want a placebo, then his book is about as cheap a placebo as you can get, regardless of the lack of science.
- nier 8y ago
  That sounds too altruistic to me, if you put it like that. I assume you don’t let anger bottle up inside of you and find ways to equalize the pressure without hurting yourself. Then this book is not for you. I had issues with that, so the book taught me to allow myself to be angry, deciding at one point that there was enough anger and being free from it. That’s far from forgiveness which needs to be earned by the wrongdoers. Not gifted by the victim after reading a book.
- crucialfelix 8y ago
  That's not really what he said. His theory is that in order to avoid dealing with various mental and emotional issues, we unconsciously stress parts or our body until it causes pain. We unconsciously exacerbate this physical pain to literally distract ourselves from emotional pain. Once this is pointed out to you then you may notice the process, making it conscious, which then allows you to consciously stop whatever you are doing that results in pain.
nier 8y ago
This book helped me get rid of my wrist pain for good. Now I can type as long as I want, in any comfortable or uncomfortable position, on any keyboard, sitting on whatever is available.

aaronbrethorst 8y ago

I bought my then-girlfriend/now-wife a copy of Sarno's Mindbody Prescription a few years ago on the recommendation of someone on HN to help her with chronic back pain. It did her a world of good. Didn't fix everything, but definitely helped out quite a bit. https://www.amazon.com/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pain/dp/0446675156 https://www.amazon.com/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pa...

trafnar 8y ago

I'm very skeptical of these kinds of things, but when someone with a similar mindset to me recommended it, I checked it out with an open mind. Back pain I had been having for several months went away right after reading it.

bitexploder 8y ago
Same. I have never experienced this pain, but I helped my mother manage it. Years of surgeries, shots, and other failed efforts. She gave this book a shot and it has been nothing short of amazing. I think it works in many of these cases where there isn’t a good medical explanation. I still kind of don’t believe it, but.... she swears by it and we completely exhausted many other avenues.

Tharkun 8y ago

I read his book, and it's definitely quackery to me. If I remember correctly, he basically says back pain (and other kinds of chronic pain?) can be cured by forgiveness. Forgive your parents for abusing you as a kid. Forgive your robber for invading your home. And hey presto, no more pain.

jvvw 8y ago
I think some back pain is nocebo effect and his book basically also deconstructs the issues with many explanations for back pain helping alleviate those nocebo effects. If you want a placebo, then his book is about as cheap a placebo as you can get, regardless of the lack of science.
nier 8y ago
That sounds too altruistic to me, if you put it like that. I assume you don’t let anger bottle up inside of you and find ways to equalize the pressure without hurting yourself. Then this book is not for you. I had issues with that, so the book taught me to allow myself to be angry, deciding at one point that there was enough anger and being free from it. That’s far from forgiveness which needs to be earned by the wrongdoers. Not gifted by the victim after reading a book.
crucialfelix 8y ago
That's not really what he said. His theory is that in order to avoid dealing with various mental and emotional issues, we unconsciously stress parts or our body until it causes pain. We unconsciously exacerbate this physical pain to literally distract ourselves from emotional pain. Once this is pointed out to you then you may notice the process, making it conscious, which then allows you to consciously stop whatever you are doing that results in pain.

nier 8y ago

This book helped me get rid of my wrist pain for good. Now I can type as long as I want, in any comfortable or uncomfortable position, on any keyboard, sitting on whatever is available.