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The Meaning of Pain: What it is, why we feel it, and how to overcome it
We all fear pain and we will do almost anything to avoid it. We take to our beds, swallow pills, even submit to surgery and think we are solving the problem. But what if everything you thought you knew about pain turned out to be wrong or only half the truth?
In The Meaning of Pain, renowned osteopath Nick Potter draws on insights from biology, evolution and social behaviour to present a radical new understanding of pain and why we feel it.
Although pain is unpleasant, it is essential - nature's way of alerting us to danger - and is often a sign that something is out of balance in our lives. Stress and anxiety corrode our health in hidden ways and, as Potter shows, understanding this is crucial to treating pain.
In this sage and enlightening book, drawing on 25 years of clinical experience and success stories from his consulting room, Potter presents a timely, compelling roadmap for wellbeing, showing us how to break the vicious cycle of stress, pain and anxiety before the damage is done.
In The Meaning of Pain, renowned osteopath Nick Potter draws on insights from biology, evolution and social behaviour to present a radical new understanding of pain and why we feel it.
Although pain is unpleasant, it is essential - nature's way of alerting us to danger - and is often a sign that something is out of balance in our lives. Stress and anxiety corrode our health in hidden ways and, as Potter shows, understanding this is crucial to treating pain.
In this sage and enlightening book, drawing on 25 years of clinical experience and success stories from his consulting room, Potter presents a timely, compelling roadmap for wellbeing, showing us how to break the vicious cycle of stress, pain and anxiety before the damage is done.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2019
38 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 25, 2022
เล่มนี้ดี ใครที่ปวดหัว ปวดหลัง ลำไส้แปรปรวน ออฟฟิศซินโดรม ควรลองอ่านเลย 🦴🩻
ผู้เขียนเน้นให้เข้าใจเรื่องความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรัง
โดยเริ่มต้นเล่าจากที่มา กลไกการรู้สึกเจ็บปวดก่อน
ต้องเข้าใจว่าความเจ็บปวดคือเรื่องปกติ มันเป็นวิวัฒนาการเตือนภัย เพื่อไม่ให้มนุษยชาติสูญพันธุ์ 💃💃
แต่ความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรังไม่ปกติ ทั้งๆที่บาดแผลหายไปแล้ว แต่ทำไมถึงยังเจ็บอยู่ล่ะ 😯😯
ซึ่งความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรังเนี่ยเกิดจากกลไกซับซ้อนทางกาย จิต สังคม ความเครียด การเลี้ยงดูในวัยเด็ก พฤติกรรมการใช้ชีวิต (รายละเอียดต้องอ่านในหนังสือเลย)
การรักษาด้วยยาแก้ปวดอย่างเดียวมักจะเอาไม่อยู่
ต้องอาศัยหลายศาสตร์ร่วมกัน กายภาพบำบัด ออกกำลังกาย คลายปมในใจ 💊❤️
เล่มนี้รายละเอียดเยอะมาก บางช่วงอ่านเพลินก็มึน ๆ เหมือนกัน แต่เราจะเข้าใจความเจ็บปวดได้ดีขึ้นรวมถึงวิธีป้องกันและรักษาความเจ็บปวดนั้น
อ่านจบแล้ว เกิดแรงฮึด ออกกำลังกายเพิ่มขึ้นมาเลย 💪🏊♀️🏃♀️
ผู้เขียนเน้นให้เข้าใจเรื่องความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรัง
โดยเริ่มต้นเล่าจากที่มา กลไกการรู้สึกเจ็บปวดก่อน
ต้องเข้าใจว่าความเจ็บปวดคือเรื่องปกติ มันเป็นวิวัฒนาการเตือนภัย เพื่อไม่ให้มนุษยชาติสูญพันธุ์ 💃💃
แต่ความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรังไม่ปกติ ทั้งๆที่บาดแผลหายไปแล้ว แต่ทำไมถึงยังเจ็บอยู่ล่ะ 😯😯
ซึ่งความเจ็บปวดเรื้อรังเนี่ยเกิดจากกลไกซับซ้อนทางกาย จิต สังคม ความเครียด การเลี้ยงดูในวัยเด็ก พฤติกรรมการใช้ชีวิต (รายละเอียดต้องอ่านในหนังสือเลย)
การรักษาด้วยยาแก้ปวดอย่างเดียวมักจะเอาไม่อยู่
ต้องอาศัยหลายศาสตร์ร่วมกัน กายภาพบำบัด ออกกำลังกาย คลายปมในใจ 💊❤️
เล่มนี้รายละเอียดเยอะมาก บางช่วงอ่านเพลินก็มึน ๆ เหมือนกัน แต่เราจะเข้าใจความเจ็บปวดได้ดีขึ้นรวมถึงวิธีป้องกันและรักษาความเจ็บปวดนั้น
อ่านจบแล้ว เกิดแรงฮึด ออกกำลังกายเพิ่มขึ้นมาเลย 💪🏊♀️🏃♀️
February 3, 2020
Wow. What an informative and instructive book. Marking this for re-reading.
October 17, 2023
Informativo, de leitura fácil e útil na medida em que oferece uma perspectiva alternativa aos padrões da medicina comum. Acima de tudo leitura aconselhável para quem não encontra resposta no sistema para um quadro de dor persistente.
February 10, 2022
Absolutely amazing! A really easily digestible and accessible book that offers really practical advice and explains things deeply but simply.
It covers long-term conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraine and IBS, but the information and explanation on hypermobility made me feel so heard and understood, so if you are on the hypermobile spectrum, please read this book!
In fact, whoever you are, because pain (be it physical or emotional - both of which are covered in this book, especially the detrimental effects of stress) is a part of the human condition, means this book will be relevant to everyone on some level.
It covers long-term conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraine and IBS, but the information and explanation on hypermobility made me feel so heard and understood, so if you are on the hypermobile spectrum, please read this book!
In fact, whoever you are, because pain (be it physical or emotional - both of which are covered in this book, especially the detrimental effects of stress) is a part of the human condition, means this book will be relevant to everyone on some level.
September 16, 2019
Incredibly written book from the perspective of a health care worker not a health cure one. Nick Potter in this book gives credit to what really makes and influences us, like biology, emotions, social support and love, in how they made us feel and react towards pain.
As a Pain Specialist, reading this book gives me will and power to continue treating my patients on the basis of bio-psycho-social panel.
Sometimes minimal acts or gestures can help us or our patients get rid of rebellious pain that seems incurable.
Bravo Nick!
As a Pain Specialist, reading this book gives me will and power to continue treating my patients on the basis of bio-psycho-social panel.
Sometimes minimal acts or gestures can help us or our patients get rid of rebellious pain that seems incurable.
Bravo Nick!
June 22, 2025
Temelinde hareketsiz yaşamın, sağlıksız beslenmenin, alkol sigara gibi bagimliliklarin ve günümüzde kronik bir sekilde maruz kaldigimiz stresin vücudumuzda ağrı olarak karşımıza çıktığını anlıyoruz. Aşırı teknik dili yok, biraz başlarda akademik olmuş gibi ancak boğucu degil sonlara doğru dil gayet gündelik oluyor. İçersinde kısa kısa hasta deneyimleri de var. 80 yaşındaki Pamela ile aynı deneyime sahip olmak şaşırttı çünkü insan ağrı yaşayınca kendine özelmiş de başka birinin başına gelmezmiş gibi hissediyor. Pamela'nın yaşı dışında benden farki hareketli bir yaşamı olmasi. Onun dışında deneyimimizin çok benzedigini görmek beni heyecanlandirdi çünkü Pamela'nin agrilari dinmiş. O da pilatese gidiyor, o da basta seviyor ve iyi geliyor ancak yogun gecen bir ders sonrasi agri yasamaya başlıyor. Bu benim sene başından beri çektiğim bir dert. Yaşadığım fazlasıyla uzun süren ağrı bana pilatesin iyi gelmediğinin isaretiydi. Ağrıdan sonra korkumdan gitmemeyi tercih etmeme rağmen doktorlar israrla belim için pilates öneriyordu. Henüz aksini söyleyeni duymamistim ta ki Nick Potter'a kadar. İlk kez birinin pilatesi onermedigini yapilacaksa fizyoterapistle kisiye ozel programla yapilmasi gerektigini söyledi. Ne yalan söyleyeyim bunu duymak bana kendimi iyi hissettirdi çünkü içten içe acaba ben mi yanılıyorum diyordum. Kasları güçlendirmek, ağrı travmasını içselleştirmeden hareket etmek, gerekirse ilaç almaktan cekinmemek Nick Potter'ın tavsiyeleri.
Dikkatimi çeken konulardan biri de nefes kismiydi. Dogru nefes almanın ağrı uzerinde etkisi olduğunu daha once dusunmemistim. Hadi dogru nefes almanin etkisi olur da yanlis almanin negatif etkisi olacagi aklima gelmemisti.
Ben kitabı beğendim. Geçmeyen ağrınız varsa kendinize nazik davranmak, ağrının aslında sizin düşmanınız olmadığını farkli şeylerin semptomu oldugunu, duygusal ya da fiziksel olabilir, anlamak için okunabilir. Ayni zamanda benzer deneyimler yasayan insanlarin iyileştiğini okumak size de güç verebilir.
Dikkatimi çeken konulardan biri de nefes kismiydi. Dogru nefes almanın ağrı uzerinde etkisi olduğunu daha once dusunmemistim. Hadi dogru nefes almanin etkisi olur da yanlis almanin negatif etkisi olacagi aklima gelmemisti.
Ben kitabı beğendim. Geçmeyen ağrınız varsa kendinize nazik davranmak, ağrının aslında sizin düşmanınız olmadığını farkli şeylerin semptomu oldugunu, duygusal ya da fiziksel olabilir, anlamak için okunabilir. Ayni zamanda benzer deneyimler yasayan insanlarin iyileştiğini okumak size de güç verebilir.
Currently reading
December 10, 2025I came across Nick in a podcast (ADHD Chatter) talking about the interplay between ADHD, hypermobility and pain.
In his interview he talks about hypervigilance in the adhd/hypermobile body, how it affects proprioception, fatigue levels, pain reception (physical and psychological), Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (associated with ADHD) and how it can embed shame in afflicted people and cascade into a range of seemingly unrelated issues.
"It's better to develop a resilient kid, than it is to fix a broken adult" says Potter. Absolutely. I wish I'd known these things 20 years ago.
His discussion gave me a lot of "ah-ha!" moments - moments of clarity that explained, in part, my own experiences of the conditions. The awareness displayed by Potter is a great foundation for understanding ourselves better.
Interestingly, they discussed the greater prevalence of hypermobility in women and hinted at (though were careful not be definitive without studies to back the hypothesis) the potential for greater prevalence of ADHD in women.
The podcast lead me to this book which I hope expands on what was spoken about. Its been relevatory.
In his interview he talks about hypervigilance in the adhd/hypermobile body, how it affects proprioception, fatigue levels, pain reception (physical and psychological), Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (associated with ADHD) and how it can embed shame in afflicted people and cascade into a range of seemingly unrelated issues.
"It's better to develop a resilient kid, than it is to fix a broken adult" says Potter. Absolutely. I wish I'd known these things 20 years ago.
His discussion gave me a lot of "ah-ha!" moments - moments of clarity that explained, in part, my own experiences of the conditions. The awareness displayed by Potter is a great foundation for understanding ourselves better.
Interestingly, they discussed the greater prevalence of hypermobility in women and hinted at (though were careful not be definitive without studies to back the hypothesis) the potential for greater prevalence of ADHD in women.
The podcast lead me to this book which I hope expands on what was spoken about. Its been relevatory.
June 3, 2023
Trochę sceptycznie podchodziłam do tej lektury ze względu na fakt, że autorem jest osteopata (a nie „prawdziwy” lekarz). Osteopatia kojarzyła mi się raczej z pseudonaukowymi i pseudomedycznymi kocopołami, na które jestem uczulona i uważam, że mogą wyrządzić wiele złego. Ciekawość jednak zwyciężyła i muszę przyznać, że moje wątpliwości zostały rozwiane bardzo szybko.
Jest to bardzo merytoryczna książka, z której dowiemy się jak wyglądają mechanizmy działania bólu, reakcje mózgu i układu nerwowego, ale także dlaczego leczenie bólu bywa trudne. Tezy stawiane przez autora nie mają nic wspólnego z szamanizmem, a są logicznymi wnioskami popartymi badaniami naukowymi. Fakt, że ból wcale nie musi być spowodowany urazem czy chorobą, zaczyna być już coraz szerzej znany. Nick Potter pokazuje, jak wielkie znaczenie ma spojrzenie na pacjenta z szerszej perspektywy - poznanie jego historii, zwyczajów czy obaw. Może się bowiem okazać, że trauma, strach czy długotrwały stres ujawniła się właśnie w postaci chronicznego bólu.
Pocieszający jest fakt, że mamy całkiem spory wpływ na to, co czujemy, choć wymaga to pracy i zaangażowania.
Sporo wiedzy wyniosłam z tej lektury, czego dowodem niech będzie fakt, że często raczę swoich bliskich wyczytanymi ciekawostkami :)
Jest to bardzo merytoryczna książka, z której dowiemy się jak wyglądają mechanizmy działania bólu, reakcje mózgu i układu nerwowego, ale także dlaczego leczenie bólu bywa trudne. Tezy stawiane przez autora nie mają nic wspólnego z szamanizmem, a są logicznymi wnioskami popartymi badaniami naukowymi. Fakt, że ból wcale nie musi być spowodowany urazem czy chorobą, zaczyna być już coraz szerzej znany. Nick Potter pokazuje, jak wielkie znaczenie ma spojrzenie na pacjenta z szerszej perspektywy - poznanie jego historii, zwyczajów czy obaw. Może się bowiem okazać, że trauma, strach czy długotrwały stres ujawniła się właśnie w postaci chronicznego bólu.
Pocieszający jest fakt, że mamy całkiem spory wpływ na to, co czujemy, choć wymaga to pracy i zaangażowania.
Sporo wiedzy wyniosłam z tej lektury, czego dowodem niech będzie fakt, że często raczę swoich bliskich wyczytanymi ciekawostkami :)
February 21, 2020
Amazing book. I’ve suffered from chronic pain and fibromyalgia for five years, I have researched every document available, I have tried all that medicines available, I have seen all the specialists available, but this book changed my ability to see some hype in my condition.
So much so that I made an appointment to see Nick in the next few weeks.
So much so that I made an appointment to see Nick in the next few weeks.
March 6, 2021
Useful for Getting on Top of Pain
This book is full of useful insights around the causes and treatment of chronic pain. It also warns of what can happen if you let pain control you. As someone who has been struggling with a rotator cuff injury which hasn’t yet stopped hurting it gave me good advice and tools to address the pain. Recommended.
This book is full of useful insights around the causes and treatment of chronic pain. It also warns of what can happen if you let pain control you. As someone who has been struggling with a rotator cuff injury which hasn’t yet stopped hurting it gave me good advice and tools to address the pain. Recommended.
February 18, 2024
Should be thought as a lesson in each level of schools.
December 18, 2024
Asta e o carte de medicină pe înțelesul tuturor (despre durere) nu de self-help. Titlul sugerează inversul. Un titlu mai potrivit ar fi fost "How pain works".
October 21, 2024
This book was... Okay. I've read several books on pain so it's possible that if I hadn't I would have enjoyed this book more. That said, it didn't seem that Potter has any special knowledge or insights, and the information wasn't well researched or in any way unique.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews