I just finished reading this book, Explain Pain by David Butler M.App.SC and Dr Lorimer Moseley PhD, which I borrowed from my Physical Therapist. Although some of the concepts were complicated, I thought everything was explained in a way that a person with no medical background (myself) would be able to understand.

The best part of the book is how they scientifically explained the connection between the mind and body and how it directly influences your pain. I also liked how they didn’t commit to a recovery method, or preach a way to get better. Instead, they advocate to learn as much about pain and your condition to help you make informed decisions on your healing journey and to lessen your fear about pain that you can’t explain or understand. On a less positive note, I thought they could have addressed better some of the unlikely causes of pain, such as nutritional deficiency, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and other environmental toxins. They do mention that everyone’s pain is unique to them, which I found to be particularly helpful since most medical professionals will just diagnose what is familiar to them, and not necessarily see a patients unique situation & body.

Here are some quotes that I found to be particularly helpful:

“Because tissues are no longer the main issue, it is often not helpful to seek an understanding of the diagnostic label. It is better to seek an understanding of the particular symptoms which are a feature of your unique presentation”

‘For many people in persistent pain, this is a critical issue to understand and well worth repeating. In this sensitised state, the brain is being fed information that no longer reflects the true health and abilities of the tissues at the end of the neurones. Put another way, the brain is being told that there is more danger at the tissues than there actually is.”

“It is important to emphasise here that, when the brain is sensitised, it is not just the experience of pain that is persistently produced. It also leads to persistent changes in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, endocrine, immune and motor systems”

“All sorts of fears can lead you into a cycle of pain and disability from which it can be difficult to break free. Some of the information that you receive from health professionals, friends, family and the media may contribute to fear…To face these fears, you need to be informed and understand as much as possible about your body. And you will need to be brave – this is the vehicle for the road to recovery”

At the end of book there is a Further Reading Section that recommends the following titles, which I plan on looking into for future reading.

1. Wall, P.D., Pain, the Science of Suffering. 1999,
London: Weidenfield & Nicholson

2. Melzack, R. and P.D. Wall, The Challenge of Pain.
2nd ed. 1996, London: Penguin

3. Nicholas, M., et al., Manage your Pain. 2000, Sydney: ABC Books

4. Martin, P., The Sickening Mind. 1997, London: Harper-Collins.

5. Sapolsky, R.M., Why zebras don’t get ulcers: an updated guide to stress, stress-related diseases, and coping. 1998, New York: W.H. Freeman and Co.

6. Shone, N., Coping Successfully with Pain. 1995, London: Sheldon Press.