Painful Yarns: Metaphors and Stories to Help Understand the Biology of Pain

by G. Lorimer Moseley

Painful Yarns, written by Dr. Lorimer Moseley, is a compilation of hilarious stories and images intended to help explain the complexity of pain. These stories, while entertaining, are used as metaphors to explain key aspects of the biology of pain. Painful Yarns is a perfect pre-read for Explain Pain.
Written by Dr. G. Lorimer Moseley, PhD. Illustrated. Softcover; 112 pages. Published 2023-02-03

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Science, Psychology

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2007

About the author

Professor Lorimer Moseley is a clinical scientist investigating pain in humans. Lorimer joined NeuRA from The University of Oxford, UK, where he was Nuffield Medical Research Fellow in the Pain group, Department of Clinical Neurology, and Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics. In 2011, Lorimer was also appointed Professor of Neuroscience and Chair in Physiotherapy, The Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia.

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorimer Moseley, love to you! (1)
You did it! You got inside my head, but not like an ant. (2)
Page 78, I literally laughed my head off. (3)

The one sentence take home message: READ THIS BOOK! Even if you are totally pain free, READ THIS BOOK!
____________________________________________________________
Footnotes
(1) You know that scene in Jerry Maguire? Well, you had me at space food sticks.
(2) I have to thank Professor John Booth, my former neighbour and founder of RehWork, for recently planting the pain science seed in my head. I am forever grateful :)
(3) OK I didn't really laugh off my head, that would've cured my neck pain permanently. The laugh I got from the ant story made me forget about my pain AND my neck still feels pretty good. Laughed so hard I was snorting, that caused me to laugh at my snorting, which in turn led to me taking a sip of water to calm myself down but at that very moment I thought about the story again and snorted water into my mouth and out through my nostrils. Laughter therapy, the wonder drug! (4)

(4) This would've been funnier if I was reading the book in the quiet carriage of a public train :)

[Jen Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a highly readable introduction to modern thinking about pain science. Pain doesn't always accurately reflect what is going on in the tissues. Pain is an important message from our body, but sometimes we can get caught up in a feedback loop that says more about our expectations of pain than actual tissue damage. This book uses humor and anecdotes to explain pain in a way that can help you understand and manage yours more effectively.

[Anna Knops · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behulpzaam in het begrijpen van centrale sensitisatie bij chronische pijn. Waardevolle inzichten opgedaan

[James Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moseley has a very colloquial, and recognisably Australian style in his vernacular. That can obscure some of the messaging, as well as accessibility for non-Aussies (i.e. most people reading this). Arguably the talks of his on YouTube share some of the same humorous anecdotes and analogies in as memorable a way ... But the short, clear, and impactful analysis in this v short book is worth the time investment.
I haven't yet found any books as effective as this, or his (in a way) companion book to this, the absolutely indispensable 'Explain Pain'. Taken together, they are the clearest explanations of the biopsychosocial model, and help sufferers (as well as family members, friends, and clinicians) to understand bodily sensations, and the associated brain processes.

[Claire Swain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I understand what the author is trying to say in regards of explaining pain. The stories he uses are good, however I don't think the author really understands what being in severe chronic pain is actually like. I am glad the author is stating the pain is real no matter the cause but its quite obvious he only understands from a limited experience of pain and only from a text book point of view; this is why I have only gave the book 3 stars.

[Caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I deal with a lot of people in pain. I often want better ways to explain the complexity of pain to the patient as I know that the feelings, thoughts, perceptions of the meaning of the pain does impact the outcome a lot. I already started Explain Pain Supercharged but figured this would be a good primer to read before finishing them much denser book. Great quick read. Great references. Will probably revisit this book later.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason why this gem doesn’t get 5 stars is because in the end, I felt that it was incomplete. The stories are great, some of them the laugh-out-loud kind, which is impressive in a book about chronic pain. I wish that the author delved more into his extensive knowledge of the biology of pain. Hopefully any subsequent editions will take care of this.

[Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great short read. Lorimer Moseley is an exceptional story-teller, and has found a calling using stories to help patients and clinicians alike understand the neurobiology of pain. The reader will be simultaneously informed and entertained.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of analog-stories are an awesome way to explain the neurobiology of pain. But besides that, they're really engaging stories anyway. Highly recommended for anyone managing chronic pain.

[Angela Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful. I do wish it were better edited and formatted, but that's also my job so I am picky. But the stories are fun and it is really interesting to see how each story relates to understanding how physical pain works in the body.

[Annie Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful Yarns by Moseley is full of helpful analogies but has some rough language. It illustrates some concepts in Explain Pain by Butler and Moseley.

[Maggie]

2018 read harder challenge: A book with a cover you hate

[Diyora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for anyone with hypochondria or anyone wanting to understand the simple biology behind pain

[David Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. Uses analogies really well to explain complex ideas very simply. Very insightful, would recommend to anyone.

[Courtney Grover · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read to learn about the psychology of pain in a completely understandable way!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for clinicians and patients alike. A really fun read and a great compliment on the journey of understanding pain.

[Jake Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! I loved the analogies and complex neuroscience being boiled down into more simple stories! Excellent resource

[Trent Stensrud · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. Great for patients and clinicians alike! Super funny and a quick read

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at bedtime and my wife was always wondering what I was laughing about if I was supposedly reading a book about pain! I have actually never read a book like it. Lorimer Mosley is an incredibly bright researcher, scientist, medical professional, hitch hiker and now a comedian. If you have persistent pain get a hold of 'painful yarns'. Mosley has the knack of using stories and metaphors to help you understand the biology of pain. And you can have a lot of fun reading it along the way. What he says throughout the book about why some of us hurt longer than other people makes great sense. Seriously, I did not want the book to end as it was making really sensible easy-to-understand insights and I found it highly amusing for. I now look forward to reading his other book Explain Pain. (less)

[Cassandra Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book that explains the basic concepts regarding the pain experience. This book could interest anyone, not just people who experience chronic pain. As for the above comments that note no solutions are provided by the author - this is because everyone's pain experience is different, i.e. the reason why people experience pain is highly individual, although influenced by common biological principles as explored in this book. A solution cannot be given because the solution is different for each individual person.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for understanding how we experience pain. His stories are engaging and help translate some of the biology, but he offers no solutions!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for examples of pain for patients. It's meant for patients to read. I think it will be a good resource.

[Brian Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a really good view on how to understand pain.