Back in Control: A Spine Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain

by David Hanscom

In Back in Control, Dr. Hanscom focuses on an aspect of chronic pain that the medical world has largely you must calm your nervous system in order to get better. Beyond any other book about back pain, Back in Control reveals how to quiet a turbocharged central nervous system and make a full recovery. His life-changing system has helped hundreds of patients heal their pain. These patients’ stories, as well as his own, show that you can take charge of your care and set yourself on the road to a healthy, rich and full life.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medical, Personal Growth, Self Help, Science, Psychology

282 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2012

Reviews

[Valerie Book Valkyrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Oh-My-Aching-Lumbar Stars.
For goodness sake! If you're looking for a book to help you out of back pain, in any sort of way at all, don't look here!
This "health/self help" book needs to be recatalogued under "memoir". An interesting look at how the author (a spine surgeon who, Rejoice, doesn't always toss surgery at his patients as being the end-all and be-all to their back pain) dealt with his anxiety, depression, insecurities, etc in his professional life.
If you're looking for practical help in dealing with your pain, you'll need to look elsewhere 🧚‍♀️🙋🏼.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd have rated it higher, except for two glaring problems: one that bothered me from the very first page, (and almost made me put the book down) and one that plagued me throughout the book.
The first thing one reads is a "testimonial" from a patient who had very severe injuries to his spine, and a number of surgeries. We are informed that with only one half hour episode of automatic writing he became almost pain free, and within a week he was back to his pre-accident pain free state.
Sorry, Dr. Hanscom. Even if the man had no physical trauma at all one cannot re-train neural pathways with one session of automatic writing. You almost lost me there.
I kept reading out of curiousity about these neural pathways.
While Dr. Hanscom makes some very good points, and sets out some clear excercises and paths to re-training your mind and dealing with underlying conditions, his treatment never addresses chronic pain that is not trauma based. I would have liked to see him address that issue, and also make clear in his book that he is addressing pain based around trauma.

[William Nist · Rating 3 out of 5]

An orthopedic surgeon claims that only 15% of surgical interventions actually alleviate back pain. Only the cases that have an obvious injury or malformation can be surgically helped. The other 85% can only be helped through a reprogramming of our neural channels, since pain is a neurological phenomena. The root of pain for the author is anxiety (at least about the pain) leading to anger. It is this root cause that must be addressed. You must calm down your neural network if you want pain to diminish.

Dr Hanscom devotes the last half of his book to a 5 step program the hopefully solve the back pain that surgery can not solve.

Just like successfully loosing weight, I suspect that few people have the personality, perseverance, motivation, or mental framework to actually carry out the psychological agenda outlined in this book. Maybe you do...so you should read this.

I have no doubt that anxiety leads to all kind of aches and pains. I have experienced them for years myself. But to be honest, reading about Hanscom's detailed plan GAVE me anxiety for is seemed so impossible.

[Carol]

A back surgeon recommended his friend David Handscom's book to me, and I found it both interesting and frustrating. Because Handscom (who is also a back surgeon) is a self-published writer, his work lacks the discipline and focus that a professionally edited book. But his basic messages may be helpful to pain sufferers: that much back surgery is unnecessary, and that back pain can often be mitigated by stress management and the other elements of what he calls DOCC (Defined Organized Comprehensive Care). He talks about the fact that pain circuits can be altered by using this approach, and apparently has had good results with many patients who have tried it.

Please note that I do not use the star rating system, so this review should not be viewed as a zero.

[Bal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book dealing with the emotional side of pain. I've long understood that they were connected, but Dr. Hanscom provides an additional insight that makes sense. He asserts that according to the research, fear, anger, anxiety, etc. ride on some of the same neuronal circuits as physical pain. Thus the more negatively emotional we are, the more those pathways are activated and the more it seems that physical pain is ever-present. (I'm not doing a good job of summarizing, but hopefully a sense of things comes across.)

He also provides some good suggestions that have helped me a bit. (For now, you can check out "expressive writing" online and on YouTube, but really - the book gives the context that helps understand it better.)

I highly recommend the book to anyone who is or who has someone in his or her life who is experiencing chronic pain.

[Frances Heneghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Commonsense approach. Excellently researched & presented. It's use can help in training the brain to take different paths to controlling pain. Needs to be read slowly and thoughtfully, with breaks to consider the author's advice. I can't give it 5*, as the idea that it can actually CURE pain of a pathological nature would could not be accepted by many in pain, nor their Physicians, who've diagnosed the cause of pain. Kudos to the author on his statement that positive thinking is not always a good thing. I would recommend the book to anyone trying to change their own attitudes to their pain.

[Vicki Stolsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this title when a dangerous diagnosis of my spinal column threatened my mobility. I wasn’t experiencing pain, but that was a potential prognosis, and I wanted to understand my options if things progressed in that direction.

The author is a spinal surgeon from my hometown hospital, and for more than 15 years, he was also a patient of chronic back pain. What he describes here, through his very specific lens, is how research in neural biology has changed our understanding of how the body drives chronic pain, even when there is no physical origin.

What is truly remarkable, and makes this text a must-read, is his current pre-surgical treatment for all patients seeking relief from chronic pain. Through simple, brief, but consistent repetition of expressive tasks that include writing, mini-meditations, and mind-pattern rewiring, he has seen patient after patient free themselves from pain, and cancel their surgeries. Miraculous? Certainly - until you understand the new science of neuroplasticity, and how we have uncovered human, self-healing practices. What this book presents is research, and subsequent scientific fact, that has the capacity to rob pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and for-profit medical providers of their monopoly over healthcare delivery, and the business model that subverts healthcare for unconscionable profit.

While the book is specific to back pain, the science of neuroplasticity applies to the entire nervous system, and the pre-surgical tasks can correct chronic pain in any area of the body that is stuck in a neural pain loop. Absolutely important read to understand how “thoughts become things” and how you can impact your body with your brain.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite repetitive, but some new insights especially on the benefits of Physical Therapy. My new pain doctor recommended recommended this book because it seems almost all doctors are currently obsessed withe "opiods medication is evil". So, they are finally looking at alternative modalities of treatment. There are probably several good useful ideas in this book for anyone dealing with Chronic Pain. It is written by a spine surgeon who had to cure his own pain issues and is able to share the benefits of his experience. It definitely goes beyond an ordinary pain doctor who only offers meds or injections. He does seem to be an exceptional doctor in the sense that he actually listens to his patients. There is a bit too much emphasis on writing out your thoughts and destroying them asap for me .

[sirkyleofduhaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Dr. Hanscom via the Dynamic Healing podcast, and all I can say is reading through his works, and the works he recommends, are the - only - things that have helped guide me through healing over 15 years of chronic illness. I'm still learning more everyday, and new tools as I go, and I still have a long way to go, but even the improvements I've had in a little over a year, have been deeply profound.

These techniques work, and the source material he suggests helps tremendously. If you are at the end of your rope, and you've tried every possible option you could come up with, and are still sick, and In pain; if you do the work, this will help you.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first half of this book, which focuses on the mind-body connection, sleep hygiene, and other therapeutic alternatives to healing back pain. Not so impressed with the last half, which is more on anger and anxiety as a trigger for back issues. Overall, though, quite helpful.

[Patty Backer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing Exercise twice a day 15 minutes each, breathing and relaxation techniques, pause and feel where you’re holding your tension and relax those muscles

[Denise Hlavka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hanscom’s book is more closely aligned with neuroscience, and contains specific steps for helping with chronic pain.

[Phillip Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I felt David Hanscom could've delved more into metaphysical connections between the location of the back injury and the happiness and balance of the patient, I applaud David for writing a book which not only taps into his extensive experience and expertise, but boldly takes on the limits of traditional medical approaches to back injuries. As he says in his final words, "It's much better to develop your own resources for recovery instead of looking to surgery as the only answer" (p. 241). Thank goodness, I walked away from any surgical procedure on my L4/L5 and sought an understanding of how what went on between my ears precipitated the repeated obliteration of my lower lumbar. Without pain today, I've found my own resources for recovery and happiness. Thanks, David.

[Sylviae Edgerton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really good strategies for dealing with chronic pain. The writing style was somewhat dis-organized and there was a lot of repetition, but the use of expressive writing and taking charge of your own health care and focusing on sleep first are concepts that I think will make a big difference. I also appreciated the focus on other options besides surgery, from a surgeon!

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

This totally reoriented my approach to my deteriorating back. Learned pain that can be unlearned! I consulted with Dr. Hanscom in person after reading his book, just before he announced retirement! Unusual that it is largely a psychological approach by a neurosurgeon, though well informed by medical science. Lot's of personal experience from his own journey dealing with his own pain.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mind/body book with a terrible cover, but despite appearances, it actually was helpful and full of good, practical information. His basic premise to overcome chronic pain & anxiety is sleep, "active meditation" which is like somatic tracking, and most importantly, expressive writing (aka journaling). I had been wanting to try journaling, but other resources made it feel too much like homework and I was put off by it and a bit resistant to try. This book made it simple and so after reading about it, I just did it and have been doing it for about a week now. Hopefully it will stick and perhaps I'll see some progress. A worthwhile read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only does this book describe the link between mental health and physical health in a way that is clear and easy to understand, it gives some very concrete advice on how use that knowledge to improve both. Dr. Hanscom’s program to deal with chronic pain is based on his own personal health experiences, which contributes a sense of empathy throughout the book. It also leads to some bias as he adds his personal opinion on certain topics. That being said, the practices in the book are supported by an extensive section of research references. Overall, I found this to be a very valuable read and would recommend it to anyone dealing with a chronic pain diagnosis.

[Brittany Massaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really put things in perspective for me. I’ve been suffering through self-created chronic pain for many years. The author was able to clearly put into language the self destructive thoughts and lifestyle choices hindering my ability to heal. Not only that, it feels good knowing others out there experience the same issues with no underlying “structural diagnosis.” For the first time I feel like I’m not almost. I have since put into practice the remedies for the healing journey. So far I’m not disappointed!

[Gary Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, repetitive and I didn't learn a thing

I wish I could say I learned one useful thing from reading this book. I didn't. At least 70% of it is case study, after case study, after case study, after case study. 20% is repetition, groundhog day, after groundhog day. He also says that he lapses and often doesn't follow his own advice. I wont be either. One star is very very generous for this mix of clap trap.

[Emily Marx · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish more people understood chronic pain, and I’d point them to this book. 4.5 stars only because it takes a while to reach the most practical takeaways, and a few points feel a bit repetitive. That said, it’s an easy, engaging read, and the storytelling is surprisingly strong for a neuroscience-heavy topic. Overall, a valuable, accessible resource for anyone trying to better understand pain, or support someone living with it.

[Mary Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found much of the information in this interesting enough that I want to share it with a few friends suffering from chronic pain. However, it could have been edited down to about half the length and also I am a bit skeptical as it was originally self published and the author appeared on the Dr. Oz show. So a bit of snake oil probably involved, but still a worthy effort I guess.

[David Metzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening explanation about the source and cure of pain

His explanation of the source and cure of pain is not intuitive. It does however make a lot of sense once you hear him explain it.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very helpful with practical ideas to develop a mindset to reduce chronic pain.

[Rujhan Arora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could have been shorter. There were many repetitions. But otherwise a great book.

[John Suddath]

This book describes a complex process of neurological reprogramming that can take a year to 18 months to relieve long-term chronic pain. As a back surgeon he explains the limitations of surgery and the need to exhaust all non-invasive processes before even considering surgery. He takes his fellow surgeons to task for being too quick to agree to surgery without first offering other options. He admits they have a financial incentive to first consider surgery and some don't know anything about other options and consider surgery to be the panacea for all back problems.
The process he describes even has a complicated name DOCC (Defined Organized Comprehensive Care) that requires five steps over a period of several months. He recommends several other books as part of the patient's educational process of learning about the back and about the neurological origins of chronic pain. A person needs to understand the interaction between the body and the brain and how once a neurological pattern has been established it cannot be deleted from the brain; it can only be reprogrammed. Many efforts to deal with chronic pain only reinforce it and cause it to grow stronger. The patient must make life changes, particularly in attitudes and coping mechanisms without regard to directly dealing with the pain first before considering their impact on pain. In other words, you need to change your focus and not think constantly about your pain. When you deal with sleep problems (no. 1), you take the first step in controlling pain even if requires narcotic medications to do so.
He offers a web site that expands upon some of the examples in the book and lists the recommended books, cites links to specific stories in the book, and offers a newsletter to follow updates. The basic thread throughout the book is that we become victims of our own "stories," and until we learn how to grow beyond the experiences of our past and detach ourselves from those negative thoughts and feelings we will continue to perpetuate them on ourselves and our family.
This is a difficult read because it is a very complicated subject, but he doesn't get buried in medical jargon, and uses many personal examples of dealing with patients to make his points. The mind/body experience is real and not just a psychological problem. We are not our thoughts, but the interaction of our brain and mind produces physical traces throughout the system that can and must be changed to reprogram those pathways. Part of the process involves writing about our experiences of anger (not keeping a journal) and then disposing of those notes as a means to dealing with the anger. I've read several books on anger management, and this method is unique.
I've just finished the book so it is too soon to judge how effective it may be in helping me to deal with my chronic back pain. I guess that will be determined by how conscientious I am in proceeding with the process he outlines.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great exploration of chronic pain (not just back pain) and useful activities for feeling better.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so many helpful things from reading this book - like the value of doing daily free writing - which I have now implemented in my life and find that it is helping me to think more clearly and to sleep better! This is the type of book that you just don't read, you actually have to do some "exercises" if you want to see change and growth in your life. Anyone can benefit from all his wonderful suggestions! I'm also planning on reading some of the books that Dr. Hanscom recommends to the reader.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but I guess I don't completely buy into that whole MBS concept yet (although I am trying to keep an open mind). My guess is that there will be some medical breakthroughs showing more biological causes of chronic back pain. Some good concepts to use but, like other "self help" books, some just seem naively metaphysical and inapplicable to most peoples lives. For example, sometimes people are jerks and deserve to be the targeted with anger. Still, lots of food for thought.

[Jen Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent exploration of the pain science approach to back pain management, with thoughtful advice on surgical interventions. Read this before you decide to have surgery, and invest some energy in more conservative ways of approaching your back pain.

[Hannah-rose Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enlightening read about chronic pain and your nervous system. I learned a lot during this book and feel a lot less alone in my journey through chronic pain. Dr.Hanscom wrote a very clear and precise book that brings hope to those who have been suffering for years!