Back in Control, 2nd Edition

A Surgeon's Roadmap out of Chronic Pain

By: Dr. David Hanscom

Narrated by: Braden Wright

Seattle spinal surgeon Dr. David Hanscom focuses on an aspect of chronic pain that the medical world has largely overlooked: you must calm your nervous system in order to get better. More than any other book about pain, Back in Control reveals how to quiet a turbocharged central nervous system and make a full recovery, with or without surgery. Dr. Hanscom shares the story of his own journey out of chronic pain and offers a treatment paradigm that has evolved from his personal experience, as well what he has learned from his patients, hundreds of whom have moved beyond managing pain to becoming pain free. This book will enable those suffering from chronic pain to regain control of their care and life.

This revised second edition reflects the last few years of neuroscience research. It is becoming increasingly clear that the brain processes mental and physical pain in a similar manner. As anxiety drops, pain will diminish. Dr. Hanscom has observed that these principles apply to any chronic pain condition.

©2017 David Hanscom, MD (P)2017 David Hanscom, MD

Excellent!

Hanscom makes a similar argument to Ozanich in his book "Back Pain", but Hanscom has scientific insights about emotion and pain. Then Hanscom includes dozens of stories from patients and his own experience (not testimonials, but interesting and varied examples of how different life experiences can lead to suppression and then physical pain), which give hints as to how anxiety or anger or other feelings actually can cause to indirect pain. Hanscom gives an abundance of clinical examples of patients who had terrible physical structure with no pain or healthy physical structure and extreme pain; thereby releasing the reader's prejudices that chronic pain must be physical in nature. This is a highly insightful book, efficiently and elegantly making the point and allowing readers to discover connections with pain, physical causation, and indirect causation.

Great Alternative to Pain Therapy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Chronic pain management needs alternatives from surgery and opioids. This is an excellent option from these.

One of the best books on pain I’ve read

A fantastic explanation of pain science combined with actionable tips. One of my favorite books I’ve ever read on chronic pain. Can’t recommend enough.

Exciting information

I too have had 4 back surgeries and still am in chronic pain. I am starting to take the steps outlined in his book. I’m very grateful for Dr Hanscom willing to write this book. The information can be life changing. I encourage everyone to read this- even if you don’t have chronic back pain you surely know someone who does. How wonderful if we can have an effect on our own health management rather than let big business make costly mistakes and decisions for us in money, time and our personal quality of life. Thank you Dr Hanscom. Wish I had found this before my own long battle with chronic pain. Yet I’ll start anew today!

Must read for People in Pain

This book is empowering! You can be in control of your medical path and your pain management. Read it, even if you are sceptical.

Great Book - Highly Recommended!

This book was excellent. I have had back pain issues, migraine headaches, tension headaches, and many other types of pain on and off for at least 20 years. In addition, I worked in the hospital system for 18 years as an occupational therapist. I would see the same patients for repeititive back surgery too many times. That alone told me that surgery was not the answer. At the same time, I have tried almost every type of alternative medicine treatment that is available and still continue to have pain. In the last year I have had to quit working and give up cycling which is my true passion. Over the years, I did anything to keep riding...custom bikes, weekly massage, monthly homeopathic injections, chiropractors 1-2x/week and more. Finally it is no longer working. This book gave me a new perspective and healthy strategies to change my brain's perception of pain....something no one else has mentioned to me before. I am eager to implement more of these strategies to be able to improve and teach my brain to perceive the pain in a healthier and more live-able manner!

Prescribed by my pain doctor

My pain management doctor told me to read this book before my last back surgery (my third in 6 years). I did not heed her recommendation before the surgery. What a huge mistake! I would have never had the third surgery if I read this book before surgery. Now, less than a year since the surgery I need a fourth back surgery. For now I am passing on because solely of this book. It is a MUST READ for anyone in chronic pain or/and their family members. I plan on buying the physical book also to work through my pain issues along with a couple of sessions with a behavior modification therapist. I am making progress and hope eventually to live a less painful life.

Good synthesis of getting your life back

Recommend for anyone dealing with chronic pain. Not just back or spine. Clearly lags out key areas to focus on. Synthesizes several other books and research I’ve seen into an actionable plan.

Excellent

I am a pain medicine physician and I recommend this book to all of my back pain pain patients and most of my patients with other types of pain as well. If you heed the advice you will get better.

Just in the nick of time ....

So incredibly validating and with all the tools and methodology to execute a non surgical plan. Thank you doc.