Rating: 
Summary: Travesty of "medicine"
Review: Frankly, I would give this book less than 1 star. I was offended by his blanket term of TMS. I suffer from fibromyalgia. I'm sure others who have ulcers, herniated discs, allergies, or any of the various ailments he states that we should be able to control feel the same way. As a nurse, it concerns me that people will follow his way of thinking without consulting a physician. I know he states to consult a physician...but that often doesn't happen. What happens to the patient with an untreated lumbar herniated disc? He may develop permanent nerve damage without neurosurgery. Shame on you Dr. Sarno for marketing the "cure-all" book that may in fact, harm people.
Rating: 
Summary: Saved My Life
Review: Two years of chronic back pain: IDET operation 16 physical threapy treatments 2 epid. injections 12 actup. treatments 1 back brace 3 hydrothreapy treatmens thousands of dollars on Dr.'s bills Not one of these things worked.............I read Dr. Sarno's books and I am now .....100% back to normal.......
Rating:
Summary: passionate physical moves-it allows me!!!!
Review: By page 23 my lordossis and vsiting spasims were dismissed via the chemical response wence the brain. I could stand up, ride a bike and say hello to mom! This guide to life's stress optional placements is the only way to bansih migranes, back ache etc. by knowing you are not alone, and much more. I have passed out 32 copies of this magically imbued pages of essential text for the price of a one sentince book report. All were delivered the very next day with hugs and smiles. We all thank you again Dr. John E. Sarno. Dr. Mario T. Scaduto ...
Rating:
Summary: Life Changing
Review: Six weeks ago I experienced extreme neck and shoulder pain. I was subsequently diagnosed with a herniated cervical disc. An MRI confirmed either a disc or a bone spur at C-6. My doctor put me in a neck brace on the theory that if the wound was not stressed it would heal. The pain did not go away. While investigating my injury on the internet, and reading about one horrible outcome after another, I came across a pointer to Dr. Sarno's book, which I purchased 4 days ago. I am now 95% pain free, and expect to be entirely pain free within a few days. The consequences of his observations are simply profound. One, people with extreme pain can heal themselves by reading and taking the book to heart. Two, entire global medical and legal industries are built on what is essentially a etiological misunderstanding. Three, the psychoanalytic community, long attacked for not being able to show quantifiable clincial results, has had an entire clinical corpus dropped into its collective lap. At the risk of hyperbole, why has this man never received a Nobel prize in medicine?
Rating:
Summary: worked for me
Review: like the "reader from seattle" i also came across this book about a year ago, after reading an article in a news magazine in which dr. sarno's ideas were mentioned. i bought the book, and altho dr. sarno himself doesnt want you to believe that only reading the book is enough to cure you (he wants you to participate in what i imagine are fairly pricey seminars)IT WORKED FOR ME. nine years of chronic back pain that had definitely impacted my quality of life (i gave up golf, gardening, vacuuming, and if i could have managed it i would have given up brushing my teeth. perhaps being over 40 with two toddlers had something to to with it.) anyway, two weeks after reading the book and adopting dr. sarno's techniques, i was back to my old life. the best thing about sarno's theory is that you dont have to identify or confront what is bugging you. you dont have to resolve any issues. this is not psychotherapy. you just accept that your pain has an emotional trigger, not a physical one. i found it a refreshing approach.
Rating:
Summary: A follow up ¿ and a response to the warnings
Review: It's been over a year now since I read this book and posted my review and I'm still 100% pain free. I now also know several other people who have been cured by this book. I wanted to respond to some of the bad reviews and warnings that seem to be cropping up lately. Most of these people distort the information given in the book (I get the feeling that some of these people haven't read the book or have never suffered from severe back pain). I say read the book and decide for yourself. Half the problem is misinformation and fear. These reviews only contribute to the problem. If you've already tried everything else (like I had), what do you have to loose?
Rating:
Summary: Dangerous and unscientific information
Review: As a former medical and now mental health professional interseted in bodymndspirit medicine, I could not agree more that we thus far know little about how our emotions and thoughts influence our physical condition and vice versa, but there is certainly some connection. The problem with Dr. Sarno's book is that he thinks he does know and tells people that "repressed emotions" are directly responsible for their back, shoulder, neck, hip, buttock, etc. pain and they should forget what they have been told by their health care providers about herniated disks, back injuries, physical therapy, limiting strenuous exercise following injury, being careful about posture, relaxation exercises, etc. Totally unnecessary, claims Dr. Sarno. Through caution to the wind and become a true believer. This is dangerous advice. Most of the information in the book is simply not true. The cause of back pain and many soft tissue ailments remains unknown to some degree. TMS (a term known to only Dr. Sarno and his patients)is a well-known symptom pattern that develops as the result of many causes. Any physical therapist or physiatrist (physical medicine specialist)can explain this. Emotion-related muscle tension is only one of them and is likely infrequently the cause of someones pain. Dr Sarno suggests that the cure is simply getting this information by reading his book, calling him, or seeing him. Interesting. And his caveats aside, this is a "blame the victim" mentality--like with his view of self-induced ulcers, which we now know are caused by bacteria. If Dr. Sarno was convinced his appraoch worked he would have conducted the scientific studies he scoffs at, comparing his method to others. When you read a book that is filled with many miracle-like testimonials, then this should be a clue!Shame on the publishers for letting this one get through. With an MD behind his name Dr. Sarno has credibility that he does not deserve.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: If you have back pain or other reoccuring pains this is a great book. If the author ever rewrites it maybe better to just leave off most of the history of back diagnoses and technical jargon and write it as simply as possible. I also recommend Living foods for Optimum Health by Brian Clement.
Rating:
Summary: Sarno's amazing book
Review: This book is amazing. I have been suffering from stomach problems, specifically a spastic colon, for years. From reading this book I became aware of how much I have been repressing for the past 30 years (and I've had a wonderful life.) I also became aware that all the fear that I have felt has just been a coping mechanism to distract me from facing what I really felt. I read the book 1 month ago, have had numerous revelations about my life and am about 90% pain free. Unbelievable.
Rating:
Summary: Painfree
Review: Twenty plus years of back pain. Every possible practitioner from MDs to physiotherapists to Chiropractors, Acupuncture, Kinesiology etc... Reading and believing Sarno's premise simply worked. I still have the odd "back attack", but it's always short lived. I'm a new person. Read it...even if you don't have back pain.
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