Dissolving Pain: Simple Brain-Training Exercises for Overcoming Chronic Pain [Paperback]

Les Fehmi (Author), Jim Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 14, 2010

For four decades, Dr. Les Fehmi has been a leader in brainwave biofeedback (also called neurofeedback), training individuals how to balance and regulate their brainwave patterns to improve mental, emotional, and physical health. <o:p> </o:p>

Dissolving Pain is based on the premise that although pain is perceived to exist in a particular part of the body, pain in fact resides in the brain. Dr. Fehmi shows us that it is possible to learn to resolve pain at the brain level, using simple attention exercises. Drawing on scientific research, Dr. Fehmi explains how to quiet the pain signal in the brain, empowering readers to free themselves from many forms of pain and discomfort.

Included with the book is a 65-minute audio CD in which Dr. Fehmi guides listeners through the fundamental Dissolving Pain exercises.

To learn more, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://openfocus.com/">openfocus.com</a>.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The techniques described in this book can make life fuller, more enjoyable, and more productive.”—Andrew Weil, MD

“These mental techniques help you to experience your body and even your heart in a new way.”—Publishers Weekly

“Try it. It works.”—Martha Beck, O Magazine

“Dissolving Pain is rich with scientific information but presented in understandable terms. The series of exercises are straightforward and easy to follow.”—New Age Retailer  

“A revolutionary technique based on well-researched brainwave feedback. This valuable resource offers insights into understanding how pain resides in the brain and how to quiet it.”—ForeWord Reviews This Week

About the Author

Jim Robbins is an award-winning journalist and science writer, with frequent contributions to the New York Times, Smithsonian, Scientific American, Discover, and Psychology Today. In connection with his reporting, he has appeared on ABC’s Nightline and on NPR’s All Things Considered and Morning Edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Trumpeter; Pap/Com edition (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590307801
• ISBN-13: 978-1590307809
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Chronic Pain

More About the Author

Dr. Fehmi is the Director of the Princeton Biofeedback Centre, LLC, located in Princeton, New Jersey. He received his Ph.D. in Physiological Psychology at U.C.L.A. in 1966 and he served as post-doctoral fellow at the Brain Research Institute at UCAL. He was an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook for six years, where he conducted research in the area of attention and EEG biofeedback training.

Since 1973, Dr. Fehmi has been in private practice in Princeton, New Jersey, putting into practical application the knowledge derived from his years of research in the field of biofeedback. He originated the OPEN FOCUS™ Attention Training techniques in 1973.

Dr. Fehmi chaired the first national meeting of biofeedback researchers in 1968 in Aspen, Colorado. He was a founding member of the Executive Board of the Biofeedback Society of America and the first President of the Biofeedback Society of New Jersey. Dr. Fehmi served as a Chairman of the Applications Standards Sub-Committee and President of the Council of State Societies of the Biofeedback Society of America. The author of many publications in the field of biofeedback, he is the co-author of the Application Standards and Guidelines for Biofeedback Providers, a publication of the Biofeedback Society of America, and the newly published book, The Open Focus Brain, Harnessing the Power of Attention to Heal Mind and Body, released in August 2007.

Dr. Fehmi is a past consultant to the Veterans Administration, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and a researcher at NASA-AMES Stanford University, UCLA's Brain Research Institute and Lockheed Aircraft Company. He has developed and patented phase-sensitive EEG biofeedback instrumentation and training programs. Dr. Fehmi was invited by the U.S. Olympic Development Committee to train "World Class" athletes in Open Focus and biofeedback and is also a consultant for Coach Bob Ward of the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and a certified speed specialist under the auspices of a national coaching association.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Among "Pain Relief" Books November 9, 2010

By Jennifer Nickert

Format:Paperback

Dr. Les Fehmi and co-author Jim Robbins have done a tremendous job with a topic that is tremendously difficult to convey. I have read and enjoyed numerous other books on the subject including "Pain Free" and "3 Minutes to a Pain Free Life", but none have helped as quickly with my pain as "Dissolving Pain".

Often dismissed as "New Age" or "Spiritual" healing, bio-feedback is not only vastly documented and validate, but gaining acceptance on a large scale. I was first introduced to bio-feedback by my dentist 15 years ago and opted to use bio-feedback instead of the anesthesia. Not only did I have virtually no swelling or bleeding, I had no instance of swelling and returned to work immediately.

I was convinced on the merits of using bio-feedback to alleviate pain but have not found a book or program that I could follow easily. A fairly easy and concise read, I finished the book in a weekend and began to use the exercise's the next week.
I plan on using the book and enclosed CD anytime my shoulder pain returns. As they say in movie reviews "2 thumbs up"!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pain Dissolved! December 27, 2010

By MSharpe

Format:Paperback

Without going into too much detail, I will divulge that I was in desperate need of a solution to cope with pain. My doctors were giving me all they had in terms of medication and treatment but it seemed like I was alone in the world when it came to the physical anguish I was experiencing. With a relatively skeptic eye, I read Dissolving Pain and immediately felt as though I had control over my own body for the first time in months. The brain can be your best friend or your worst enemy. This book gave me a lucid understanding of how to exercise the massive mental elements of my condition. I felt like a new man and will continue to recommend this book to friends and family members in need!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pain Relief November 20, 2010

By daphne schaffer

Format:Paperback

Having read Dr. Fehmi's other book, " The Open-Focus Brain ", I purchased " Dissolving Pain " thinking it might be more targeted to pain issues. I was surprised to find that although there was some crossover material, Dissolving Pain was not a re-packaged version of another book.
This book will certainly help anyone suffering from emotional or physical pain. At around 170 pages , it was an easy read. I highly recommend and feel confident others would benefit as much as I have.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but January 25, 2011

By scottrut

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have read this book. I have listened to the exercises on the CD twice a day for a week. I have noticed no change in either my pain or perception. Perhaps this will not work for me. The book only has limited evidence, a handful of anecdotes, for the effectiveness of this program. I cannot find any peer reviewed, clinical trial evidence supporting these protocols. Nor can I find any evidence as to the success/failure rate of this program. Or perhaps I am not doing the exercises correctly. This is a always a problem when I try to learn new skills from a book. Or perhaps I just need to continue. The book is well written and easy to read. The exercises are easy to follow. Continuing to listen to the CD may help me, and it will not hurt me. I just hope that it works someday.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a painful read! October 22, 2010

By Michelle Ramey

Format:Paperback

I reluctantly read " Dissolving Pain " after trudging through several other " Bio Feedback " related books. To my surprise, it was both a helpful and engaging read. Having suffered for years with migraine related pain and most recently, emotional pain, I was open to try the excercises outlined.

Not only has the book helped tremendously, but Dr. Fehmi's alternative to pharmaceutical healing was just what I needed. I have recommended Dissolving Pain to several co-workers who suffer from a variety of pain issues. If only I had read this 4 weeks earlier when I had lingering pain from a multiple wisdom tooth extraction!

Chapter 4 is titled " The domain of pain is mainly in the brain ", which really sums up the book for me. I rarely thank and author , but for the record, thank you Dr. Fehmi and co-author, Jim Robbins for this insightful and helpful book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars taking chronic out of chronic pain November 9, 2010

By GABRIELA BARANOVA

Format:Paperback

It takes less than 2 hours to follow a series of questions that are almost relaxing in nature, in " Dissolving Pain". The book is broken into 2 parts really, the front of the book that describes the science behind bio-feedback along with numerous examples.
The 2nd part is a series of questions that ask you to think or imagine. It sounds strange, but I decided to go with it and see what happens. It seems to have helped with my chronic pain associated with a condition called " drop foot " that I have dealt with since an auto accident 5 years ago. While my pain is not eliminated ( yet), I am experiencing lessened pain and that is a major step

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dissolving Pain with Open Focus method October 31, 2010

By Amazonian

Format:Paperback

When I first saw this new book by Dr Fehmi I thought its premise was too good to be true. How could a set of mental exercises simply dissolve the feeling of pain accumulated over several years, particularly in difficult to treat areas such as knees? Well, in spite of my scepticism, after doing the exercises I saw a remarkable reduction in pain around my swollen knees. I then used the exercises for anxiety and I noticed a clear shift, and I have only just started to experiment. I have recommended this book and the CD to some of my friends but I don't see them ready to take a leap of faith. They will probably try the method on their ails and pains when everything else fails and that is a pity. After my experience with this book and the CD, I feel more inclined than ever to continue doing the exercises. The open focus method is empowering and puts the responsibility for managing physical and emotional pain on us. I thoroughly recommend it.