Mind Over Back Pain: A Radically New Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain

132 Pages·1986·13.02 MB·English

by  John Sarno

A Radically NewApproach to the
Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain
1
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—
Tension Myositis Syndrome
Cause and Treatment
"Among most victims ofback pain, TENSION leads to a phys-
ical process involving the muscles and nerves of the neck,
shoulders and back. I call this condition the tension myositis
syndrome (TMS).
"TMS is characterized by varied patterns of pain in the neck,
shoulders, upper or lower back and often in the legs and arms
as well. Pain can occur with increasing frequency over many
years, and in some people it eventually becomes chronic. It can
dominate a person's life. Pain and the fear of pain sharply re-
strict physical activity.
"I have learned in working with TMS that human beings have
great capacities for self-healing; but those powers must be rec-
ognized and unleashed. In my view this is the best medicine:
releasing the potential within individuals to heal themselves."
—John Sarno, M.D.
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A Radically NewApproach tothe
Diagnosis and Treatmentof Back Pain
MIND
OVER
BACK
by
John Sarno, M.D.
S.
BERKLEY BOOKS, NEWYORK
This Berkley book contains the complete
text ofthe original hardcover edition.
MIND OVER BACK PAIN
A Berkley Book / published by arrangement with
William Morrow and Company, Inc.
PRINTING HISTORY
William Morrow edition published 1984
Berkley edition / April 1986
All rights reserved.
©
Copyright 1982 by John E. Samo.
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part,
by mimeograph or any other means, without permission.
For information address: William Morrow and Company. Inc.,
105 Madison Avenue, New York. New York 10016.
ISBN: 0-425-08741-7
A BERKLEY BOOK ^ TM 757,375
Berkley Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
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Acknowledgments
Though the writing of this book was started a number of years ago,
the fact that it has become a reality is primarily due to the interest,
encouragement and activity of Michael Shimkin. He was the prime
mover in setting the publication wheels in motion. He has also been
of great help in reading and critiquing the manuscript as it developed.
My wife, Martha, as always, has contributed to the project in many
ways. From her considerable medical writing experience, she made
suggestions ranging from organization to syntax. Her sensitivity to
psychological phenomena made her an ideal discussant as I worked to
clarify concepts.
David Schechter, while still a third-year medical student, col-
lected the data that comprise the follow-up study reported in the text.
In addition, he made excellent suggestions after multiple readings of
the manuscript.
Howard A. Rusk has been many things to me over the years. He
is the philosophical father of the medical specialty of Rehabilitation
Medicine. He introduced me to the field, and was a constant source of
support and encouragement during the years that I worked under his
departmental chairmanship. Because of his clinical sensitivity and deep
understanding of patient needs, he was particularly supportive of my
work on back pain.
The many workers who have contributed to the field of psycho-
somatic medicine are too numerous to list, but one thinks with partic-
ular gratitude of a few pioneers such as Franz Alexander, Flanders
Dunbar and George Engel.
Acknowledgments
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the contributions of
the members of the team at the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
who worked with me through the years in the treatment of patients.
They have been devoted, sensitive and caring. In particular I am grate-
ful to Arlene Feinblatt, the chief psychologist of our group, for her
contribution to the understanding of the psychological basis for the
tension myositis syndrome and to Roberta Weiss, Phyllis Israelton and
Nancy Berk for their work in developing appropriate physical thera-
peutic techniques.
I owe thanks as well to my patients, for they have been the text-
books from whom I have learned about this disorder.
I am particularly grateful to Cinda Firestone for her gracious and
generous support of the back pain program. She also kindly consented
to read the manuscript and in the process made many valuable sugges-
tions.
Elizabeth Frost Knappman made important organizational sugges-
tions at a crucial time in the writing of the book, for which I am very
grateful.
To Mary Bleecker Simmons goes the credit for the title of the
book.
Finally, my thanks for the loyalty and industriousness of Ana
Torres, who typed the seemingly endless pages that led to the final
manuscript.
Contents
Introduction 9
Chapter Structural Abnormalities Rarely Cause 13
1
Back Pain
Chapter 2 Conventional Treatment and Medical 33
Mythology
Chapter 3 What Causes Back Pain? 50
The Psychophysiology of TMS
Chapter 4