Resources

Provided below are links to lists of books, articles, CDs, and websites that I've come across during my personal healing journey that you may also find helpful. These are not intended to be comprehensive lists; they are simply tools that I have found helpful thus far.

These lists will be updated as I find new sources. Check back again for new information.

You're also welcome to suggest additional books and websites for this list via the contact page.

UPDATE: The documentary Heal (2017) is an wonderfully informative movie about mindbody healing.

Note: I receive no compensation for recommending any of these resources.

Resources

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF MYOFASCIAL PAIN:

Books I Found Very Helpful in Understanding Myofascial Pain (in order of usefulness to my healing journey):

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by Devin J. Starlanyl, MD and Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, MA (2001)
The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief by Clair Davies and Amber Davies, Third Edition (2013)
Comprehensive Myofascial Self Treatment—your path to authentic healing and pain relief by Joyce Karnis Patterson, PT (2014)

Books I'm Interested in Reading (in alphabetical order by author):

Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Volume 1, The Upper Half of the Body by David G. Simons, MD, Janet G. Travell, MD, Lois S. Simons, PT and Barbara D. Cummings [illustrations] (1998) {This is a textbook that I haven't read, but it is considered seminal work in understanding myofascial pain and is referenced in many of the other sources listed throughout this website.}
Healing Through Trigger Point Therapy: A Guide to Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction by Devin J. Starlanyl and John Sharkey (2013) {I haven't read this yet, but found Dr. Starlanyl's earlier book immensely helpful.}
Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Volume 2, The Lower Extremities by Janet G. Travell, MD and David G. Simons, MD (1992) {This is a textbook that I haven't read, but it is considered seminal work in understanding myofascial pain and is referenced in many of the other sources listed throughout this website.}

Scientific Articles (in alphabetical order by author):

Argoff CE, MD; H Smith, MD; and RW Evans, MD, 2012. "Myofascial pain syndrome" MedLink Neurology, October 23.
Finley JE, MD, 2017. "Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Myofascial Pain" MedScape, May 21.
Fleckenstein J, et al., 2010. "Discrepancy between prevalence and perceived effectiveness of treatment methods in myofascial pain syndrome: Results of a cross-sectional, nationwide survey" BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 11:32.
Graff-Radford SB, 2004. "Myofascial pain: diagnosis and management" Current Pain Headache Reports, December, 8(6):463-7.
Simons DG, 1988. “Myofascial pain syndromes: where are we? Where are we going?” Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 69:207-12.
Vidor LP, et al., 2014. "Association of anxiety with intracortical inhibition and descending pain modulation in chronic myofascial pain syndrome" BMC Neuroscience, 15:42.

Resources

MIND-BODY EXPLANATION OF CHRONIC PAIN:

(These books aren't exclusive to myofascial pain syndrome; they address many types of chronic pain.)

Books I've Found To Be Very Helpful and Informative (in alphabetical order by author):

Healing Ancient Wounds: The Renegade's Wisdom by John F. Barnes, PT (2000)
Pain Free for Life: The 6-Week Cure for Chronic Pain—Without Surgery or Drugs by Scott Brady, MD and William Proctor (2006)
Freedom from Pain: Discover Your Body’s Power to Overcome Physical Pain by Peter A. Levine and Maggie Phillips (2012)
The Great Pain Deception: Faulty Medical Advice is Making Us Worse by Steven Ray Ozanich (2011)
Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself by Lissa Rankin, MD (2014)
The Meaning of Truth: embrace your truth. create your life by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW (2016)
The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders by John E. Sarno, MD (2007)
The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by John E. Sarno, MD (1999)
Unlearn Your Pain: A 28-Day Process to Reprogram Your Brain (Third edition) by Howard Schubiner, MD, Michael Betzhold, and Eric Keller (2012)

Books I'm Interested in Reading (in alphabetical order by author):

Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by Celeste Cooper, RN and Jeffrey Miller, PhD (2010)
The Encyclopedia of Mind, Body, Spirit: The Ultimate Guide to Healing Therapies, Esoteric Wisdom, and Spiritual Traditions by Judy Hall (Editor), David Peters David (Editor), and William Bloom (Editor) (2009)
The Placebo Response and the Power of Unconscious Healing by Richard Kradin (2008)

Resources

TRAUMA AND PAIN:

Books I've Found To Be Extremely Informative (in alphabetical order by author):

Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Working with Traumatic Memory by Peter A. Levine, PhD (2015)
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine and Ann Frederick (1997)
Freedom from Pain: Discover Your Body’s Power to Overcome Physical Pain by Peter A. Levine and Maggie Phillips (2012)
The Body Bears the Burden: Trauma, Dissociation, and Disease, 3rd Edition by Robert Scaer (2014)
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk (2014)

Books I'm Interested in Reading (in alphabetical order by author):

Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body by Peter A. Levine, PhD (2008)
In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter A. Levine, PhD (2010)
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment by Babette Rothschild (2000)
8 Keys to Brain-Body Balance by Robert Scaer (2012)
The Trauma Spectrum: Hidden Wounds and Human Resiliency by Robert Scaer (2005)

Scientific Articles (in reverse chronological order; recent years without studies only indicate that this list is still being updated):

Ho, GWK, T Kazatzias, F Vallières, et al., 2021. "Complex PTSD symptoms mediate the association between childhood trauma and physical health problems" Journal of Psychosomatic Research. Vol. 142, March. Elsevier.
Walton, DM, P Tremblay, W Seo, et al., 2021. "Effects of Childhood Trauma on Pain‐related Distress in Adults" Journal of Pain. July. Wiley Online Library.
Noteboom, A, M Ten Have, R de Graaf, et al., 2021. "The long-lasting impact of childhood trauma on adult chronic physical disorders" Journal of Psychiatric Research. Vol 136, pp. 87-94. April. Elsevier.
Starcevic, B, 2020. "Chronic Stress and Chronic Pain: Disability After Trauma and Global Trends" Management: Solutions for Avoiding Prescription Drug Overuse. igi-global.com.
Beal, SJ, S Kashikar-Zuck, C King, et al., 2020. Heightened risk for pain in young adult women with a history of childhood maltreatment: a prospective longitudinal study Pain, 161(1), pp. 156-165. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Fishbain, DA, A Pulikal, JE Lewis, and J Gao, 2017. "Chronic pain types differ in their reported prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and there is consistent evidence that chronic pain is associated with PTSD: an evidence-based structured systematic review" Pain Med 18(4):711–735.
Siqveland J, A Hussain, JC Lindstrøm, T Ruud, E Hauff, 2017. "Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in persons with chronic pain: a meta-analysis" Front Psychiatry 8:164.
Drehstuhl MJ, C Tarquinio, and SR Montel, 2014. "Chronic Pain and PTSD: Evolving Views on Their Comorbidity" Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 51(4), December.
De Bellis MD and A Zisk, 2014. "The Biological Effects of Childhood Trauma" Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America: Disaster and Trauma, April, Vol 23, Issue 2, pp 185-222. Elsevier.
Afari N, et al., 2014. "Psychological Trauma and Functional Somatic Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis" Psychosomatic Medicine Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine, January, Vol 76, No 1, pp 2-11.
Kempke S, et al., 2013: "The prevalence and impact of early childhood trauma in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" Journal of Psychiatric Research, May, 47(5), pp 664-9. Elsevier. Epub 2013 Feb 16.
Beard DJ and D Aldington, 2012. "Chronic Pain after Trauma" Trauma, January, Vol 14, No 1, pp 57-66.
Kerns, RD, 2011. "Trauma and chronic pain: transforming healthcare delivery to provide patient-centered and integrative care" Pain. Vol. 152, Issue 10, pp. 2196-2197. journals.lww.com.
Beck JG and JD Clapp, 2011. "A different kind of co-morbidity: Understanding postraumatic stress disorder and chronic pain" Psychol Trauma June, 3(2): 101-108.
Wuest J, M Ford-Gilboe, and M Merritt-Gray, 2010. "Pathways of chronic pain in survivors of intimate partner violence." Journal of Women's Health, September, Vol 19, No. 9. Leibert Publishers.
Sullivan MJ, P Thibault, MJ Simmonds, M Milioto, AP Cantin, AM Velly, 2009. "Pain, perceived injustice and the persistence of post-traumatic stress symptoms during the course of rehabilitation for whiplash injuries" Pain 145(3):325–331.
Katz, J and Z Seltzer, 2009. "Transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain: risk factors and protective factors" Expert Review Neurotherapeutics, May, 9(5), pp 723-44.
Casey CY, et al., 2008. "Transition from acute to chronic pain and disability: A model including cognitive, affective, and trauma factors" Pain, January, Vol 134, Issues 1-2, pp 69-79.
Sachs-Ericsson N, K Kendall-Tackett, and A Hernandez, 2007. "Childhood abuse, chronic pain, and depression in the National Comorbidity Survey" Child Abuse and Neglect, May, Vol 31, Issue 5, pp 531-547. Elsevier.
Sansone RA et al., 2006. "Childhood Trauma, Borderline Personality Symptomatology, and Psychophysiological and Pain Disorders in Adulthood" Psychosomatics, March-April, Vol 47, Issue 2, pp 158-162. Elsevier.
Curran, N and B Brandner, 2005. "Chronic Pain Following Trauma" Trauma, July, Vol 7, No 3, pp 123-131.
Davis, DA, LJ Luecken, and AJ Zautra, 2005. "Are reports of childhood abuse related to the experience of chronic pain in adulthood? A meta-analytic review of the literature" The Clinical Journal of Pain, 21(5), 398–405.
Kendall-Tackett K, R Marshall, and K Ness, 2003. "Chronic Pain Syndromes and Violence Against Women" Woman and Therapy, May, Vol 26(1-2), pp 45-56.
Macrae WA, 2001. "Chronic Pain After Surgery" British Journal of Anaesthesia, 87(1):88-89.
Goldberg RT and R Goldstein, 2000. "A comparison of chronic pain patients and controls on traumatic events in childhood" Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol 22, No 17, pp 756-763.
Walker EA, et al., 1999. "Adult health status of women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect" The American Journal of Medicine, October, Vol 107, Issue 4, pp 332-339. Elsevier.
Goldberg RT, WN Pachas, and D Keith, 1999. "Relationship between traumatic events in childhood and chronic pain" Disability and Rehabilitation, January, Vol 21, No 1, pp 23-30.
Crombie IK, HTO Davies, and WA Macrae, 1998. "Cut and Thrust: Antecedent Surgery and Trauma among Patients Attending a Chronic Pain Clinic" Pain, May, Vol 76, Issues 1-2, pp 167-171.
Goldberg RT, 1995. "Childhood Abuse, Depression, and Chronic Pain" Clinical Journal of Pain, January, Vol 10, Issue 4, pp 277-81.
Schofferman J, et al., 1993. "Childhood Psychological Trauma and Chronic Refractory Low-Back Pain" The Clinical Journal of Pain, December, Vol 9, Issue 4. Lippincott-Raven.
Walker EA, et al., 1993. "Histories of sexual victimization in patients with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease" The American Journal of Psychiatry, October, Vol 150, Issue 10, pp 1502-6.
Wurtele SK, GM Kaplan, and M Keairnes, 1990. "Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Chronic Pain Patients" Clinical Journal of Pain, June, Vol 6, Issue 2, pp 110-3. Lippincott-Raven.

Note, this list is not intended to be a comprehensive list, but it is a good start.

Resources

WEBSITES OF INTEREST:

Links to Websites and Online Articles of Interest:

The Trauma-Pain Connection—The Path to Recovery and Growth - Women in Pain 11th Annual Conference. November 17, 2023.
Outsmarting Chronic Pain - The World as You'll Know It Podcast, September 6, 2022.
The Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) Wiki- Numerous resources and forums for pain sufferers
- The Mindbody Syndrome (TMS) Pain Recovery Program – A recovery program presented by Alan Gordon, LCSW, Director of the Pain Psychology Center that helps alleviate pain for chronic pain patients.
- TMS Forum – Discussion forums for people healing or hoping to heal from chronic pain via mindbody work as pioneered by Dr. John E. Sarno.
- Structured Educational Program – A six-week program of steps people who have or have had TMS have used to get better.
Psychophysiological Disorders Association - Information and links to practitioners of psychophysiological pain (aka, mindbody pain, psychogenic pain, etc)
Dr. John Sarno: Healing Back Pain – Official website for the Mindbody Prescription.
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute – Discover Somatic Experiencing, training, and find a practitioner.
The John F. Barnes Myofascial Release Approach – Official website. Information, find a therapist, discover treatments.
The Great Pain Deception – Official website of Steven Ray Ozanich, with resources list.
Mary Ruth Velicki, MS, DPT – Official website. Meditations and healing resources.
Dr. Howard Schubiner’s Mind Body Program – Understanding Mind Body Syndrome and Tension Myositis Syndrome.
Scott Brady, M.D. – Board-Certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Brady is a frequent guest speaker on topics including Fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, and mind-body-spirit medicine.
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine – Find providers, services, and classes.
A counselor's journey to healing from chronic pain by Douglas Guiffrida. Counseling Today, A Publication of the American Counseling Association. July 8, 2020.
Hope Instilled - An oasis from the darkness of pain.
Understanding Pain in less than five minutes by Brainman (Youtube channel). October 2, 2014.
Can Chronic Pain Be Relieved by Releasing Difficult Emotions? by Nicole Lane. Medtruth, Patient Stories, February 27, 2020.
To cure my chronic pain, I had to learn about the links between mind and body by Hannah Millington. The Guardian. July 1, 2019.
Can Trauma Really Be 'Stored' In The Body? by Stephanie Eckelkamp, Mindbodygreen Health, October 9, 2019
Heal Documentary - Official Trailer, uploaded to YouTube September 14, 2017.
Most CPTSD Treatments Don't Work. Here's What Does by Crappy Childhood Fairy blog, published August 27, 2018 - "Therapy and medication are by far the most widely used approaches to treated Childhood PTSD (also known as Complex PTSD or Developmental Trauma). But do they work?" This is one of 32 videos from her online video course: "Healing Childhood PTSD."
Fascia & The Mystery of Chronic Pain - LIFE TALK presentation by Dana Sterling published February 20, 2018.
Stress: It’s Not in Your Head, it’s in Your Nervous System by Melody Walford, July 28, 2017.
The Secret Life of Fascia - Official Trailer by Bruce Schonfeld, uploaded July 21, 2019.
Adhesed Fascia is a Living Breathing Nightmare - Thorocolumbar Fascia Videos by Dr. Russell Schierling. May 22, 2013.
Fascia Transmits Messages Acting As Second Nervous System - by Dr. Russell Schierling. July 12, 2012.
Fascia Proprioception, and Chronic Pain - Fascia as a Proprioceptive Organ and Its Relationship to Chronic Pain by Dr. Russell Schierling. July 8, 2017.
Trauma Recovery Clinic: Trauma in the Body; Pain Conditions; Myofascial Pain Syndrome – A trauma treatment facility describes links between trauma and pain.
Exploring Pain: A Mind-Body Approach – A mind-body medicine webinar presented by Matt Erb, PT (May 30, 2018); part of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine's Mind-Body Medicine Webinar series.
World Health: The misunderstanding of trauma by society and the medical industry – YouTube video of Dr. Gabor Mater, Addiction Specialist (November 24, 2016).
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – Ted talk by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris at TEDMED 2014 (September 2014).
Feng Shui Of The Soul: The Mind-Body Practice That Can Heal You From Past Trauma – By Laura Probert (June 29, 2017); discusses therapeutic journaling to help us heal.
What is Muscle Fascia? 5 Crucial Benefits of Fascial Release – By Christiane Northrup, MD; this description matches my experience.
Freedom from Chronic Pain with Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW – Videos based on Nicole Sach's personal experience, her clinical practice, and Dr. John Sarno's mindbody work to relieve chronic pain.
Fascia: A Hidden Piece of the Puzzle of Fibromyalgia Pain – By Ginevra Liptan, MD (August 30, 2016); this is very similar to my experience with chronic myofascial pain syndrome.
Pain – This Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications site includes pain articles such as:
- The healing power of touch
- Ease your pain by controlling your mind
- Treating pain with your brain
- Opioid drugs may not help with long-term low-back pain.
Tai chi may be as good as physical therapy for arthritis-related knee pain – The Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications Harvard Health Blog (June 15, 2016) reports that Tai Chi “can help treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia (among others).”
Mind over back pain – By Ronald D Siegel, PsyD, Harvard Health Publications (May 4, 2016); "...most chronic back pain isn’t actually the result of illness or injury. Study after study indicates instead that back pain is very often caused by our thoughts, feelings, and resulting behaviors."
27 Treatments for Neck Pain: Live Patient Study– Discover treatments ranging from medication to physical therapy, rated by the patients in the study.
Fascia Magnified 25X (subtitled) – Observe the fascia web that makes up your muscles.
Rethinking the Placebo Effect – Understanding the physiological effects of loneliness, optimism, and meditation.
Understanding Your Fascia – Is fascia trauma the missing piece in your recovery?
The Top 5 Ways Fascia Matters to Athletes – Understanding your body’s architecture.
A Body Part You Never Knew You Had Could Be Making You Miserable – Specific problems in the fascia and how to fix them.
How I Healed My Chronic Back Pain (Naturally!) – Using mindfulness to heal pain.
How Goldie's meditation therapy could help you beat chronic pain: The first in a three part series about the healing power of your own mind – Finding relief from chronic pain without powerful medication.
Drug-Free Remedies for Chronic Pain – How to create new nerve pathways in the brain and find relief from chronic pain.
10 Mind-Body Practices for Living with Less Pain – Daily habits to create for pain relief.
Dealing with Chronic Pain: The Mind Body Solution – The advantages of understanding how the brain controls the perception of pain.
Pain Management Health Center – WebMD articles and studies on pain management.

Please feel free to provide comments or suggestions via the contact page.

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Resources

Resources

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF MYOFASCIAL PAIN:

Resources

MIND-BODY EXPLANATION OF CHRONIC PAIN:

Resources

HEALING RESOURCES AND PERSONAL STORIES:

Resources

TRAUMA AND PAIN:

Resources

WEBSITES OF INTEREST:

HEALING FROM CHRONIC MYOFASCIAL PAIN

Support for Chronic Pain Sufferers

Resources

Resources

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF MYOFASCIAL PAIN:

Resources

MIND-BODY EXPLANATION OF CHRONIC PAIN:

Resources

HEALING RESOURCES AND PERSONAL STORIES:

Resources

TRAUMA AND PAIN:

Resources

WEBSITES OF INTEREST:

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