What Cured My Back Pain

I wrote previously about using a standing desk and my medical reasons for doing so, mostly the fact that I had daily pain in my lower back that was exacerbated by sitting for long periods. After seeing a variety of doctors and specialists, there was no injury or structural issue causing the pain. It was what it was, so I accepted the pain and lived with it.

But for years, as an avid Howard Stern listener, I’ve heard Howard talk about how he overcame back pain by seeing a New York doctor, John Sarno, MD. Howard talked about how Dr. Sarno helped him understand the mind-body connection for his back pain that ultimately led him to pain-free living with no medical intervention.

So I ordered Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Dr. Sarno in November of 2008. I read a bit of the book when I bought it but I couldn’t get into it so I stopped after a dozen pages.

And then last week, while traveling for business, I decided to give the book another shot. After reading a couple of chapters and following the advice in the book, I am no longer experiencing regular back pain. There have been some random moments of pain in the last week, but I quickly apply the advice in the book and the pain goes away.

Dr. Sarno makes the point in the book that the book is no replacement for seeing a doctor so I’ll make the point, too. But, if like me, you’ve been through the full gamut of doctors and been told that there is nothing really wrong with you and you are still experiencing pain, this book may give you a way to deal with the pain which, for me, made the pain go away.

So how does it work? I won’t try to explain the entire concept since I wouldn’t do it justice, but the doctor’s research tells him that the pain is a physical expression of repressed anger and anxiety that your mind blocks to protect you. The book offers advice on how to confront the pain, acknowledge the source, and deal with the repressed anger and anxiety so you can live without pain.

Sound crazy? It may be, but it worked for me with an almost immediate benefit. And if you’re dealing with back pain, I hope it works for you, too!

Thanks, Howard and Dr. Sarno!