Book Description
The first in a new series of symptom-specific guides ("Designing Health, Naturally") providing "What You Really Need to Know" to prevent and reverse debilitating pain and inflammation without drugs and their side-effects — often times worse than the original condition. Written by a doctor who became a victim and recovered, after a life-threatening accident, a prescription drug-induced digestive disorder, and the subsequent onset of fibromyalgia and chronic inflammation. It details: causes and effects; non-drug pain and inflammation phyters; 30 gourmet night-shade-free recipes for cooking without foods that "ignite" the inflammatory process; heart health and the inflammation connection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A slim but vital compendium of practical and applicable information
Pain/Inflammation Matters: Recipes For Life by Gloria Gilbere (a doctor of naturopathy, and expert in natural health issues, and an experienced homeopath), is a slim but vital compendium of practical and applicable information on the prevention, and even reversal, of fibromyalgia, arthritis, heart disease and inflammatory disorders. Organized into thoroughly "reader friendly" sections: "Causes & Effects"; "Heart Matters"; "Nightshade-free Recipes; and Non-drug Pain & Inflammation Phyters, Pain/Inflammation Matters should be considered "must reading" by anyone (especially non-specialist general readers) who suffer from chronic pain or inflammation.
... Read more

Book Description
A clinical reference manual for the evaluation and treatment of muscle pain

Contains detailed illustrations of pain patterns and trigger-point locations

15,000 copies sold in first hardcover edition

Myofascial pain syndromes are among the fastest growing problems that physicians, osteopaths, acupuncturists, and physical, occupational, and massage therapists encounter in their patients. In Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain Donna and Steven Finando have organized vast amounts of information on treating myofascial pain into an accessible "user's manual" for healthcare practitioners. They examine a wide range of pain patterns and present evaluation and palpation techniques for reducing trigger points--and thereby alleviating pain--in the most clinically significant musculature of the body.

This comprehensive yet easy-to-use reference guide to treatment of muscle pain begins with chapters on the concept of Qi and its relationship to myology, specific trigger point location and activation, and palpatory skill-building techniques. Subsequent sections provide detailed information on each muscle to teach clinicians to locate quickly and accurately individual points of pain and compensation. A visual index allows easy identification of the muscles that may be involved. Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain provides necessary and invaluable information for sufferers and any professional involved with myofascial disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Trigger Point Therapy
If you have knots in your muscles then this is the book for you! It will show you where the triggeer points are by muscles groups and explain in detail how to perform the pressure and stretch. Very good teaching tool for beginners who know little about muscles.

A Trigger Point Book That Hits The Spot!
What a great book. Know first of all that it's written more for clinicians, such as massage therapists. If you have no medical background, you may get confused with some of the medical terms such as abduction.

Having said that, for practitioners who treat musculoskeletal pain, this book is the best trigger point therapy book I've come across. After spending a few chapters covering some of the basics on topics such as the nature of trigger points, Qi, informed touch, etc, the book gets right to the reason why you probably bought the book- the trigger points.

The book does an excellent job of covering all the muscles of the body and their associated trigger points. But that's not where it ends. Besides having some of the best muscle pictures you could ask for, each section on a particular muscle ALSO covers pain patterns a specific trigger point could produce, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises- nice!! While the stretches are clearly depicted, the strengthening exercises are only described- but they are certainly clear enough to follow.

A couple of appendices on meridian pathways, cutaneous zones, and acupoints are also included.

Lastly, the book ends with two indexes. The first is a pain pattern index, which is really a picture reference guide on trigger point referral patterns for the various muscles. The second is a symptoms index. Using this index is as easy as looking up a particular area of the body (such as the shoulder) where you'll then find various symptoms and their potential cause (trouble with reaching up....problem with latissimus dorsi).

All-in-all, it's a great resource for anyone who deals with clients that might have muscular pain and the book could also double as a patient education tool with its great pictures of all the muscles and their trigger points. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff for practitioners who deal with a lot of shoulder patients.

Trigger Point Therapy
I bought this book for my boyfriend as a Christmas gift. He just graduated as a massage therapist, and he loved the book. I got him this one the Reflexology Atlas.He loved them both. They are great books.

Excellent Reference Book
I intend to use this book in my practice as a massage therapist. The material is easily accessible and very detailed. Reading over the material this book really is only for people with some anatomy training though, as the book uses medical terminology.

A Simplified way to Use, Practice and be Informed
This is one of the most understandable books in its field. Many clear and concise diagrams, as well as an easy, quick way to find trigger points and pages to find them, without timely searching. Impressively written and illustrated for the novice as well. ... Read more

Book Description
Reassuring guide for expectant mothers to wide range of pain control options. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Great description of labor pain
I highly recommend this book to anyone beginning their search on how to handle labor pain.The first chapter gives an excellent description of the different types of pain you may feel (better and more complete than any others I have read), and really helps you prepare for what you may face.The other chapters give great summaries of different methods for relieving/handling the pain.While they are not complete how-to chapters on the techniques' uses, it will help you know which are the best options for you so that you can then do more investigation elsewhere for details on the specifics of the techniques.It is well written and a great starting point.

Great reference
Very simple and easy to read. I wasn't able to do a lamaze class and this helped me to prepare etc. It also helped me to feel more relaxed about the whole thought of labor and expectations. Everything went smoothly. I highly suggest this book for anyone and their first time.

Perfect for preparing for labor
Author is not to opinionated and I felt like I was getting really detailed, factual information on how to cope with labor. Very concise chapters on breathing, relaxation techniques, medications available, etc. I really liked it. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I loved this one
This was the book I was looking for.I wanted a book that gave you natural, alternative ways of coping with labor pain.This hit the nail on the head. Like other readers have said you got the facts without the bias.There were even sections on using medication as well as common interventions during labor.This was definitely worth the money and should be helpful to me during labor!

Buy This Book
This book is wonderful!Adrienne Leiberman presents the information about natural childbirth in a realistic and down to earth manner. The book gives great detailed information about the entire process of birth in a factual manner without becomming too clinical.She gives easy to learn exercises in visualization and relaxation to manage and even lessen the pain of childbirth.Although it is evedent that she prefers a natural childbirth to one that uses medications for pain releif, she provides plenty of information about pain medications that may be available at the time of delivery.This book helped me gain the confidence I needed to give birth naturally by informing me about what was happening to my body throughout the process, why it is painful, and how to properly manage that pain and discomfort. Buy this book! ... Read more

Book Description
Here's an innovative and practical approach to eliminating chronic muscle pain, written by a popular occupational therapist with over twenty-five years of experience freeing people from the discomfort of tendonitis, lower back pain, and neck and shoulder tension. These types of chronic pain can be caused by a number of factors, including old injuries, habitual movement patterns, problems with body alignment, psychological causes, and inability to sense your own body movements accurately. Muscular Retraining for Pain-Free Living clearly and concisely explains the causes of persistent muscle pain and offers a therapeutic exercise program to address these problems and end pain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Practical and Interesting

This book is well-balanced in practical and theoretical advice regarding how to manage chronic muscle pain, tension, repetitive stress injuries, tendonitis, etc.The basic principle rests on what Williamson calls "kinesthetic awareness," a quality most of us lack.Learning to develop our kinesthesia is the key to pain-free living.Williamson includes "explorations" in each chapter in order to develop this awareness.Part II of the book includes exercises tailored toward problem areas and based on the prior explorations.

Williamson presents the information in a logical and engaging way, encouraging the reader to the exercises daily.I have seen great improvement in my own lower back pain and would recommend this book to anyone who struggles with muscular pain.

The best book of its kind
Craig Williamson's book is the best of its kind I've ever read. It is well written and easy to understand. He has made intelligible, the workings of the human body's muscles, tendons, joints and has explained so many of the reasons that we have body pain. If you've been suffering for years this book will turn on the light. When I finished it I wanted to make an appointment immediately but the author who practices his art of retraining lives in another State. I am doing the exercises and wish that there was a companion dvd so that I could be sure I am doing them right. I have written to the author and he is desirous of getting one out as well. Until then I am going to reread the book and continue to learn the exercises with great hopes of one day being free or at least more free than I am now of discomfort.

Really interesting book!!!
I got a copy of this from the library and have got so much out of it that I came online to buy my own copy. I have been having treatment through acupuncture and cranial sacral therapy to get my hip back into alignment after falling down the stairs, and this explains a lot of what the therapist tries to explain to me during the sessions! I absolutely recommend this book..

Great addition to my library

As a massage therapist, I found Craig Williamson's book to be both absorbing and enlightening.Williamson's book reads like a novel but explains clearly how chronic pain frequently has a neuromuscular rather than a mechanical root cause.He explains that muscle tone is influenced by the nervous system, coining the term "kinesthetic dysfunction" to describe people who are unable to tell whether or not their muscles are tense or relaxed.Williamson says that the neuromuscular system may maintain the cycle of pain long after an injury should have healed.He states, "If you think of a muscle as something that is being tightened, the implication is that someone is tightening it.That someone is you, even if you are not aware of it and do not wish to do so" (p. 62).He suggests that the reasons for musculoskeletal pain--other than structural damage--include reflexive muscular reaction from an injury, dysfunctional movement patterns, poor alignment and body use, kinesthetic dysfunction, and emotions.Although most of us who provide massage therapy do not work with clients dressed and walking about the room, as Williamson does, we can derive insights from his book to aid our understanding and treatment of chronic pain.Specifically, his book reinforces us to think of ways to help our clients become more aware - kinesthetically - of their bodies and habitual movement patterns.I highly recommend this book to LMTs and others who work with people who are in pain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A must for anyone working on chronic pain.
I have used this book for nine years in working with individuals with chronic pain.It is skills-based, and it covers most of the important aspects of psychological treatment of pain.If you cannot get this book, try 10 Simple Solutions to Chronic Pain in addition to The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook.

The best of its kind, but do not pay exorbitant prices!
The Chronic Pain Control Workbook is by far the best of its kind. It truly will walk a chronic pain sufferer through a step-by-step program that, if followed consistently, WILL improve the quality of the chronic sufferer's life. I have used it successfully with thousands of patients. HOWEVER, the book is now out-of-print (for some unfathomable reason that nether the publisher nor the authors care to explain) and I am seeing extreme price gouging! Don't fall for it and do not pay exorbitant prices for a book that's listed at $17.95. If you can't find a used one for a reasonable price, "The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook (2000, 5th edition, also by New Harbinger Publications) by M. Davis, Elizabeth Eshelman, and Matthew McKay - ISBN: 1572242140 covers almost all the topics just as well as the Pain Control Workbook does. What's missing are the chapters on medications, theories of pain, and vocational issues, but these are covered quite well elsewhere. The Relax workbook is available for list price of $19.95, but I have seen it used for as little as $10. A MUCH saner way to go! ... Read more

Book Description
From The Pain Behind the Mask: Overcoming Masculine Depression, you will discover how masculine development precludes your male clients toward the two defining characteristics of masculine depression: dissociating from feelings and acting out suppressed feelings in destructive behaviors. Depression in men is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, which is why it often goes untreated. This unique book does not portray men as victims, but seeks to describe a man?s responsibility and proposes realistic strategies for change.

The Pain Behind the Mask is written in easy-to-follow question and answer format to guide you through various subtopics discussed within each general area. Through The Pain Behind the Mask, you will learn new techniques and strategies to help improve the lives of men who suffer from depression by:

• gaining new insight into how understanding destructive behaviors as a masculine form of depression leads to new treatments for this condition
• discovering effective treatments for masculine depression that account for the origins and meaning of a man?s behavior in a relationship
• analyzing case studies to help you gain a better understanding of the various characteristics and dynamics of masculine depression
• finding useful ways to conceptualize and intervene with clients who display symptoms of masculine depression
• learning to address the underlying causes of problem behavior instead of dealing solely with the outward appearance to recognize and treat masculine depression
  
  The Pain Behind the Mask deals with the problems of masculine depression by helping you acquire workable solutions. This indispensable book will help you understand the roots of masculine depression so you can guide your clients toward positive and self-healing attitudes.

Customer Reviews (9)

Big help for this wife of a depressed man
After years of believing my husbands behavior was somehow wilfull and conscious I now see it for what it more likely is: expressions of internal conflict over deeply conditioned beliefs of what it is to be a man that is costing our men their humanity.

A Must Read for All Men
I found this in the library and was so impressed with the information I bought a copy for continued reference.It explained a LOT about why I react the way I do in certain situations.Using the knowledge, I have improved my relationship with my wife, children, and friends.It has even given me insight into relationships at work (esp male to male.)

I found the title a bit off putting, but applicable.

male insights
an informative read into male depression. there are a lot of books out there on this subject matter. this one is written with an ease to understand and with a flow that keeps it smooth

we need more books like this
I have recommended this book to many friends and clients, and it has been very helpful to them. In the process of ordering another copy, I just read a review that refers to it as "a waste of time" for men. I disagree! But then again, no book is a one-size fits all...

This book is a better fit for men who have been depressed in an atypical way and who need a different perspective to understand themselves and get better. (The current working model of depression reflects more culturally "feminine" traits.) This book suggests that when a man abuses alcohol or drugs, becomes aggressive after a loss, or intimidates others with his 'bad moods', it is easy to overlook the vulnerable emotions behind self-destructive behaviors and violent behaviors. It's just as easy to miss the underlying clinical depression. The core value of this book is to suggest that we look beneath the mask. Written more as a self-help book than a textbook, it is shorter on theory and research than I like. But it is geared to a lay audience and succeeds in this way. There are many case studies and practical suggestions that the author's have successfully used in clinical practice.

Simply put, this book has been needed for quite a while. But it may not fit everyone in the same way.

Overcome Male Depression: Become A Panty-Waist
This is overly simplistic, leftist, academic tripe with the following bottom line premise: men are miserable, depressed, violent creatures because our parents raised us up to be ... well, men.

Call me cynical, but I'm suspicious of authors who use a Preface to essentially disavow any resposibility or even legitimacy for the treacle they are about to set forth. I guess it is important to know though that the book is based on a lot of their personal experiences and that writing it was a marvelous bonding experience for them.

Having established their loophole and "sensitivity credentials" the authors proceed to parrot the feminist agenda. It soon occurs to the reader that, from the authors' perspective, the Charlton Heston's and John Wayne's of the world are inherently depressed beyond belief while the Woody Allen's are almost manic.

My bottom line: if you're a man this book is a waste of time. ... Read more

Book Description
After twenty-five years in print, this book has been a godsend for hundreds of thousands of readers.When trigger points are released (and this book teaches how it is done) relief comes immediately. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Relieves TMJ pain and its headaches and eyestrain
I would encourage anyone who experiences TMJ pain with its headaches and eyestrain explore trigger point therapy along with whatever else seems to work for their condition. Unfortunately I didn't find it to be the one-stop cure-all that I'd hoped. Ultimately my strategy consisted of that plus hot compresses and self-applied deep myofacial massage. If the pain still flared by bedtime I found that analgesic creams (Tiger Balm and arnica homeopathic) as well as the arnic capsule homeopathic remedy for sore muscles (in this case the jaw/masseter)seemed to help enough so that I could mercifully fall asleep. Otherwise the dull persistent ache of referred pain from the jaw muscles into my rear molar(s) kept me up for hours.

Practical Applications
This book is great at mapping out pain and explaining how to extinguish trigger points through direct pressure and stretching exercises.A must have for any bodyworker.

Excellent Resource
As a Bodyworker, this is a fabulous book.It has helped not only myself, but my clients have benefited greatly as well.It is an easy read and can be of great help to the layman.

Incomprehensible
I tried to find specific conditions in the book - and the procedures to follow for treating them.I couldn't even figure out the procedures to follow when reading them - the writing just isn't very clear.

If there is any organization to this book, I couldn't detect it.The author is very enthusiastic about the material and gives lots of her experiences with her patients.That's nice, but judicious editing, better organization and clarity is what this book needs.

Requires two people
I was very interested in this book based on the reviews. I was able to look at it at the library before buying it. To my surprise, almost everything in the book requires two people. The book is more like an instruction book for a physical therapist. If you are looking for a book that you can use by yourself, I highly recommend The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (10)

make sense
It is a small book easy to carry around. It is written in a clear and easy to understand way. I bought it for my husband. He liked it.

Cronic Knee Pain In Both Knees
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered with knee pain.I have problems with both knees and in the past had tried physical therapy.The exercises prescribed by the therapists actually aggravated the problem so I stopped doing them.This book is extremely informative and explains the need for stretching your muscles (something I never did before )as well as doing simple isometric exercises (I was told to do leg lifts which made the knee pain worse). Plus you can do them at your own pace without someone standing over your shoulder pushing you to do more when or ifyou're not ready. Buy this book and follow what he suggests; you won't be sorry!

Simple book you need if you have any knee problems
I just had ACL replacement surgery and this book is a great resource and tool.This book tells you what you need to know in order to put together a basic workout routine to strengthen your knee no matter what your issue is.This book explains to you what Physical Therapists won't take the time to explain and allows you to ask intelligent questions of your therapist and surgeon.Note, this book was what turned me on to massage techniques which have sped my recovery immensely.Most insurance plans won't cover massage, and physical therapists and surgeons don't recommend it unless you ask.If you get no other books about knee recovery, get this one!!

Simple techniques create amazing results.
This remarkable little book may change the way you think about knee pain. Instead of focusing on pain symptoms and where they originate, the author focuses on what your knee does - and how to improve those functions with simple exercises. The only anatomy lesson you need is to know where your quadriceps and hamstring muscles are - front and rear of your thigh respectively.

He identifies four functions in yourknee: strength, flexibility, proprioception/balance, and endurance. If you have unexplainable knee pain, you probably just need to improve your knee function in one or more of the four functional areas. The author suggests simple exercises in each functional category.

To develop strength, the single most important muscles to develop are your quadriceps. There are many exercises you can do to strengthen your quads. The author suggests a very simple floor exercise.

To develop flexibility, the author suggests a quad and a hamstring stretch. The exercises he suggests can be done standing or on the floor.

Proprioception might be a strange word to you. It was to me. It is probably best described as a combination of coordination and balance. Can you accurately sense what your knee is doing? Does it react appropriately to changes as you move? This is what proprioception is all about. The simple and interesting exercise the author suggests to improve proprioception is simply to stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Then switch legs. (It's ok to have a wall or chair to help catch you if you start to fall.) You might find this exercise easy to master. If so, the author suggests doing the exercise with your eyes closed. This may require considerable practice!

The author suggests that you can build endurance simply by walking or stationary bicycling.

And that's the entire program for treating your knee pain. Some readers may feel letdown or short-changed. What about all the anatomy lessons other practitioners give you? What about issues relating to your tendons, ligaments, bones, and cartilage? What is the theory behind this skimpy program?

Chapter 6 gives you the surprising answers to these questions. The author reviews many scientific studies on knee pain. The studies (based on X ray or MRI testing) show that the existence and/or severity of knee pain/disability have little correlation to the amount of knee deterioration. Many people with severe knee deterioration reported no pain, and some had their symptoms decline over time. The factors most closely linked to knee pain/disability were muscle strength, obesity, age, and psychological health. The author is a physical therapist and not a dietician, gerontologist, or psychologist. His knee program does as much for your knee as science suggests physical therapy can do.

The author recognizes that surgery and medications seem to help a lot of people, but the available research suggests that most people will benefit from the low-tech solutions he offers.

what you need and nothing extra
This book doesn't waste your time - it just reports what research says has been effective and then lays out a simple routine of exercises you can do at home, with extensions if you want to go further.I've had good results from following basically the same routine he suggests - it's given me back hope that fifty-year-old knees can survive a running program after all, and it's helped me avoid surgery which probably wasn't needed.It also cut through a lot of conflicting and confusing diagnoses and went straight to advice on how to avoid pain - who cares about the exact cause if it goes away? ... Read more

Book Description
The newly updated edition of the classic guide to assessing and treating pain and injury

For more than twenty-five years, Listen to Your Pain has been a leading resource for understanding pain and injury problems. Now revised and updated based on recent research, this comprehensive, fully illustrated guide:
* explains how to determine exactly what is causing your pain, using simple tests
* provides detailed instructions for therapists on assessing and treating each major injury
* outlines possible treatment choices, from self-therapy to medical help
* catalogs injuries by the part of the body that hurts, for easy reference
* offers exercise and rehabilitation regimens to help promote faster healing and complete recovery

Listen to Your Pain remains the essential reference for active people seeking an understanding of their injuries and relief from their pain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Want to understand soft tissue injuries? Get this book.
This book is an OUTSTANDING resource (and real eye-opener) for the practitioner as well as for the average person who just wants to understand how things happen in the body and why it can be so hard for some injuries to heal.

Mr. Benjamin is a truly excellent educator who can get the knowledge across in a clear and concise manner. I have personally taken quite a bit of additional training from him revolving around the fundamentals laid out in this book. I can honestly say that it changed my life and my career as a massage therapist.

This is a book that you will refer to CONSTANTLY. It is invaluable.

Very well written
This is an easy to understand book.I learned a great deal from it.The author knows his stuff, and wrote the book so you don't have to have a great deal of knowledge to follow along.I would recommend this to anyone who deals with injuries, or who has an injury or pain and wants to learn more about it.

Invaluable resource guide!
Ben Benjamin has been my favorite bodywork writer for a long time. I read all of his columns in the American Massage Therapy Association Journal.This book has been thoroughly used so that the cover has evenfallen off!Keep up the great writing Ben!Having authored"The Healing Art of Sports Massage", I have a specific need toknow things for my practice to be successful!

a great reference book
This is a good book if you are experiencing any pain. It will discribe the problem you are having and how to treat it.It could even save you from going to the doctors office and spending unessesary money if you are sureof your problem and can treat it yorself. I enjoy having this book around.It is a good reference book.

Helpful information in layman's terms. I recommend highly.
This book gives clear, understandable step-by-step guidelines to help thereader identify what type of injury is causing his/her pain. This bookhelped me understand what my chiropractor and sports doctor did not, that Ihad a torn ligament in my back. This excellent book also describesexercises that will contribute to the healing of one's injury. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
With wisdom and humor, Thank You for Being Such a Pain offers gentle and compassionate guidance for understanding and healing relationships with difficult people. By embracing four fundamental premises and putting into practice the author's many helpful and practical suggestions, you'll acquire the skills and insights necessary for turning around even the most troublesome relationship. What you need to keep in mind is that: (1) nothing in your life happens randomly and your difficulties have a deeper purpose; (2) frustration and even emotional pain are as necessary for your personal and spiritual growth as love and joy; (3) transforming enmity and completing unfinished business may be the most important skills you can learn in life; and (4) when you make an effort to work on your inner self, your outer relationships will be transformed.
        
This groundbreaking book draws upon state-of-the-art psychological principles and timeless spiritual practices from all traditions. Filled with enlightening exercises and entertaining stories, Thank You for Being Such a Pain will forever change the way you see the difficult people in your life . . . as well as the way you see yourself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

If people give you heartburn, READ THIS BOOK
I read most of the first section with gritted teeth, since it sounded to me like the author was making excuses for bad behavior and invalidating my feelings.I highlighted sentences here and there that I felt were relevant and took the rest with a large grain of salt.But after I finished reading it the first time, was actively implementing his suggestions and seeing significant results, I started the book again and saw it in a completely different light. What formerly made me grit my teeth now made sense - it's not as much about them as it is about me and my reaction.It's also hugely about my perception.

The annoying people are still annoying and probably always will be.However, the practical suggestions in this book have helped reduce the annoying person's wear and tear on me.When I'm not all churned up over other people's behavior, I enjoy my life a lot more.

Now, I read a few pages every morning before I go to work and I'm on my fourth time through.The pages are wrinkly from highlighting and it's almost time to buy a clean copy and start over.I can't believe how different my days are and how I don't feel totally wrung out when I get home in the evening.I'm also actually starting to get along with people who used to really push my buttons.

I've purchased this book for three of my friends, who also thought it was awesome, but they'll have to write their own reviews.Thank you, Dr. Rosen!!!

Requires emotional maturity
It took me several efforts to really start digging into Thank You for Being Such a Pain.Though conversationally written, I had to adjust my scholarly mindset to be open to the author's diligent reiteration that the book is based on his own personal philosophy, which is by no means the voice of authority.Because of this, I suspect I would prefer to attend one of the author's presentations over the book alone.That said, the book is thought-provoking but requires emotional calm and maturity from the reader, and an openness to the idea that the number of difficult people in one's life might simply be all in one's head.

If you are a person in crisis, desperately searching for strategies to deal with a difficult co-worker, spouse, or friend, this might not be the first book you want to pick up; especially if your eyeballs are spinning in their sockets.If you're ready to calmly move beyond the sense frustration that grips your waking moments and you aren't opposed to having some scripture tossed into the mix, Rosen's book might prove helpful.

Beautifully Written
Yes challenging people create growth & opportunity for us. They may also drive us crazy or cause great suffering as well. Dr. Rosen's writing style & voice are both engaging & intelligent. It's a far more personal book than I would have at first guessed. I love this book so much I have purchased it twice & eventually friends in need of loving guidance have absconded with those copies. It is a remarkably thoughtful & intelligent book. One which you will find yourself returning to again & again. I only wish that in the 10 years since Rosen published this that he would please write another.

Difficult people force us to think and grow
_The central idea of this book is that there is a spiritual reason that we encounter difficult people (and that they encounter us.) As the author states, we are not on this earth just to have fun- we are here to refine our character, develop our talents, and contribute our unique gifts toward the greater good. Often this means that we are provided with the ideal foe- one that pushes all of our buttons. Instead of automatically striking back, we need to try to find out why this is so. That is why this book is so useful, for it not only lists every known way of trying to deal with another person that you have a problem with, but also with how to try to understand their motives.

_Still, to his credit, the author recognizes that there are those that are so unreasonable that we will have no choice but to cut them off- and perhaps warn others. You just don't do this until you have exhausted all other options. Also, it is recognized that it is healthy and normal to have extreme emotional reactions to difficult people (how many authority figures have you encountered that considered your anger a worse sin than the offense that triggered it?)

_I've come to the conclusion that the author is correct in his views. There are no coincidences in this life- not if we are sensitive and introspective enough to recognize and interpret them. Plus, the purpose of this life is to learn and grow- and often that means the pressure of conflict. In and of itself, conflict is not good- it is the effort to understand both your motivations and that of others that is of value.

_This book isn't a cure-all for interpersonal conflicts by any means. However it is a good basis for a "reasonable man's standard" to use with dealing with others. Don't be too upset if you encounter people on which the approach simply will not work. Personally, over the years I've notice that there seem to be more and more people who simply cannot see that they are violating other's rights- or they simply do not care. Maybe that is why we are here- to be a thorn in their side....

And remember- some people are merely different, not difficult.

Thank You book is a restorative gem-my story
I am finishing an internship position working under a supervisor whose leadership style was a mix of authoritarian/ laisse faire. Metaphorically, I was in boot camp/ either sinking or teaching myself to swim.I was weak with writingpaperwork and it often resulted in my supervisor ridiculing me to the whole department. I sometimes had to stand up to the supervisor without unleashing my wrangling emotions.I had to be very clear, justify my actions and not hold resentment.In other words, discipline myself.This book gives the mentholated rub needed.It is very helpful.It is very instructional, offering lots of techniques, warmth, and beautiful insight into a painful situation.Yes it is a gem of a book.It allowed me to stay in the training and learn to be more effective and efficient.The big bonus is that I grew emotionally.I learned to sit more with difficult emotions. ... Read more

Book Description
The Pain Cure offers a comprehensive, proven program for the millions of chronic pain sufferers, combining physical, mental, and spiritual strategies, which help patients lead pain-free lives and regain their sense of personal power and control. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

LIFE CHANGING BOOK
This book is amazing!! I could not believe FINALLY someone put into words what I was feeling but could not express! (1st chapter) His suggestions are so logical. He is a wonderful dr. and I hope he is educating others in his way of thinking. This is a "must read book" for anyone with chronic pain!!

Pain Sufferers Valuable Resource
The `Pain Cure' is a valuable resource empowering you with tools and information for controlling your pain and regaining your life.

It covers an enormous amount of information including nutritional therapy, physical therapies, medication...as well as mind/body exercises, meditation and strength training..... A total holistic approach bringing Eastern & Western medicine together.

During times of pain it is easy to want to hide away & I found comfort & encouragement during my time of need.

Thankfully this combined technique is becoming a more recognizable form of treatment by doctors of today.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who suffers from pain.

Life Is Too Short .....Regain & Enjoy Your Life!

A lifetime plan
This program gives a body, mind, and spiritual (soul) intensive in a sensible and interesting manner.It is delivered by the doctor who gave us Brain Longevity, and it is no wonder that it follows through with a complete and doable program aimedindeed at pain in the human body. He absolutely and logicallyproves that pain does not exist alone at the site of the pain, but lives within us. It is a thoughtful, and non-invasive book.I feel this book is always there for me, as a reference and a thoughtful,research-basedand compassionate friend.

I wonder How This Innovative Therapy Worked, or Did It?
To endure life's inevitable roadblocks, we have to strive not for perfection, but contentment, and miraculously all the pain will go away -- for a while.What he calls "curing" I call "coping with."There is no cure for the hardships we all encounter along the way -- becoming a hermit is even worse, as you dwell on what's wrong.

Ultimately, all pain goes through a "receiving center" in the brain, and seratonin blocks the perception of pain and keeps it from "centralizing" in the nervous system.In his diatribute to the ability to be pain-free, he refers a lot to his former book, BRAIN LONGEVITY, on which he collaborated with the same journalist who has written for several medical magazines.

He uses many "deficits" for possible causes of chronic pain, but specifically names seratonin as the worst, depending on one's pain tolerance threshold.He says that women suffer more from chronic pain due to hormonal changes, that two-thirds of all patients at pain clinics are women with migraines.Back pain is three times more prevelant in women, according to this doctor, and chronic muscle pain is ten times more common among the female sex.

All pain signals ultimately land in the brain, where they trigger thought, emotions, memories, and a complex array of biochemical events aimed at protecting your body from further harm.With chronic pain, the alarm continues to shriek uselessly long after the physical danger has passed.

Seratonin is the body's single best pain-fighter, more important even than endorphins.Seratonin deficit is a major culprit.He emphasizes that suffering is one reaction to pain, but not the only possible reaction -- that it is possible to experience pain without suffering from it.He admits that all lives contain some pain but, when you can experience it without suffering, "your chronic, disabling pain, for all practical purposes will be 'cured'."

Pain is the most common reason people go to doctors.Dr. Scott Fishman, president of the American Academy of Pain Management feels, "We've wandered from the basic philosophy in medicine, where you cure what you can but always treat suffering, to being focused only on curing."

In the section about arthritis, he confirms that the side effects pain medications present are worse than the problem they are supposed to relieve.One example is plain aspirin which, he says destroys the cartilage, the "padding" which keeps bones from rubbing together.This is the most common type called osteoarthritis.It is thought that eighty percent have this type by the age of fifty, progressing as age does.It involves hands, spine, hips, knees and feet (primarily in overweight people), and goes back to the cavemen.

Exercise therapy is touted as a natural substitute for medicine, but I know first hand that this type can cause more pain.Rheumatoid is a disorder or malfunction of the immune system with more inflammation of the joints.He says that this is most often in women between 25 and 50, with no known cure.In this type, you have to learn to "conquer" as opposed to "cure."

He really only stresses what we all know, you just have to live with pain at varying times and in varying intensities.If you try to follow all of his suggestions, not only would you spend all your time trying to locate and consume numerous herbal supplements and expensive foods, but your money, too.

Mort Crim once remarked, "forgiving someone can't change the past but it can transform the future."Dr. Khalsa tried out this intensive program at the University of Arizona. I think he must have had all female subjects. It is not recommended to use this as a substitute for medical care, as needed, only as some suppositions.More research is needed, I feel, and I wonder how long his program lasted.I feel that traditional Pain Management, similar to what I had at Vanderbilt in Nashville is better -- but there is NO cure for pain.That's an illusion.

Life changing information on pain
If you or a loved one are suffering chronic pain, you owe it to yourself to read this book! It explains clearly and succinctly about how your body and brain process pain, then it offers effective strategies to regain control of your body and your life.

Before I read this book, I wanted to just close my eyes and never wake up.I've lived with chronic pain for seven years and short of getting a morphine pump implant, I've tried it all.I still have pain, but The Pain Cure gave me the information and support I needed to stop feeling victimized and look forward to living again. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (15)

great help withsaddle and horse selection
I purchased the book because I was looking for a new horse and was concerned about conformation of the wither because the saddle slips forward onto the shoulder of my current horse. Not only did I find the answer to this problem but I learnt much more including the influence of saddle design on the rider's position. Highly recommended for those interested in English-style riding.

Book titled incorrectly - should have been the "ENGLISH" saddle-fit book
It's frustrating to buy a book that appears to be exactly what you need only to discover that it is at best marginally relevant to the issue at hand.Imagine buying a "Dog and Cat Home Veterinary Manual" and then finding that it only has information on cats -- and you only have dogs.It's similar here.I wanted help fitting a western saddle and only that information that is applicable to both western and english (e.g., ideas such as "keep the shoulders free to move") was helpful -- and I had to pick through piles and piles of irrelevant info to find it.

By not specifying "english saddles only," the author implies that it's a general saddle-fit book.That, necessarily, would include western saddles.However, I believe that she has a "western saddle fit" book and I am considering the purchase of that because I suspect that this book -- if I had been trying to fit an english saddle -- would have been just the ticket....

So, if you're trying to fit an english saddle, this is probably the book for you.If it's a western you're considering, look elsewhere.

Comprehensive but easily understandable text
I bought this book after hearing the author speak.I am a mixed animal vet, but by no means a horse person, and didn't get much on saddle fit in vet school so I thought it was worth a read.The background information and the step by step evaluation of both horse conformation as well as saddle fit and pads were excellent.I use the information from this book all the time now and have helped many horses in the process.I recommend this book to anyone who has a saddle or is going to buy a saddle.

The Horse's Pain-FreeBck and Saddle-Fit Book
This book has good information that applies to all horses, but it is definitely slanted towards fitted english saddles with a small section on western saddles.I'm a western rider, so I was disappointed there wasn't more information on western saddles.But I still learned alot.

Happy Backs
This is an excellent book for understanding how a saddle should fit and how to measure yourself and your horse correctly.It has been an invaluable asset for choosing a new saddle that is comfortable for my horse who is hard to fit. I wish I'd read this 3 years ago! ... Read more

Book Description
Unknown to most are the many studies reporting that most low back pain is a rapidly reversible condition; that is, it can be eliminated, often quickly, by the patients themselves. This large subgroup can now be identified early on, providing opportunity for great cost savings and a goldmine of research discoveries about the causes of, and solutions to, low back pain.Dr. Donelson is a veteran spine specialist, researcher and educator who brings badly needed common sense and evidence to this complex problem of low back pain. In this hard-to-put-down account, he accurately exposes flaws in the low back pain scientific process and then offers simple, logical remedies. His insightful review of this valuable, yet ironically overlooked, clinical research reveals both clinical and economic solutions from implementing patient-specific treatments, rather than the "one-size-fits-all" guideline recommendations.This refreshing approach offers clinicians clinical methods to objectively determine non-pharmacologic ways for patients to gain control of their own low back pain and to recover more quickly and simply. Such objective decision-making offers new insights into how to avoid the need for medication, expensive imaging, or specialist referral, including low back surgery. And for the first time, psychosocial factors and manual therapies are placed in their proper perspective.This is a valuable read for any stakeholder seeking to improve the management of low back pain and to dramatically reduce its annual U.S. cost of $50 billion or more. Employers, payers, and disease management groups alike will benefit from these reliable means of determining the few necessary and many avoidable costs of managing low back pain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Brilliant Book
This was a brilliant book. Although I have read the McKenzie Texts cover to cover, it is only through the information in this book that I now truly understand the research and guideline dilemmas that exist in LBP management. In turn, I understand why it is taking so long for MDT to be more widely accepted, and how approaches lacking any significant evidence have been able to flourish, in particular, related to the field practice of manual therapy and alternative treatment approaches, never mind the pervasiveness of surgical intervention, etc. You have also presented some innovative ways of trying to spread the word and make MDT more accepted.

Everything you need to know about low back pain
This is a book that should be read by everyone involved in low back pain care. Dr. Donelson uses great analogies to question past research methodologies and has compiled all the evidence that supports Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) in an easy to read format. Insurance companies and employers involved in paying into the $90 billion a year low back dilemma should be particularly aware of the lack of evidence for very expensive and often ineffective diagnostic testing and treatments.Donelson's analogy of how these costs could be significantly reduced simply by using MDT as a presurgical gold standard is enlightening.The study sited in Denmark was quite impressive by showing the reduction in surgical rates by two thirds when simply utilizing MDT. For our patients, this book will allow them to make informed decisions regarding low back care. With "centralization" and "directional preference" occurring in 75 - 85 % of individuals with low back and leg pain, and 50% with chronic low back pain why would you not demand that this be your first course of treatment?For Physical Therapists who are not trained in MDT, this an excellent reason to begin training.Very often physical therapists are looking for studies to support what they do and they are often frustrated by the lack of valid research.Donelson's book is an almanac of relevant literature and scientific studies that confirm the importance of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.For those of us who have received the advanced training in MDT, it is a wonderful read as it validates what we see in the clinic on an everyday basis.I am personally very appreciative of the effort that has gone into this book.It is an excellent reference book that helps explain to industry, insurance carriers, referral sources, and patients that what we do as clinicians not only produces extremely good results with minimal expense but has a wealth of scientific data to support it as well.


Joseph G. Maccio, MA, PT, Dip. MDT
Diplomat, Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy

A MUST read!
Dr. Donelson's book is a MUST read for physicians, therapists, nurses, chiropractors -any professional who is interested in helping their patients with their lower back pain (LBP). Additionally, this book is a MUST read for patients like myself who was searching, searching and searching for cutting-edge information on LBP.For four months I suffered with extreme over-the-edge pain from a nerve impingement caused by an L5-S1 bulging disc.I was prescribed medication and physical therapy with no relief.I then proceeded to have two epidural treatments - but again, with no relief.Fortunately I bumped into a Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)-credentialed Physical Therapist who scheduled me for an assessment and then treatment.Next I found out about this book - and information is power!I poured through the content and in a short time became more and more confident and motivated to do everything under my power to get well.Close to scheduling surgery at one point, I am now symptom-free.

From my LBP journey, I am encouraged that the medical community seems to be leaning towards recommending least invasive strategies for their patients including medication, Physical Therapy and advice to stay active.However, after reading this book, it should become rapidly apparent that an additional recommendation of an MDT assessment should be given.By doing so, weeks and months of endless pain may be averted - not to mention the endless dollars necessary for medication and medical procedures and the dollars spent on Worker's Compensation and Medical Disability.Are you listening insurance industry?

shedding light on non specific low back pain
I've spent more than twenty years in a profession that is so misunderstood not only by its own (PTs) but by all other medical professionals, insurance companies and through them - the public......
Knowing how to systematically evaluate and treat non specific low back pain, educating patients and involving them in the process of helping them to help themselves, understanding pain patterns and knowing when conservative care is sufficient and when it has been exhausted, all this and more are introduced in Dr Donelson's book.

Who should read this book?
Low back pain is one of the most common causes of visits to family doctors. One in eight adults will experience an episode of low back pain in a lifetime. And yet, there are a bewildering array of treatments available. How is one to make sense of the options? In Rapidly Reversible Low Back Pain, Dr. Donelson has written a superbly readable guidebook. He looks at the latest scientific evidence with fresh insight and writes in a clear and compelling style, with special emphasis on evaluating the method of back care known as the McKenzie method. The McKenzie method, practiced worldwide, has attracted the most scientific scrutiny of any form of non-surgical back care. Dr. Donelson, an orthopedic surgeon and McKenzie method specialist, is uniquely qualified to discuss the benefits and risks of the various back care options. Who should read this book? Anyone who suffers with significant lower back pain (with or without leg pain) and anyone who pays for the treatment of such conditions.

Mitchell F. Miglis, DC, Cert MDT
Certified in the McKenzie method


... Read more

Book Description
Arthritis is usually considered a disease of older adults, but nearly 300,000 children in the United States suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, such as juvenile arthritis (JRA), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, or Kawasaki disease. Yet until now very little information has been available to guide parents and doctors in properly diagnosing such children.Here is a readable, reliable guide to the common causes of bone, joint, muscle, and arthritis pain in children, designed to help parents and physicians understand these disorders, arrive at the proper diagnosis, and choose the most effective treatment. In this comprehensive resource, Dr. Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the most prestigious pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers easy-to-understand information on the causes, symptoms, tests, and treatments for a wide variety of rheumatic diseases and childhood pain.Dr. Lehman writes with great clarity, providing numerous case examples that illustrate the topic at hand and offering practical, down-to-earth advice. Equally important, he answers the questions that parents are most likely to ask: What should they observe in their children? What questions should they ask their doctor? Which tests are necessary? What risk factors should they be aware of? And how can they help their children cope with the social and psychological aspects of their illness. The book summarizes diagnostic tests, discusses the most effective medications, and discusses physical therapy, alternative therapy, and surgical options that are available. Clearly written, thorough, authoritative, and up-to-date, It's Not Just Growing Pains is the definitive resource available on the subject for parents and health care professionals, helping them to understand the children's pain and find the best available care. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A must have for any parent with a child that has jra
I agree with all of the reviews!My daughter (just turned 3) was diagnosed with JRA when she was 18 months old.I spoke with Dr's and my brother had it as well, so I thought I knew it all!This book gave me MORE understanding and knowledge than ANY dr my daughter or brother saw!I too have a LAUNDRY list of questions to ask at her next visit!!! It was well written and easy for a non-medical person to understand! Hats off to the DR!

You won't regret this purchase
My 2-year old was diagnosed recently with JRA, and after scouring the local library and the internet for every search term imaginable, and reading everything I could get my hands on, I recieved this in the mail yesterday and feel as though I've at least doubled my understanding of rheumatic diseases, and probably tripled it. The book is well written and understadable, without sounding patronizing. I have had multiple appointments with our pediatric rheumatologist, but after reading this I have a whole list of things I want to ask at our next appointment. I especially like how it's organized. The first half deals entirely with rheumatic diseases, their symptoms, diagnosis, and prognosis. The second half discusses the medications, procedures, and methods used to deal with the disease. Parts of it were really scary for me to read because my daughter is so young, but I truly believe knowledge is power, and if you're looking for good info on JRA, Lupus, or other childhood rheumatic diseases, I'd recommend this read.

The Bible
My wife refers to this book as "The Bible" because it appears to be the authoritative source for information on JRA. This disease struck our child in the Systemic Onset version, and after months of fumbling around by the local care providers we got a diagnosis that led us to this book and to an appointment with Dr.Lehman personally in NYC. We found the book to be very useful and after meeting Dr. Lehman we regard it as indispensible. We would highly recommend the book to anyone with a child suffering from this family of afflictions.

The DefinitiveBook on Juvenile Rheumatic Diseases
Thomas J. A. Lehman MD is Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City and also Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is considered the leading specialist in the world. As President of a charity that helps children in Russia, I have asked Dr. Lehman to volunteer his services and speak at seminars in Moscow to hundreds of rheumatoid pediatric doctors.He has done this several times over the past 5 years. He has also visited other countries as well besides allowing specialists from many other countries learn at his side. As a result of his unselfishness he has improved the lives of thousands of children throughout the world. He has written a book that every parent who has an afflicted child should read.My reason for writing this review is to assure the reader the he/she can rely on what it says, as there is no one who is more knowledgeable than the author.As can be gleaned from other reviews, the book has been written to be easily understood by the general reader.

Wonderful - must have for JRA
This is a wonderful book.Published for the first time in 2004, it is up to date with all the new medicines out there.If you have a child with Arthritis, you need this book.It addresses all issues surrounding the disease, the family, behavior, medicine, theories, how to relate to your doctor, etc. ... Read more

Book Description
The best textbook on pain management! This comprehensive resource covers every aspect of diagnosing and treating specific pain conditions and syndromes.Features a concise introduction to basic concepts in pain management, plus an expanded section on evaluation and assessment techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Reference book on pain
This book covers all aspects of chronic pain management. So far I managed to solve all my clinical problems related to pain using this text. Each chapter is a comprehensive review of a pain topic. Very practical, it also discusses everyday problems, such as setting up a chronic pain practice and legal issues.

Principles and Practice of Pain Management
This is and excellent all around book on pain management
Has a good chapter on the legal aspects of prescribing
narcotics ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book to Read with or without a psychiatrist
This book helped me to deal with betrayal and abuse I suffered by the actions of family members and friends. It helped me to understand the path that was ahead of me for healing and helped to relieve me from blame, guilt and pain. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get past the pain of offenses. I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ but I was unable to afford some of the Christian books. I am glad I found this book through Amazon I would recommend it to Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, etc...
Thank you Amazon and Thank you to Dr. Rosenburg

I wish it was written better because it has GREAT concepts!
I absolutely love the title and idea of this book.I believe the concepts the author is trying to get across would be very helpful, too - if only I could read the darn thing.The format of this and his other book "Being Me, Loving You" is simply a description of what is happening on stage at one of his seminars and his dialogue with audience members.I find it very confusing.I've tried a handful of times to pick out what he's trying to say, but I'm finally donating this book to the library, where hopefully somebody else will find it more suiting to their needs than mine.I am still interested enough in the concept of NVC that I'm going to look for other books on the subject and maybe give his other book a try, if it' written in a different format.These two books, however, were a huge disappointment. ... Read more