The Pain-Free Back: 6 Simple Steps to End Pain and Reclaim Your Active Life [Paperback]

Harris H. McIlwain (Author), Debra Fulghum Bruce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2004

A pain-relief expert offers a comprehensive program for keeping your back healthy and minimizing the need for drugs and surgery

Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.

Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and 0McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.

Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.

Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back
fs20, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.

Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.


Four out of five adult Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives-it's the nation's third most common reason for surgery, the number-one occupational hazard, and the most prevalent cause of disability in men and women under age forty-five. Whether it results from injury, osteoporosis, or an unusually intense weekend golf game, back pain is a common cause of serious discomfort or even debilitation.

qlDr. Harris H. McIlwain has devoted his career to bringing relief to sufferers of back pain and arthritis; in The Pain-Free Back, he reveals his six-step program for achieving and maintaining a healthy back. Nearly all of this pain can be controlled without surgery, and McIlwain addresses every aspect of this process, including
o exercises to strengthen your back
o lifestyle changes that reduce the stress on your back
o touch therapies for soothing various types of back pain
o tips for maintaining a healthy weight on a back-friendly diet
o complementary and alternative medicines that will ease your pain naturally
This comprehensive guide diagnoses and explains back pain; more important, it shows you how to eliminate it without expensive medical procedures. Anyone who experiences back pain will find this an indispensable aid to recovering a full and active life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harris H. McIlwain, M.D., a board-certified rheumatologist, is the founder of the Tampa Medical Group and the author of twenty books. He lives in Temple Terrace, Florida.

Debra Fulghum Bruce, M.S., has written more than 2,500 articles and sixty-five books on various health topics. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (May 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805073264
• ISBN-13: 978-0805073263
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, holistic approach, May 21, 2004

By 

Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pain-Free Back: 6 Simple Steps to End Pain and Reclaim Your Active Life (Paperback)

"The Pain-Free Back" is a comprehensive examination of back pain and what you can do about it. The authors discuss various symptoms and when you should be concerned that it might be something serious. This includes answering the very important question "When do you try to treat it yourself and when do you call a doctor?"

After this groundwork is laid and you and your doctor have determined that your back pain is nothing serious, the authors delve into a detailed program for alleviating your pain. The first part details an exercise program and how exercise helps resolve back problems. The appendix includes detailed stretching and other exercises. Of course exercise is only part of the treatment plan, it also requires a healthy eating program. Because excess weight can contribute to back pain losing weight and correcting unhealthy eating habits is part of a total approach. This section also includes various dietary changes that keep bones strong, connective tissues healthy, and other health issues that can affect back pain in check.

In the interest of being thorough it also includes complementary and alternative medicine techniques that may help. These include herbals, balms, back to basics of sitting, lifting, lying, and other normal activities, music therapy, biofeedback, massage, Rolfing, Pilates, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, and even surgery.

Of course all this advice is not of much help if you don't provide the details of how to get there. So, the appendixes contain many recipes, exercises, references, and supporting information. If you have a back pain problem "The Pain-Free Back" is a recommended read and an excellent resource to become informed about your treatment options.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend to men and women with back pain, May 18, 2004

By 

Carlton A. Moore, Jr. (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pain-Free Back: 6 Simple Steps to End Pain and Reclaim Your Active Life (Paperback)

I read this book to get ideas on how to stop back pain. While I'm not a proponent of natural or complementary therapies, these doctors convinced me that taking control of my lifestyle habits was the only way to end the pain. I even went as far as to start taking the natural dietary supplements glucosamine and SAM-e (recommended in the book). Other anti-inflammatory medications had caused a horrible stomach condition, and the natural supplements ease the pain and have allowed me to be more active and start walking again with my wife and kids. The review of causes of back pain was most helpful, and I began to question whether my primary care doctor had really diagnosed my pain correctly. A consultation with a rheumatologist confirmed that I had a form of arthritis common to men instead of pulled muscles. This book urged me to seek answers and reclaim an active life. Thank you. I must add that this book is not hype or sham. I'm cautious of books such as that. This book is highly credible by two renowned doctors and experts in their respective fields. I'm now getting the Pain-Free Arthritis book they wrote for more information on my back condition. Good luck.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bye Bye Back Pain, May 18, 2004

By 

Wynona Petersen (Knoxville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pain-Free Back: 6 Simple Steps to End Pain and Reclaim Your Active Life (Paperback)

A most enjoyable and helpful read. I have osteoarthritis in my spine and it's one part of aging that is definitely not fun. I thought I would have to live with it--forever--until my rheumatologist recommended this book. I scanned through the book and found that the step-by-step multifaceted program focused on my lifestyle habits. From exercise to diet to stress management, the authors explain how these habits influence back pain--either decreasing or worsening it. I found the step on computers and back pain most helpful, as I am a newspaper editor and get horrific pain after a long day of work. The suggestions on how to sit, lift, stand, and work at a computer were insightful. I recommend this book to men and women who suffer with back pain and--no, it's not in your head. There are hands-on tools you can use today to end it. I did!