Unlearn Your Pain

by Howard Schubiner MD, Unknown Author

Paperback

Reviews

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book that challenges many of the diagnostic assumptions of modern medicine.

[Steve Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a retired physician who practiced Family Medicine for over 30 years, managing chronic pain was a daily nemesis. The pain most always won. I had many sad cases that I called my "permanently broken people". If only I had had the knowledge contained in this book and the training and time to implement these methods. Both my professional life and the lives of my patients would have been better.
I have read a lot about chronic pain and "incurable" conditions like fibromyalgia but this book tops them all. As a personal sufferer of chronic low back pain for the past 6 years, just reading this and making baby steps to implement the lessons contained here has already made a difference.

Very recommended.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Unlearn Your Pain" explains how it is actually your brain that generates pain based on perceived danger, either from further physical damage or emotional distress. While injury can be the cause of pain, this usually resolves when the injury heals. Yet chronic pain and things like depression or anxiety might linger even after the damage is healed--or even be generated because the brain thinks it's keeping you from danger. The author provided many examples of this.

He carefully evaluates patients to see if tissue damage is behind the pain or not. If not, he's developed a couple ways to help your brain feel safe again--safe to move, have energy, and be joyful. The one thing that I felt the author overlooked is how the body can go into "freeze" (of fight, flight, or freeze fame) when a person feels overwhelmed, powerless, or in danger and that's what he's trying to reset with his methods.

The author then described in detail and with real examples how to use his methods on yourself or what a practitioner using these methods will do with you. He also described a number of clinical trials that have tested his methods against other popular chronic pain alternatives like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The results with his methods worked better (greater relief from symptoms) and lasted longer. So if you have chronic pain, fatigue, depression, or anxiety you might try this an see if it helps.

I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jennie Reads Plenty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I had known more about this book before starting it. The author is clear that these ideas are aimed primarily at people with chronic symptoms despite normal testing and no obvious structural disease. As someone with multiple documented medical conditions, I realized fairly quickly that I wasn't the target audience.

There were some interesting concepts, and I can see how this approach might help certain people. However, many of the examples didn't resonate with me. When conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were discussed, I found myself skeptical. Therapy and increased activity may help some people function better, but they don't stop joint dislocations or reverse connective tissue disorders.

This wasn't a bad book. It just wasn't the book I thought I was picking up, and if I'd known its focus going in, I probably would have chosen something else.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an interesting book. I fit the bill for a lot of the conditions mentioned in it and I do believe that a lot of these things I am already working towards. It was a hopeful and inspiring read and I would recommend people follow the steps in it which are well laid out. Thanks to NetGalley and the open field for the ARC.