Best Pain Management
This book addresses the problem of myofascial trigger points—tiny contraction knots that develop in a muscle when it is injured or overworked. The new edition also includes postural assessments and muscle tests, an illustrated index of symptoms, and clinical technique drawings and descriptions to assist both practitioners and regular readers in assessing and treating trigger points. ―Bernie S. Siegel, MD, author of Love, Medicine, and Miracles and Prescriptions for Living and former student of Janet Travell, MD, author of Travell & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. The detail and clarity of the book’s format will also make it invaluable to pain physicians who want to be able to teach their patients useful, simple strategies to manage soft tissue pain problems." ―Scott M. Fishman, MD, chief of the Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of California, Davis and author of The War on Pain. I believe this book, revealing that trigger point therapy may safely relieve chronic pain, should be in the hands of every doctor." "Trigger point massage therapy may be the most effective treatment known for a wide variety of pain problems, including fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome." "As a chiropractor for twelve years and an instructor of trigger point therapy at the Utah College of Massage Therapy for ten years, I found the Davies’ book very accurate and complete.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Then late Dec 2012 - PT is great until one rushed day when she stretched my right leg too far too fast. I tried everything over the next few months - acupuncture, chiropractor, spine drs, orthopedist, physiatrist, neurologist, steroid shot, supplements, stretching, walking through the pain, ice, heat, epsom salt baths 3+ times a day, etc etc. I used to run, bike 40 miles a week, garden, now I was reduced to a cane and suggestions of back surgery in less than a couple of months of being in great shape and NO pain?? So I was going through a review of what, I do not remember, maybe a supplement that might alleviate pain, and it mentions looking into trigger point therapy. I come home and my husband comes out to help me, worried that I am going to be in a bad place pain wise. For low back pain, your glutes carry some heavy duty trigger points. It's is some work to keep up with all the trigger points that crop up but I do it while watching TV or listening to music. BTW, if you stretch a tired or cold muscle too fast/too hard it can set off a trigger point. If I had known about trigger point therapy, I could have saved myself from a year of hell on me and my family, as well as the bills. I recommend a cleaner diet, exercise, fresh air and constant movement versus just sitting. Excessive sitting and lying around make soft tissue pain worse. I love Tiger Balm for night time stiffness or to help get your circulation going on a painful spot. There are also some good videos and a Ted Talk on the science of pain in the brain that are worth watching. I took a nasty fall on my bike last week and was totally panicked, as I have not fully recovered from this past year's trauma. I got into the habit of using the lacrosse ball and it works well, but I started to get more pain in the hips & tightness in lower back. YouTube has many instructional videos on how to work out TrP if the book is too technical or if you need a visual. You have to be careful with the QL muscles (most of us have TrPs there but don't know it until you get in there with a small TrP ball) or you might cause back spasms. I had a chiropractor overwork my QL's and set off a horrific week of spasms before I discovered TrP therapy. I joined a gym for the 1st time in a decade to get me through this hard Boston winter and was surprised how many people at the gym were ending their workouts with trigger point therapy methods - rolling out on balls or foam rollers, trainers using them on clients, etc. )I have found great pain release from working these hard to reach glute points. For some women in major hormone flux it can be severe enough for you to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. Yes there are some true cases of those diseases that are not related to hormones or trigger points, but there are also women being misdiagnosed & sent home with RX's for anti-depressants & way too strong pain meds. A balanced - KEY WORD IS BALANCED - hormone therapy (like bio hormone replacements) as well as exercise, diet, TrP, and improved digestion (which diminished greatly around 40-45 in women) will make a difference in your pain levels.I am working with a gifted endocrinologist who tests my blood 2x a month so we can get the best picture how to manage my perimenopause. I do not have CFS or fibromyalgia, but I do notice that trigger points crop up more often now that my blood tests reveal I am primenopausal. I travel with 2 sizes of balls when I fly so that I can roll out those knots that can happen after being cramped on a plane. *UPDATE* August 31, 2016. I am still actively and successfully using TrP therapy to manage my low back, as well as misc aches and pains that crop up. About 3 times a week I spend a half hour or more with my super bounce rubber ball and a concrete wall. I ruptured my L4-L5 disc in my late 20's, which puts my low back at a higher risk for aches and pain when I sit too long on something soft, or work too hard in the garden. Before I found this therapy, I used to get so tight, manage my aches with Advil, and wait for it to pass, usually a few days. Now that I know what to do, I roll out my calf trigger points right away & find relief within a day. I wish physical therapists would introduce a home regimen of TrP in addition to the exercise plan for recovery and relief. Just an interesting anecdote - JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series for the handful of those that might not know) has tweeted this year about having back pain that feels better when she digs into it with the corner of her sofa."
"I'm from Argentina so excuse me if I make some mistakes in writing this English since it is not my native language. Today I was recommending the Trigger Point Therapy to some friends over facebook, so looking for the link, I found the website, and suddenly I remembered. Years back I was diagnosed with a small, tiny displacement of a vertebra on my neck. I found a book about TMJ self treatments, and Amazon had an offer for the Trigger Point Therapy along with this one. And thanks to the AMAZING illustrations (I'm a graphic designer, so I can testify on their perfection) I decided to begin searching for the trigger point. My neck was feeling like before the roller coaster ride, I felt perfectly healthy and good. Every time myself or a family member experience this type of pain, I take my book out and teach them how to treat it."
"It is not a cure all, and definitely won't work for everything, but if you were buy one book on the subject of eliminating your musculoskeletal pain, this is it."
"Very helpful locating source of and relieving actual pain."
"One can gain both a broad and detailed understanding of Trigger Points including causation of pain, source vs. actual location of pain, and various manner of therapeutic treatment approaches and options."
"really good info!"
"Excellent book, however much too technical for me and probably for most people who need help with modalities."
Lower back pain, hip problems, sciatica, and bad knees Carpal tunnel syndrome and even some forms of arthritis Migraines and other headaches, stiff neck, fatigue, sinus problems, vertigo, and TMJ Shin splints, varicose veins, sprained or weak ankles, and many foot ailments Bursitis, tendinitis, and rotator cuff problems Plus special preventive programs for maintaining health through the entire body. Relieve lower back pain Improve hip problems, sciatica, and bad knees Relieve migraines and other headaches, stiff neck, fatigue, sinus problems, vertigo, and TMJ Relieve painful problems, like carpal tunnel syndrome, often misdiagnosed as arthritis Prevent injuries and maintain health through stretching programs for the entire body. At the heart of his program are stretches and motion exercises to restore proper function to muscles and joints.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Since then I have pulled this book out 6 times to do the exercises. I went from having my back hurt endlessly, everyday and night, to 6 days in 4 months."
"It may not work for everyone, but for the conditions he notes in his book, they do seem to work and it's a pleasure to consider the rest of my life living without the kinds of pain that can be healed by following his teachings."
"A different take on osteoarthritis that one won't get from the medical establishment."
"The back dr gave me patches and muscle relaxer and I even tried 800 ml motrin."
"This is a drugless, natural, non surgical way to restructure your muscles and live pain free."
"When I stay consistent with doing the exercises for plantar fasciitis, I have no pain."
"I buy several copies of this book to have ready to give friends when they complain about pain."
Find out: Why self-motivated and successful people are prone to TMS; How anxiety and repressed anger trigger muscle spasms; How people "train themselves' to experience back pain; How you may get relief from back pain within two to six weeks by recognizing TMS and its causes. Healing Back Pain promises permanent elimination of back pain without drugs, surgery, or exercise. It should have been titled Understanding TMS Pain , because it discusses one particular cause of back pain--Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)--and isn't really a program for self-treatment, with only five pages of action plan (and many more pages telling why conventional methods don't work).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"John Sarno's diagnosis is the truth, medicine is WAAY far behind in understanding the connection between emotions and illness, especially chronic pain. My biggest advice is HANG IN THERE, the book says it takes 6-8 weeks to heal completely and it has taken me much longer than that, don't be discouraged if you are still in pain after that time frame. Feed yourself POSITIVE ENERGY as much as you can, believe in your healing, no matter what the pain is telling you. Listen to My Morning Jacket, spend time in nature, get off Twitter and Instagram and all that noise, pet your dog, think about great things that have happened to you. I would oftentimes feel the repressed rage boiling up to the surface as I wrote. Lay on your bed and breathe deeply into your belly, make a sound as you exhale, this helps to rouse the old emotions, bringing them to the surface. I was afraid I would never heal, but the fact that you can get it moving up and down like that at all shows that things are changing. Keep practicing, hold strong, and eventually the pain starts to lose the fight."
"I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on different kinds of alternative health therapies and spent years of my life going to regular doctors and specialists to try to get back to where I was in life. Sometime down the line, maybe 100 years from now, Dr. Sarno will be remembered as one of the most influential and greatest doctors this planet has ever seen."
"I do know that it was after a year of entirely disabling, perplexing, and shifting symptoms that culminated with a "herniated disc" diagnosis, an epidural steroid injection that made things worse, and ever-increasing dispair that I would ever have my once very active life back. Since these reviews are what led me to read this book (despite the fact that I'm scientifically minded and inclined to believe and trust doctors in general, maybe too much), I thought I would add my own story. After a backpacking trip in November 2010, I developed severe, debilitating knee pain. It was a blissful three days in the wilderness, and on the hike out (i.e. back to my job as a corporate lawyer), the knee pain started. I waited a week, thinking it was an overuse injury related to my spin classes, hiking, etc., and when it did not get better, I went in for an MRI. The first orthopedic surgeon diagnosed me with "knee strain" and sent me to physical therapy, which I ended up doing twice a week for six months. Two months later, things were not improved, so I switched doctors and ordered a second MRI. My knee was actually warm to the touch, which (of course) led me to believe that there was some physical injury. My new doctor, feeling the extreme soreness I had on my hip and outside of my quad and outside of my knee, diagnosed me with IT (iliotibial band) syndrome. At some point, my physical therapist suggested that maybe I had a pinched nerve. The back MRI showed a herniated L4/L5 vertebrae (diagnosed by my new spine surgeon), and I scheduled an epidural. I went for the epidural, and afterward I couldn't sit, stand, or lie comfortably. While I waited for it to arrive, I read other things about Sarno, and about his theories, on the internet. I am pain free when six weeks ago I was on disability and headed for back surgery."
"Great alternative/complimentary view to healing chronic pain!"
"See my review for MindBody Prescription by Dr Sarno."
Best Physical Impairments
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. “As sweet and funny and sad and true and heartfelt a memoir as one could find.” —from the foreword by Augusten Burroughs Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits—an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick his younger brother, Augusten Burroughs, in them)—had earned him the label “social deviant.” It was not until he was forty that he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. *Starred Review* If one looked at only Robison's impish sense of humor (he once ordered a blow-up sex doll to be delivered to his junior-high-school teacherat school), or his success as a classic-car restorer, it might be impossible to believe he has the high-functioning form of autism spectrum disorder called Asperger's syndrome. Clues abound, however, in his account of a youth encompassing serious inability to make and keep friends; early genius at pyrotechnics, electronics, and math; and pet names such as Poodle for his dog and Snort and Varmint for his baby brother.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book will make you feel a lot of things and it's extremely well written."
"In my opinion, that part was a little long-winded and I wasn't interested in all the silly stories that, I guess, was trying to show how creative Asperger's people can be."
"This book is funny, insightful and eye opening. It was by far one of the easiest books for me to read."
"This is a fascinating account of growing up with Asperger's and this man's ability to overcome the difficulties he had with relationships with others because of his social awkwardness."
"His reactions and thinking almost mirror a close family member that has perplexed me all these years."
"John Elder educates the reader on what it is like to grow up Aspergian (a word I believe he created) and with all the success he experienced in his life, can provide inspiration for other people with Aspergers."
"John Elder Robison is not typical of all people with some of the conflicts typical inherent in this group, but he offers a powerful avenue to understanding one segment and one difficult life on its way to understanding himself."
"I enjoyed this book very much and I was very happy for John and how his life turned around."
Best Chronic Pain
Do you have back pain, knee pain, shoulder or hip pain? Pain-Free Life is a revolutionary new book by corrective exercise specialist Travis Perret on how to fix chronic pain and live an active life where you feel younger and more energized. Travis graduated from the University of Kansas and received his degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"He offers hope to anyone suffering from chronic pain by giving them the tools they need to begin their journey to an active, pain free life!"
"This book is a perfect guide to getting free from pain."
"(The book, not my car.)."
"There are exercises in the book if you are a golfer or a walker/runner that can help to prepare your body to insure you move properly and avoid injury in that activity."
"A great book with some new ideas for correcting your pain issues."
"Excellent exercises to relieve pain and improve functioning!"
"Travis Perret has put his many years of experience and research into creating this informative book."
"Travis has great advice that anyone can follow!"
Best Headache
Based on the breakthrough understanding that virtually all headaches are forms of migraine--because migraine is not a specific type of headache, but the built-in mechanism that causes headaches of all kinds, along with neck stiffness, sinus congestion, dizziness, and other problems--Dr. Buchholz's Heal Your Headache puts headache sufferers back in control of their lives with a simple, transforming program. -- Howard Kirshner, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In the last five years, I have tried almost everything - traditional neurology treatments, acupuncture, cranial sacral massage, meditation, yoga, chiropractic, and even Botox. Most things would work for a short period of time (a few days to a few months, in the case of Botox, acupuncture, and chiropractic). In a moment of frustration, I put up a post on Facebook about how tired I was of these headaches interfering with my life; a friend responded with a link to this book. I started reading this book at home on a Saturday night of a week of bad headaches. I finally felt like someone out there believed what kind of pain I was in, in addition to 'odd' symptoms I was having (balance problems, inability to concentrate, bizarre feelings like my left arm was not part of my body, etc.). Once you start feeling relief, you realize following the diet is not much of a price to pay for getting your life back. Also, I have stopped feeling angry at my body and at the world for this suffering I've gone through - which is a big stress relief in itself."
"I had seen 14 different doctors in the last 15 months. For 15 months I had been unable to function most of the time."
"Although I have read many different books on migraine over the 30 years that I have suffered from them, this book concisely summarized much of what I had gleaned over the years and expanded my understanding of the many facets of migraine."
"I purchased the 123 heal your headache book after years of terrible daily migraine pain. I followed the book as well as I could; the diet part is rather difficult and apparently I have no self control when it comes to food. I started feeling the same way and started eating what I wanted although the MSG part of the diet had become second nature, I am an avid label reader anyway. I am still on some medications to help prevent migraines and I am still VERY sesitive, but I am NOT suffering like I had been before reading this book."
Best Headaches
Based on the breakthrough understanding that virtually all headaches are forms of migraine--because migraine is not a specific type of headache, but the built-in mechanism that causes headaches of all kinds, along with neck stiffness, sinus congestion, dizziness, and other problems--Dr. Buchholz's Heal Your Headache puts headache sufferers back in control of their lives with a simple, transforming program. -- Howard Kirshner, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In the last five years, I have tried almost everything - traditional neurology treatments, acupuncture, cranial sacral massage, meditation, yoga, chiropractic, and even Botox. Most things would work for a short period of time (a few days to a few months, in the case of Botox, acupuncture, and chiropractic). In a moment of frustration, I put up a post on Facebook about how tired I was of these headaches interfering with my life; a friend responded with a link to this book. I started reading this book at home on a Saturday night of a week of bad headaches. I finally felt like someone out there believed what kind of pain I was in, in addition to 'odd' symptoms I was having (balance problems, inability to concentrate, bizarre feelings like my left arm was not part of my body, etc.). Once you start feeling relief, you realize following the diet is not much of a price to pay for getting your life back. Also, I have stopped feeling angry at my body and at the world for this suffering I've gone through - which is a big stress relief in itself."
"I purchased the 123 heal your headache book after years of terrible daily migraine pain. I followed the book as well as I could; the diet part is rather difficult and apparently I have no self control when it comes to food. I started feeling the same way and started eating what I wanted although the MSG part of the diet had become second nature, I am an avid label reader anyway. I am still on some medications to help prevent migraines and I am still VERY sesitive, but I am NOT suffering like I had been before reading this book."
"i purchased this book for my girlfriend who constantly gets headaches from multiple things, and they would happen at least 2-3 times a week."
"This book was very good - anyone with chronic migraines/headaches should read."
"I eagely read Heal Your Headache, as it had helped a friend deal with her migraine headaches.I was exasperated with doctors simply prescribing drugs and not addressing the root causes of my migraine headaches."
Best Repetitive Strain Injury
This book offers a complete self-care program for those at risk and those already suffering from one of the most common and most debilitating occupational injuries. Sharon Butler was working as a massage therapist and Hellerwork practitioner when she developed carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Unable to sleep through the night because of the pain and concerned about her livelihood, she built upon her knowledge of connective tissue and developed a series of stretching exercises to gently relieve the tension in her body. Metabolic waste products can build up and become trapped instead of being carried away by the lymph system, and even more pressure is placed on the affected body tissues. However you developed your repetitive strain injury and whatever your upper-body symptoms (or if you're smart and you'd like to prevent such problems), there are multiple stretches in Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to suit your needs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"After years of needing a special desk and pull out tray, a few of these exercises IMMEDIATELY helped me gain strength in my fingers and wrists and eliminated my pain."
"I have bought a number of copies of this book to give as gifts because I'm afraid I won't get mine back if I lend it out."
"It is timely in view of the sharp rise of repetitive stress injuries to the thumbs and wrists due to overuse of cell phones, tablets, electronic readers, etc."
"I was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel and I've been told by drs that surgery is imminent.I really don't want to do that, if possible."
"Our guitar teacher recommended this book for exercises to deal with hand pain after extensive guitar practice."
"Lots of examples of helpful stretches."
"I've had problems with Carpal Tunnel for about a year now."
"After 3 years of suffering RSI from working at a PC, I was desperate, and had tried regular medicine, and even acupuncture (this last, I'm still on, and it works) but the best relief I have found was from the series of exercises found on this book."
Best Naturopathy Medicine
Essential Oils Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing
Essential Oils Natural Remedies offers essential oils practitioners of all levels a comprehensive home reference for a lifetime of health-related needs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It covers everything basic you need to know about essentials oils including production, choosing the right oil, equipment, storing, safety, application methods, remedies for common ailments and details about individual oils."
"I've been curious about essential oils for awhile, and I am familiar with common uses such as peppermint for an upset stomach. Some simple conditions that are untreated could become major health issues down the road. I grew up on a farm where my mother canned most of our vegetables and my Dad butchered most of our meat. My daughter has keratosis pilaris, which is commonly called chicken skin. The doctor did give me a steroid cream, however I'd prefer to not use so many chemicals etc on her young skin and expose system to who knows what kind of unnatural products. I have heard stories of people breaking out and rashes or getting sick, and it's because they either didn't use food grade essential oils, didn't check to see if they were irritated by it, used products that weren't made to be used on the skin or bought low grade unpure products! And of everything I've read so far, this ebook has been THE most comprehensive guide to essential oils. The last section of the book is a list of essential oils in alphabetical order. This section lists the plant name, what it's good for treating, any precautions, what it looks like in natural state. The book also gives a quick guide as well as references to studies and other work that it's referenced."
"There is a lot of basic information missing, that an essential oil user should know. I would recommend this book to a beginner essential oil user, that wants to get familiar with common essential oils, but I do feel there are much better choices."
"The ebook is a very easy, simple read that gave me a better understanding on essential oils and their everyday uses. It starts out giving you a brief history and benefits of essential oils, how they are produced, and even lists 15 things you should know about them."
"Some of the first books I bought said what oils to use for ailments, but they didn't say HOW to use them, ie diffuser or topical?"
Best Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Other features include a new section on post-polio syndrome, additional case studies comparing Guillain-Barré to polio muscle tests, a new full-color design, and a first-of-its-kind chart of upper extremity articulations.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is one of my favorite books about muscles!"
"exactly as described and depicted."
"The go to resource for muscle testing!"
"Exactly as advertised and what we wanted."
"Quite comprehensive book for the layman and professional alike."
Best Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Testimonials and research CT scan images are included, as well as images of the exercises performed by models and patients.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Starting in week two, I installed a pull-up bar in the carport and have hung at full body weight since then. The book also recommends some weightlifting gloves, which substantially reduce the strain on your hands and fingers. However, if you have the patience, the information you are after is there, and revisiting the book again after 6 weeks, I find myself more interested in the poorly organized images than before. I really wish the author had done a better job of design and production, but the content is good, so just one star deducted. UPDATE AFTER 9 MONTHS: As indicated above, I was able to hang my full body weight starting in week 2. Results: by the end of month 2, I no longer felt the chronic pain that had led me to this book in the first place. If I did not use the recommended weightlifting gloves, I would hang rarely if at all, because the hand pain would be too great."
"I didn't have a pull up bar at home so I started with hanging lightly from the door frame. The pain in my right shoulder has went from a 7 to a 2 and sometimes less. I haven't started the weights back in fear of pushing my shoulder too soon, but plan on trying in the next few weeks. What I do know is my shoulder pain is going away and I can feel/see a physical difference in my hangs."
"As a CrossFit Level 2 coach an weightlifting coach and a lifetime athlete I struggle with shoulder pain. Protocol could be: 3 Times a week (at least) hang 30 seconds 6 times (or accumulate to 3 min) and to 30 repetitions of lateral, frontal raises with 4lbs weights."
"Had experienced chronic shoulder pain previously, decades of wear & tear, weightlifting, BJJ, etc."
"I was in a lot of pain and the exercises in the book were of great help."
"I dont know what the earlier revisions of the booklet were like but I got the kindle copy yesterday having seen recommendations on youtube."
Best Allied Health Professions
Find out: Why self-motivated and successful people are prone to TMS; How anxiety and repressed anger trigger muscle spasms; How people "train themselves' to experience back pain; How you may get relief from back pain within two to six weeks by recognizing TMS and its causes. Healing Back Pain promises permanent elimination of back pain without drugs, surgery, or exercise. It should have been titled Understanding TMS Pain , because it discusses one particular cause of back pain--Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS)--and isn't really a program for self-treatment, with only five pages of action plan (and many more pages telling why conventional methods don't work).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"John Sarno's diagnosis is the truth, medicine is WAAY far behind in understanding the connection between emotions and illness, especially chronic pain. My biggest advice is HANG IN THERE, the book says it takes 6-8 weeks to heal completely and it has taken me much longer than that, don't be discouraged if you are still in pain after that time frame. Feed yourself POSITIVE ENERGY as much as you can, believe in your healing, no matter what the pain is telling you. Listen to My Morning Jacket, spend time in nature, get off Twitter and Instagram and all that noise, pet your dog, think about great things that have happened to you. I would oftentimes feel the repressed rage boiling up to the surface as I wrote. Lay on your bed and breathe deeply into your belly, make a sound as you exhale, this helps to rouse the old emotions, bringing them to the surface. I was afraid I would never heal, but the fact that you can get it moving up and down like that at all shows that things are changing. Keep practicing, hold strong, and eventually the pain starts to lose the fight."
"I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on different kinds of alternative health therapies and spent years of my life going to regular doctors and specialists to try to get back to where I was in life. Sometime down the line, maybe 100 years from now, Dr. Sarno will be remembered as one of the most influential and greatest doctors this planet has ever seen."
"I do know that it was after a year of entirely disabling, perplexing, and shifting symptoms that culminated with a "herniated disc" diagnosis, an epidural steroid injection that made things worse, and ever-increasing dispair that I would ever have my once very active life back. Since these reviews are what led me to read this book (despite the fact that I'm scientifically minded and inclined to believe and trust doctors in general, maybe too much), I thought I would add my own story. After a backpacking trip in November 2010, I developed severe, debilitating knee pain. It was a blissful three days in the wilderness, and on the hike out (i.e. back to my job as a corporate lawyer), the knee pain started. I waited a week, thinking it was an overuse injury related to my spin classes, hiking, etc., and when it did not get better, I went in for an MRI. The first orthopedic surgeon diagnosed me with "knee strain" and sent me to physical therapy, which I ended up doing twice a week for six months. Two months later, things were not improved, so I switched doctors and ordered a second MRI. My knee was actually warm to the touch, which (of course) led me to believe that there was some physical injury. My new doctor, feeling the extreme soreness I had on my hip and outside of my quad and outside of my knee, diagnosed me with IT (iliotibial band) syndrome. At some point, my physical therapist suggested that maybe I had a pinched nerve. The back MRI showed a herniated L4/L5 vertebrae (diagnosed by my new spine surgeon), and I scheduled an epidural. I went for the epidural, and afterward I couldn't sit, stand, or lie comfortably. While I waited for it to arrive, I read other things about Sarno, and about his theories, on the internet. I am pain free when six weeks ago I was on disability and headed for back surgery."
"Great alternative/complimentary view to healing chronic pain!"
"See my review for MindBody Prescription by Dr Sarno."
Best Exercise & Fitness Injury Prevention
In this groundbreaking new book, Dr. Kelly Starrett—renowned physical therapist and author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Becoming a Supple Leopard —unveils a detailed battle plan for surviving our chair-centric society. Deskbound provides creative solutions for reducing the amount of time you spend perched on your backside, as well as strategies for transforming your desk into a dynamic, active workstation that can improve your life. Perform daily body maintenance work using 14 mobility templates for resolving pain and increasing range of motion. Dr. Kelly Starrett is the author of the New York Times bestseller Becoming a Supple Leopard, which has revolutionized how coaches, athletes, and everyday humans approach movement and athletic performance. Dr. Starrett is a co-founder of San Francisco CrossFit and MobilityWOD.com, where he shares his innovative approach to movement, mechanics, and mobility with coaches and athletes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've got the other books he wrote, they are very helpful and the amount of pain removed from my body makes it worth far more than I paid. About the only improvement I could suggest is more sketch overlays that indicate the area of focus, direction of motion, things like that. Sketch lines down the spine and arm or leg, little angle symbol or curved arrows help me to understand very well. Seriously, anybody that thinks light thin text on shiny paper is a good idea should not be publishing books. If the ink were a full black, the font a little thicker, or maybe just printed on regular paper it wouldn't be such a struggle. (And maybe it is a full black, but the shiny paper effect makes it look like a dim gray at best to me.). The contrast is simply poor and I can't stand reading this book more than a few minutes at a time, which is really frustrating because the information is so valuable that I am compelled to suffer through it. EDIT: I'm going to try and upload a picture showing what I'm talking about, and I apologize if my camera isn't the greatest."
"I did get a standing desk (before reading this book) but then my lower back started to hurt."
"Gorgeous photographs and drawings illustrate proper spinal mechanics and movements, and the book ends with strategies and techniques for dealing with the mischief and mayhem we cause for ourselves by sitting too long and too often in a position that nature never intended."
"You can go deep in the text or stay in browse mode and use the pictures."
"Great book."
"This book addresses all of my problem areas and has completely changed the way I interact with my computer during the day."
"Extremely practical information."
"I've been using a stand up desk for three days and it's the only thing that has fixed my sciatic pain in three years now."
Best Genitourinary Infections & STDs
"Susan has done a masterful job in educating patients about their disease, explaining why watching your diet is important, and offering meal plans and recipes that encourage compliance and fun." In her comprehensive renal diet cookbook, she details weekly meal plans featuring recipes that keep your potassium, sodium, and phosphorous levels in check. My patients need information, education, meal plans, ample options, simple recipes, flavor, fun, and the reassurance that what they eat is good for them. Now when my patients ask me for ideas and start to look at food like medicine I can just give them this reference and off they go! It's not just a book of recipes; it starts with solid, easy-to-understand information about aspects of the renal diet and why they are important. There was a need for an attractive book which is easy to understand and which presented the materials in a manner that encouraged success and kept the reader motivated. The Renal Diet Cookbook supplies a great deal of valuable information and motivation, including excellent advice on getting started in a way that will ease you into the plan.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Each recipe includes number of calories and amounts of potassium, phosphorous, protein, sodium, fat, etc. The book starts out with clear and concise information regarding what bodily function each nutrient is needed for and the approximate range a person on dialysis should stay within which was extremely helpful."
"Renal Diet Cookbook: The Low Sodium, Low Potassium, Healthy Kidney Cookbook. Very informative book with a weekly meal plans for a healthier kidney. It start with some diet tips, understanding Kidney disease, meal plan action and recipes. The 28 meal plan is excellent, providing you all you need for every week meal plan with a shopping list."
"Already feeling better about my new lifestyle eating change."
"With newly diagnosed CKD these recipes and information is great to know."
"Very useful to have, decent food and advice."
"Everything was satisfactory."
"Great book if you are looking for recipe ideas for anyone with kidney disease."
"It has lots of good information in it, I love the book."
Best Stretching Exercise & Fitness
This is the book that people tell their friends about, that trainers suggest for virtually every sport and activity, and that medical professionals recommend to people just starting to get back in shape. Every stretch you will ever need Rocky Mountain News The field's pioneer work Athletic Journal.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Recommended by DO after she & physical therapist couldn’t figure out source of significant pain."
"Being 71 I can't do all exercises listed but most are OK and I feel better already."
"My old boss who was a chiropractor who was an amazing doctor by the way sweared by this book."
"I bought an edition of this fine book decades ago, and I bought it again!"
"Really helps me get ready for biking, hiking, walking or anything I am thinking about doing."
"This is the book you need."
"I had the first edition of this book 30 years ago when I was young."
"This book has really helped me to find a stretching routine that helps with my arthritis."
Best Musculoskeletal Diseases
Now, in The Wahls Protocol, she shares the details of the protocol that allowed her to reverse many of her symptoms, get back to her life, and embark on a new mission: to share the Wahls Protocol with others suffering from the ravages of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions. Terry L. Wahls, M.D., is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City and the director of the Therapeutic Lifestyle Clinic at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where she treats veterans with autoimmune, neurological, and medical problems using diet and lifestyle interventions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Even though I'm definitely NOT grateful for having this disease, I truly believe my loved ones, future children and I obtained the most valuable information we have come across as a consequence of my MS. In this book, Dr Wahls goes into detail about every aspect of the dietary and lifestyle changes she recommends, which includes supplements, exercise, electrical stimulation, meditation, etc., and she details three different versions of the Wahls diet so anyone can find a level they can learn to live with. I actually convinced my wife and my mother to read the book and follow different levels of the protocol with me for one month. It has been three weeks today, and the results have been noticeable: - I have RRMS, and am still in early stages of the disease so when I'm in remission, which is 90% of the time, I have no symptoms. She feels a lot more rested and the Polar Loop is actually measuring and showing these results as concrete data. Additionally, she used to get headaches at work about once a week, and hasn't had a single one since following the Wahls Paleo. I have now read many other books by Sarah Ballantyne, Dr. Perlmutter, Amy Myers, Jimmy Moore, etc., I have found countless Blogs and Cookbooks, and I even have iOS Apps that make my life way easier (MyPaleoPal is excellent for tracking and ideas, for example). I now enjoy eating and even cooking more than I ever had before, and my entire family is still reaping the benefits from all this knowledge. Just to detail a bit more: I follow the Wahls Paleo Plus diet, mixed together with the AIP just to make it a little more challenging. This means no nuts, seeds, nightshades, or coffee, on top of Dr Wahls' strictest protocol. I also swim every other day, meditate and work my core muscles daily, and sleep 7.5-8.5 hours every night. You be the judge: my last relapse was over a year ago, I can now bike for 45minutes and totally withstand heat sensitivity, I can swim for as long as I want to, I walked over 120,000 steps in a week last december during Christmas break (used a pedometer to keep track), I'm sleeping like a baby, and, MOST IMPORTANT: I stopped my MS medication two weeks ago (under my neurologist's supervision of course, and having sworn to go back on it if my status changes negatively)."
"The book is so easy to read, and it is set up pretty much the way I spent my first year changing my diet. I loved reading Chapter 7 - Wahls Paleo Plus, because that is the way I basically eat now, strictly and consistently. This new book is an easier read, but still full of Dr. Wahls passion for sharing this vital information, and getting it right. Her life is at stake, and she wants to help as many people as she can - in my opinion, it is obvious that this book is a true labor of love for her. I rarely left the house, except for appointments that I couldn't put off any longer, or family celebrations with the our grown kids. My husband, whose busy career took much of his time, did the best he could, which meant my diet was mostly easy processed food or take-out. A few weeks after I sold/gave my beloved Prius to my son, my daughter urged me to look into some doctor that had MS and wrote a book about how she healed herself with diet. I had a slight increase in energy, and cleaned a tiny spot of kitchen counter between the sink and the coffee maker. I had stopped eating white potatoes, and soon started avoiding soy, legumes all processed and packaged foods. After a year, a friend offered to drive me to the gym again, so I started working out a bit, and she helped me move between machines. Finally I started taking my walker, and then made my husband buy a car so I could have his Prius - I needed my independence back, and I was ready. My gym workouts were good for a while but I began to hurt myself; I could barely remember how to walk, because my body was so messed up. I started working with a personal trainer at the gym, after he actually convinced me that he could wake up my severely weakened muscles, when giving me a free hour-long evaluation where I could not even do a squat, or get up from the floor. I can now do a deadlift with 115 pound weight, I can squat, carry bags of groceries upstairs, and take many different classes at the gym, with modifications, such as Zumba, spinning, step, yoga, Pilates, and I love to walk outside to get the fresh air and sunshine. I finally bought a Vitamix (I stopped juicing - I want the nutrients in my body) and I still use it every single day for getting a huge amount of veggies and berries. I had been on weight loss diets all my life, and that was a struggle, because I could never shake my addiction to sweets, carbs, etc. Terry also talks about the importance of moving our bodies and having strong emotional bonds with the people in our lives. That last one has been harder for me in the last year, and the stress of it taught me a lot about how my body reacts to negative thoughts in my mind."