Mind over back pain. - book review

Whole Earth, Winter, 2002

Back pain is ubiquitous in developed countries. Yet the honest truth is that science is uncertain as to what causes it. Theories abound, as does a lot of pseudo-therapy There are probably multiple origins and different varieties of lower back pain. However, one theory says a large portion of back pain stars with mental tension. If you have an inkling that your back pain is linked to stress, I strongly suggest you seek out this perennially (since 1972) in-print book. My speaking agent, who deals with hundreds of stressed-out type A's and the consequential epidemic of back pain they carry with them, routinely hands out this book. It seems to be the one thing that helps them the most. It helped me. By adopting the view that lower back pain is a syndrome in large par fostered by the mind/body complex, I've been able to avoid surgery and painkillers and resume my life. Your mileage may vary, but it's worth a read.--KK

Mind Over Back Pain
John Sarno, MD
1982, 124 pages
$10
Berkley Books

The reason for this obsession with discs is that it does seem logical. There are those degenerating structures at the lower end of the spine, right where a lot of pain and spasms occur; there are lumbar and sacral nerves conveniently located so that they can be compressed by bulging or herniated discs; there is pain in the leg, proving that those nerves are compressed.

What these data confirm is that degenerative processes have nothing to do with most back pain. Degeneration is progressive and relentless; serial X-rays as one ages document this fact. Yet back pain is far less common in the older age groups. According to the conventional diagnostic concepts, everyone over the age of sixty should have back pain.