The most recommended chronic pain books

This book helped me grasp the unconscious nature of most of our behaviours and the neuroscience behind it. This was so important to me to understand how pain is wired within us, so that you can translate that back to a patient in a way they understand it. When I learned about the neuroscientific drivers behind pain and precipitating behaviours I realised that blame was so easy to remove from the patient and clinician vocabulary when helping someone towards recover.  It made so much common sense to me and has been a great help in helping change people's perceptions and behaviours around their pain. 

I found explain pain an amazing book to help make the transition from a biomedical pursuit of pain from the clinician to one that incorporates a biopsychosocial approach to persistent pain resolution for the patient. I loved the way the technical descriptions are weaved into clinical applications and the layout makes a very complicated subject fascinating, fun, and interesting to learn more about. The physiological and neuroscientific framing helped me explain to patients confidently when challenging outdated beliefs around pain, which are often the greatest barrier to overcoming it. 

Alan Gordon is such a great communicator and his book spoke to me personally. It probably does the same for many others and his compassionate tone outlines the reasons why pain can become persistent. The same calming explanations also offer real opportunities to reverse the pain and they are all based on scientific research. This gives validation to their use and their practical application is so easy to apply by simply reading the descriptions. I felt really excited that this book in particular could start to create a push back against many years of medical dogma, and support both patients and clinicians in this emerging field of healthcare for those in persistent pain.

When I came across Georgie’s book I absolutely devoured its content. Knowing that she had spent time with Dr. John Sarno outlined how passionate she was about her work in this mind-body field. She provided me with inspiration for writing my own book and having personally connected with her, I know her book is as authentic as she is. I found the explanations helpful and easily understandable and it propelled me with so much more enthusiasm for further reading around this subject.

I read fiction but rarely find it engaging enough to finish a novel. Kissing Kosher, however, captured and kept my interest. 

As a Jew who has enjoyed these in many cities, the author's presentation of her extensive knowledge of New York City's actual Jewish delis and bakeries woven neatly into the story via its fictional main characters and their families delighted me. Some of my interest was in the characters themselves, their quirks, problems, and interactions, all very well-written. 

A major subplot is the health problem of the main character—seriously debilitating endometriosis—which the author also suffers from, so the details, while often painful to read, are specific and authentic. I imagine it's probably a relief to have her condition presented so honestly for those who do suffer. 

The recipes, references, and inclusions of those who need special diets to survive and thrive will also be welcomed by those who… show more.

I was shaken by the power of Setiya’s writing. Academic philosophers are not exactly known for the beauty of their prose, but this book is, indeed, beautiful. And sad. And a bit dark. So basically, it was exactly what I look for in a book.

I was drawn in by Setiya’s early disclosure that he lives with chronic pain and that this would be part of his window into exploring suffering. As someone who also lives with pain (and who has tried to write about it), I found his reflections powerful.

His chapter on grief, too, stayed with me, so much so that I went back to it after experiencing a loss in my life. Perhaps that’s the greatest compliment I can give this book—that it truly made philosophy matter to me when I needed it to.

Licensed Counselor Esther Smith masterfully offers an impressive Christian devotional for chronic illness sufferers that takes only a few minutes per day to read. I find myself referring back to it for strength, wisdom, and biblical insights. The chapter for each day includes a Bible verse pertaining to a topic, a faith-based discussion, reflection questions, and suggested actions.   

There is so much to love about this book: it is practical, relatable, quick and easy to read, and comforting. 

I was drawn to this meticulously written book in part because the author is a professor of pharmacy and my father is a retired pharmacist. I found myself thoroughly enjoying, underlining, and learning from the wealth of insight into living with chronic illness. The author offers excellent tips for navigating relationships, the medical field, and evaluating treatment options. 

While this book (like mine) is written for readers of all faiths, I appreciated and related to the testimony in the final chapter in which the author discusses the importance of his Christian faith and how it has helped him find meaning and purpose through suffering.   

Huber is an author and teacher whom I adore, and I am lucky enough to call friend and mentor, but her writing will make everyone fall in love with her.

Heartfelt, lyrical, brutally honest, and funny, this collection of essays will give you new insight into what it means to live in chronic pain. She writes in a way that makes illness and pain itself almost beautiful. If you want poetic writing, a compelling narrative, and an experimental approach to understanding the pain that is an inextricable part of life for some of us, this book is for you.

Joni Eareckson’s life seemed over forever when she dove into a lake and suffered a traumatic head injury, but God used her tragedy for His glory.

I first saw Joni’s story at the movie theatres in 7th grade, and since then she has become a personal hero as I saw her overcome trauma and live bravely for God. Joni was at the peak of her life—strong, attractive, athletic—when a diving accident changed everything. In the days and weeks following the accident, unable to move, Joni sank into deep depression and bitterness.

God helped Joni find new ways to live, love, and serve Him. She is one of my personal heroes, helping others with physical disability find hope and purpose in God.