John E. Sarno (1923-) is Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, and attending physician at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center. He graduated from The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1950. In 1965 he became the Director of the Outpatient Department at the Rusk Institute. He is also the originator of the diagnosis of  tension myositis syndrome (TMS) and author of  “Healing Back Pain – the mind body connection”.

According to Sarno, TMS is a condition in which emotional stress causes physical pain and other symptoms. His theory suggests that the autonomic nervous system decreases blood flow to muscles, nerves or tendons, resulting in oxygen deprivation, experienced as pain and tension in the affected tissues. Sarno theorizes that because patients often report that back pain seems to move around, up and down the spine, or from side to side, that this implies the pain may not be caused by a physical deformity or injury.

Sarno states that the underlying cause of the pain is the mind’s defense mechanism against unconscious mental stress and emotions such as anger, anxiety and narcissistic rage. The conscious mind is distracted by the physical pain, as the psychological repression process keeps the anger/rage contained in the unconscious and thereby prevented from entering conscious awareness. Sarno believes that when patients recognize that the symptoms are only a distraction, the symptoms then serve no purpose, and they go away. TMS can be considered a psychosomatic condition and has been referred to as a “distraction pain syndrome”.

Watch this short ABC news story on Dr Sarno and his treatment of back pain.

Gary’s Comment: I have personally experienced excruciating back pain that comes and goes with good and bad days to the point that I couldn’t stand. My diagnosis was Spondylosis a degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) condition of the spinal vertebra and related tissue. As an alternative medicine practitioner myself I tried chiropractor, nutrition, herbs, magnets, massage and yoga – all gave me some relief however the pain always returned.

Since reading the book Healing Back Pain and learning that the pain is caused by stress and psychological factors and not something physically wrong with my back I have been completely pain free – without any drugs or surgery, that was three years ago now.