This compassionate investigation into the multiple factors leading to pain disorders and the conditions associated with them should be required reading for health-care providers, patients with chronic pain and their families. According to neurologist Fors, patients with such disorders, from back pain and arthritis to chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, frequently experience allergies, headaches, digestive problems, anxiety and depression, leading many physicians to equate "chronic pain" with "chronic patient" rather than hunt for a constellation of cause and effect. Fors identifies primary culprits: the typical American diet, laden with sugar and saturated fats and low on nutrient-dense whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish; anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS); environmental toxins; and physical and psychological stress. By making positive lifestyle changes, Fors says, even patients who are suffering most severely will decrease their pain enough to then release neuromyofascial lesions (NMLs, or pain-causing trigger points) that have formed in the fascia (connective tissue) that encases muscle tissue and connects muscles to the rest of the body. In an extensive section on self-care, Fors instructs readers on how to manipulate NMLs; subsections with diagrams map trigger-point locations in specific areas of the body.

A board-certified chiropractic neurologist who has himself overcome disabling back pain, Fors offers a guide for those wanting relief from pain in various parts of their body, e.g., the back, the shoulder, the neck. He explains how the nervous system produces pain, the reasons for any resulting inflammation, and the role of diet and environmental pollution in disease. Certified in applied herbal sciences and with a degree in acupuncture, Fors prefers a drugless approach to treating pain. He emphasizes deep-tissue massage at certain trigger points and a diet of unrefined natural foods. He also recommends high doses of vitamins and minerals, some herbal supplements, and probiotics. An exploration of Buddhism-based spiritual practices completes his holistic approach.-Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Finally! A holistic, comprehensive book that not only understands pain but shows you what to do to alleviate it. Dr. Fors sets out a thorough program--physical, nutritional and spiritual--that guides the reader through the layers of healing. Why We Hurt is a godsend to all of us who have suffered with chronic pain. This book should be on the shelf of every massage therapist in the country and in the hands of all their clients.

"Dr. Fors' book, "Why We Hurt" is the most detailed, thoroughly peer-reviewed and evidenced-based guide for understanding the biochemical, physical and spiritual roles in sickness and in health available to date. It is written for both the practitioner and the "walking wounded," providing information addressing the cause and treatment of chronic pain in its many forms. I whole-heartedly recommend it!"

"Why We Hurt" is an excellent, well-organized and understandable complete guide to a science-based natural approach to chronic pain. It inspires people not to just seek pain relief, but to heal their pain. It is not only an excellent self-help book for anyone who suffers from chronic pain, but a primary reference guide for the health care professional for understanding and treating the neurological and metabolic causes of chronic pain. "Why We Hurt" certainly has my heartiest recommendation."