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

by Debra Fulghum Bruce and Harris H. McIlwain

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805073264
• ISBN13: 9780805073263
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 298 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Thorough, holistic approach

"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.

Recommend to men and women with back pain

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.

Bye Bye Back Pain

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!

Excellent book to end back pain. Highly recommend

This book is superb!!! I've suffered with back pain since young adult years after a car accident. While I still work and do most of the things I enjoy, I always have a nagging pain in my lower back. I've tried chiropractors but none helped me. My doctor had me on several medications for pain which left me feeling groggy and all I wanted to do was sleep! This book touches on a variety of self-care steps you can take to end that nagging pain. I started with Step 1 - exercise - and was hesitant for fear it would aggravate my pain. I was pleasantly surprised!! After just one week, my pain lessened. So--I exercised more--and the pain now is barely there. I especially enjoyed the wake-up call the authors gave in Step 2 - The Pain-Free Diet. I didn't realize that just 10 pounds over a healthy weight can create so much havoc with the body!! I've been on the recommended low-carb diet and have dropped 8 of those pounds--again, contributing to the reduction in pain. The steps on alternative therapies, stress reduction, and touch therapies were incredible. I believe that we are the master of our pain--if only we know the tools to help end it! This book gives the tools. I highly recommend if you suffer from any type of back pain. The doctors talk about arthritis, muscle pain, disc disease, osteoporosis, and more--and give ANSWERS. An all-star read!!

The PAIN-FREE BACK 6-Step Plan WORKS!

I read McIlwain-Bruce's book "Pain-Free Arthritis" and thought the "Pain-Free Back" looked good as well. I have been very pleased with both books. The resistance exercises, low-carb "pain-free" diet, healing foods and alternative therapies fit well into my daily routine. Great book and mostly great relief from pain!