The Pain Antidote: The Proven Program to Help You Stop Suffering from Chronic Pain, Avoid Addiction to Painkillers--and Reclaim Your Life

by Mel Pohl, Katherine Ketcham

Chronic pain is not a life sentence

If you are one of the 100 million people who suffer from chronic pain, you may be feeling hopeless and helpless, relying on endless medications that don't work, feeling worse and worse. But there is hope -- and help. The innovative program at the acclaimed Las Vegas Recovery Center, at which Dr. Mel Pohl is Medical Director, has helped thousands of sufferers to reduce chronic pain without the use of painkillers. The Pain Antidote shares this program's concrete tools and strategies,

Cutting-edge research on how pain affects your brain
How your emotions affect your experience of pain
A comprehensive program, including a four-week Jump Start plan
Pain-reducing gentle exercises and health-supporting foods
And much more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2015

Reviews

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid.

Just what the title suggests.

[Fuerza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3 stars because there was legitimate, verifiable research and statistics included as well as relatable anecdotes and under-discussed topics (such as opiate induced pain hypersensitivity), but this research lens ends abruptly once they wade their way into solutions. It is telling that they dedicated half a chapter to the placebo effect, because their recommendations include 12 step programs (which research proves to be ineffective or even harmful), appropriation of ancient eastern medicine (down to saying "Namaste" and "ohm" which comes off awfully weird given neither author is of eastern descent), increasing "spirituality", acupuncture, reiki, diet (the authors wildly claim that the acid in oranges are irritating to joint membranes... nevermind that your joint membranes never come in contact with orange acid because your esophagus and stomach do all that work), mind over matter type advice and various other forms of woo. If you are looking for research based, grounded suggestions for getting your life back this book is not it. If you're ok with potentially wasting more time on likely useless methods such as claiming you have no control over your chronic illness and giving in to a "higher power", this book is your jam.

[Nancy Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book and unusual ideas about lessening pain and they work. However about 70% of the book deals with people addicted to opioids. I don’t take opioids or any pain pills so I breezed thru those sections and book gave non pharmaceutical ways to deal with pain. Better and safer ideas.

[Sam Dye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from some of the dietary recommendations (fish beef and chicken) this is a flawless insightful book. Many in-depth messages of hope and understanding for anyone dealing with addiction or those caring for them.

[Renee Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. A lot like the pain program at the Cleveland Clinic.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read.