The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body – A Neurosurgeon's Proven Method for Spinal Strength and Wellness

by Patrick Roth

A neurosurgeon tells the truth about back pain.

Patrick Roth M.D. believes that most of what you have been told about back pain is completely wrong. In The End of Back Pain, Dr. Roth introduces a novel way of both conceptualizing and treating back pain.

Pain is explored within the context of a dynamic brain/body relationship. A method of treating back pain by strengthening a set up muscles referred to as the “hidden core” is introduced which features the use of kettlebells. The book also features a diagnose yourself section, a surgeon’s perspective of conservative and surgical treatments for back pain, and a prediction of how back pain will be treated in the next decade.

After reading the book you will understand why:

Your back should be straight when its bent
Pain medications cause more pain
Surgery is merely a preparation for physical therapy

You will also learn about:

The brain’s judicial function
The placebo effect, and its partner, the nocebo effect
The anatomy and physiology of the core
How to exercise with kettlebells
The “back genome”

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

243 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

Dr. Patrick Roth, author of The Me in Medicine: Reviving the Lost Art of Healing (July 16, 2018, Changing Lives Press) and The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body (HarperOne), is a board-certified neurosurgeon in New Jersey and the chairman of neurosurgery at Hackensack Meredian Health. He is the director of the neurosurgical residency program and is dedicated to the teaching and training of future neurosurgeons. He is also the founding chair of Seton Hall School of Medicine and founding member of the North Jersey Brain & Spine Center. A perennial recipient of Castle and Connolly "Top Doctors," he has also been featured in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" and New Jersey magazine's "Top Doctors." He is passionate about narrative medicine for both patients and doctors.

Reviews

[Jill Sansone · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is the first 10 core exercises he provides have really helped my lower back pain. Am probably jinxing my results by committing these words to the page. But if it's a chronic problem for you, give Roth's book a skim.

[Dana G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a refreshing balance of expert advice along with encouragement for the patient to be rely on his or her own intuition and experience. Covering the pros and cons of various treatment options, and emphasizing the importance of complete core strengthening and support, Dr. Roth’s book is a smart read for anyone contemplating the gamut of options to address back pain.

[Matías Glasner · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro explica muy bien todo lo relativo al dolor de espalda, y entrega un punto de vista nuevo para mi que realmente ha sido un aporte. Un libro muy recomendable para los que sufrimos dolor crónico de espalda.

[mmmm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book! I've had both chronic and acute (injury-related) back pain, and am generally healthy now. But since it still crops up on occasion, I wanted more in my arsenal. All of the exercises were pretty straightforward, and I appreciated hearing some research on kettlebell workouts (apparently they're really great for you). Strengthening my core will help everything I do, from dancing to cycling.

I 100% agree about continuing to move and activate your muscles while experiencing back pain! When I had a disc injury in college, I did physical therapy that was quite challenging. As pain cropped up, I would do the exercises and it always helped. Thankfully I learned that young and from experience.

I skipped most of the section on surgery because it was gross and I don't see myself getting that kind of surgery.

[Pamela Hilliard Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Information

Easy to read and digest. Informational without being preachy. Although the doctor has treatment preferences, he details and explains other options without judgement or malice.

[Maureen D. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

This book was full of information and I found it very helpful. The ideas presented made a lot of sense to me. I do intend to try the recommended exercise program for strengthening of the inner core of the back and the elimination of pain.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information

Very long. This has tons of information about the back and what causes pain. I was expecting more about how to relieve pain. Many of the exercises shown are difficult especially when dealing with extreme back pain.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of technical details but the exercises are working. Bob and I are doing it together. I think it would be hard to do alone as we correct each other’s positions in the exercises. Better then the PT I’ve been doing before.

[Betty Archer anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful information. Especially appreciate the simple, step by step plan for strengthening the back core, not just the front of the body.

[Andy Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Plus exercises to help the back. Interesting take on back pain in general. Sometimes we need to exercise it out.

[Azabu · Rating 3 out of 5]

For that half of the nation dealing with back pain neurosurgeon Patrick A. Roth (Hackensack University Medical Center) has developed a self-help program . After 25 years of treating patients he concludes that “Back pain is not the problem. How we deal with back pain is. ” Rather than investing time to find the ‘pain generator’ and fix “something broken” , he recommends rewiring the brain through the Hidden Core Workout . The core as defined here is the multifidus muscles in the back, not the abdominal transversalis as described by Pilates practitioners. Equipment for this easy-to-follow six week program consists of one kettlebell and an exercise ball. By strengthening the multifidus muscles, the author maintains that the brain can be retrained and pain minimized. In addition to identifying the hidden core, he reveals 20 “hidden truths” such as “You’re Smarter than Your Doctor”. As with all exercise programs, a level of commitment is required!