Customer Reviews

Mastering Pain

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I've had chronic pain for 5 years and have been to see a number of different pain management practices. The one that worked the best for me is modeled on the same approach Sternbach advocates.

Our bodies normally experience pain for a reason. Acute pain indicates tissue damage and forces us to stop and take care of an injury. Chronic pain, on the other hand, is pain without an organic stimulus; there's no tissue damage and we don't need to take care of an injured body. Chronic pain, by definition, isn't going anywhere. So the best way to deal with chronic pain is to find ways to *cope* with it and not hope for some miraculous cure.

Sternbach does an excellent job explaining a multidisciplinary approach to managing chronic pain and learning to live with it. It makes a fantastic reference no only for those of us with chronic pain, but also for our loved ones who want to help but don't know how. I made my immediate family and closest friends read it. While they initially protested, they thanked me afterwards and have been much more supportive, and their desire to help has been more productive.

I've lived with chronic pain for 2 1/2 years as a result of a car accident which left me with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. This book addresses issues that apply to all kinds of chronic pain. It is practical and easy to understand. I've bought many, many books on chronic pain, and this is by far the best. I believe this approach to living with chronic pain is realistic, positive and allows the sufferer to make the most of his/her life. The book relates very well to the psychological effects of living with chronic pain. This physical and psychological program allows the sufferer to take back control over his pain and his life. If you or a loved one suffer from chronic pain, this book is a must.

I've had to live with severe chronic pain following a lumbar spine fusion 2 years ago that put me in worse pain than before the surgery. Since the surgeon has been worthless in helping me, i've been on my own and when i found this book i was delighted because it described me to a tee. While i haven't found nirvana and will never be pain free, this book has given me a strong set of tools to help deal with the severe pain i live with 24/7. Highly recommended for anyone in a similar boat.