Pathways to Pain Relief

One search on Amazon for Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) will bring up quite a few books about chronic pain, most of which are written by Dr. John E. Sarno (his books are incredible and should be read by anyone suffering from chronic pain). Of all of these books, Pathways to Pain Relief is the first one written by the psychologists who are the closest to Dr. Sarno. It offers offers a unique take on his ideas and addresses chronic pain from the unique perspective that only one of Sarno's closest therapists could offer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has had a physician tell them they don't know what exactly is causing their symptoms.Dr. Sarno's books provide a wonderful description of TMS and explain that pain can, and is, caused by repressed emotions. His books have helped millions of people (including myself) overcoming debilitating chronic pain. Pathways to Pain Relief builds off of Dr. Sarno's approach (as only two people who worked alongside him for so long could do) and explores the psychological components of chronic pain. More importantly the authors, Frances Anderson and Eric Sherman, show how events early in one's life affect develops how we respond to events today and why people come to repress their emotions. The authors explain how people develop perfectionistic and goodist personality traits, and what steps they can take to gain control over their emotions. As only two highly trained and experienced psychoanalysts could do, Anderson and Sherman provide an understanding that will allow individuals to understand their psychological make-up and overcome chronic pain.The heart of this book are the stories. My favorite story is Adrienne's, which describes how goodism can develop and control our lives. Adrienne grew up with a special needs sibling and her parents would yell at her for being selfish and vilified her behavior simply for seeking her mother's attention like any child would. It was very moving to read about how these early family dynamics shaped Adrienne, and developed her into being so overly the top virtuous she put the needs of others above her own. This anecdote shows what it is truly like to be a goodist and having a deep seeded fear that people will consider us to be selfish. There are many other stories such as this one throughout the book that truly demonstrate what living with the TMS personality is like.The ideas put forth in this book are, to put it simply, transformative. For over 16 years I suffered from a variety of chronic pain issues. This ranged from RSI pain in my wrist, hands, and arms, to neck pain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, and Fibromyalgia. I tried every form of treatment and physical therapy that was available. Despite the extensive treatments I received, nothing helped me overcome my pain.A few years ago, a friend of mine told me about TMS, and showed me several success stories posted online. Upon learning about TMS (the same ideas this book puts forth) I began to understand that my symptoms were not caused by a structural abnormality, but instead by repressed emotions. Shortly thereafter, I began to be active again and my symptoms started to fade away. I have been pain free for the past four years, and feel like I gained my life back.The work of Dr. Sarno changed my life. Frances Anderson and Eric Sherman spent most of their careers working alongside Dr. Sarno and are some of the closest people to him. Pathways to Pain Relief is a continuation of the work of Dr. Sarno, and will help individuals struggling with chronic pain to develop the skills to address their psychological stresses and win their lives back.Thank you, Dr. Anderson and Dr. Sherman for writing this important book!(If anyone has any questions, feel free to post a comment, below. I will respond to all comments.)

I bought this book because I am a TMS patient that has not found 100% relief, and I needed more information about the therapeutic approach. I found it to be very interesting and helpful to me. It gave me more insight into myself and why I have the particular symptoms I have. Mine are primarily IBS, not back pain, though I've had some of that, too. I highly recommend this approach to healing chronic health issues. I think this book has and will continue to help me find more relief.

A recent review article estimated that one adult in six suffers from unexplained physical pain or other symptoms. In nearly all of them, the cause is one or more forms of psychosocial stress. The process that produces these entirely real illnesses is parallel to that which produces a "knot" in our abdomen when we are in a tense situation or a blush when we are embarrassed but in the worst cases can cause illness severe enough to justify hospital care or that endures for decades.You might guess this condition, called TMS or PPD, would be a focus of health care education. Sadly this is not yet the case and only a few score clinicians in the U.S. are experienced in diagnosis and treatment. Two of the most skilled practitioners have written this illuminating book. They bring decades of experience, compassion, empathy, insight, persistence and consummate clinical skill to the aid of severely afflicted patients and then explain the process with clear and absorbing case histories.Most of the 7000+ PPD patients I cared for in my career wandered in a desert of information about this condition for years (some for decades) before finding an effective approach. This book is a valuable new oasis.

This book gave me a sense of what it's like for someone suffering from chronic pain to find relief by dealing with the emotional conflicts that may lie at its source.The patient stories in the first half of the book illustrate many of the ways people with chronic pain are literally tied in emotional knots. The stories ring true and bring moments of clear recognition of what it's like.Throughout the patient stories, but especially in the second half of the book, you get a sense of what the process is like that helps patients to work through the emotional turmoil that has caused their pain. You get a first-hand experience of what the therapist is experiencing as she works with the patient to unravel what's causing the pain.This is a direct, clear account of what leads to the pain and how the process works to relieve it.Drs. Anderson and Sherman make an important contribution here. They are helping patients and other therapists understand the relationship between feelings and physical pain. This can help people suffering from the pain, as well as help professionals recognize and treat patients with pain that does not result from physical causes.

Very good book that completely examines and explains TMS, how and why it occurs and the connections that are necessary to explore in order to release the mind from the need to create pain. Many case examples of different people from all different backgrounds, each story unique but the reason for creating pain in the body all the same.

Started this, about a third of the way in, did not finish this, yet. It reads like a paper somebody did in grad school. So far, I have read nothing that helps me, which is why I read this kind of book, but I have read a lot of dull, dry history and explanations, etc. Maybe it will get better, but so far it's a snooze.

very good

Important contribution to the field of Psychogenic Pain Disorders but absolutely essential to read Sarnos work beforehand.