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I have to add my voice to the people here recommending the work of John Sarno. I am a scientist and a skeptic and was insulted when anyone suggested my pain was psyochogenic (because I interpreted that as 'not real'). I was a test junkie and had stacks of MRIs and other clinical evidence that I was sick. But after 6 different surgeries I was no better and I had sunk into a depression. The hopelessness was overwhelming and I finally ordered the book and read it. IT changed my life- I realized that in addition to back pain I had other ailments Sarno calls TMS equivalents and something just clicked. I realized Sarno is not saying that back pain isn't real just that the pain can be a physiological response to some of life stressors. Very similar to how your face may flush or you get butterflies in your stomach when you are anxious.

I went and scoured the scientific literature and I was absolutely shocked at the lack of scientific evidence supporting the various back surgeries I had subjected myself to. And even as a scientist, I had never thought to check the literature- I just thought if you have a disk problem, you have surgery. But it doesn't work- look up the statistics and you will not have surgery!

Please just read the book- you have nothing to lose- take 3 hours out of your life. Read it with an open mind- not with the attitude that it can't possibly be true- and if it doesn't ring true go ahead and have the surgery. But if it does, start trying the things that Sarno suggests and see what happens. I know that I would not have believed it if it hadn't happened to me. I started getting better almost immediately and was completely back to normal in about 3 months. This after 8 years of agony and restictions. It really breaks my heart to see the posts on boards like this where everyone is rushing into treatment that can do more harm than good.

Posted by: Laurie | Jun 3, 2006 11:02:00 PM

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