Reddit mentions: The best books about chronic pain

What does your therapist say about continuing amitriptylline till you're doing better pain-wise? Also discuss the dose and understand the side effects. Usually by the time you get to 50mg at bedtime the pain is improved, but you need to discuss the appropriateness of that with your therapist or PCP. What does he/she say about adding relaxation techniques to the counseling? In the long run, meditation, exercise, progressive relaxation, music, positive social engagement, etc. seems like a better option than medications (or at least a good adjunct if they remain necessary).

At this point the dental part of TMJ syndrome seems less immediate than the psychological part. Check out this book: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/newsroom/articles/2016/opioid-free-pain-relief-kit-10-simple-steps.html. it comes with a relaxation CD and you can get it used on Amazon.

This book also looks good (have ordered it but haven't read it yet). It sounds like it's the chronic pain reduction guide from the American Psychiatric Association: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1591470498/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=

Totally agree here. I went through a workbook with my therapist that explains the concepts and gives examples of the strategies. Ultimately, it takes a lot of time and practice to even recognize when you're in a negative thought pattern, never mind correcting it. Even knowing that some of these mental processes that seem overwhelming have names (i.e. catastrophizing) was really helpful to me.

For me I think reframing it in a way that makes sense to me works the best. I think of myself as a rational person. So when I make sweeping negative statements about myself that I wouldn't apply to someone I love, I ask myself, is that a rational thought? It's not. And because that does not align with my view of myself as a rational person, that makes it easier to reject. I also keep a pain/symptom journal so that when I start catastrophizing that "I'll never feel better again" I have an objective measure of my pain level and can point to recent times where I felt better and was able to do more.

I have found cognitive behavioral therapy to be useful as well as meditation. Even if you can't see a therapist there are many books out there you can use on your own to help change your attitude about your pain. I personally found this one to be useful: http://www.amazon.com/The-Pain-Survival-Guide-Lifetools/dp/1591470498/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=08R0P50K8M3THZN2BBWM

Also, you may like to look at this, I have heard excellent things from people with Fibro - and it has very high reveiws

https://www.amazon.com/You-Pain-Free-Break-Chronic-ebook/dp/B01N6Q1ZM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505845242&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+kuttner+pain#customerReviews

I recommend pretty much anything by Jon Kabat Zinn. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn

If it's for pain I recommend this: https://www.amazon.ca/Mindfulness-Solution-Pain-Step-Step/dp/1572245816

The first one I read was recommended by one of my old physical therapists. You can find it here:

https://www.amazon.com/Brains-Way-Healing-Discoveries-Neuroplasticity/dp/014312837X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=AZB55NFKREYDC1KQXW79

From there, I did some research, and found that one of the authors from the above book also has a workbook. If I had to chose between one or the other, I would have only purchased the workbook. You can find the workbook here:

https://www.amazon.com/Neuroplastic-Transformation-Workbook-Michael-Moskowitz/dp/0615814654/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510251175&sr=8-1&keywords=your+brain+on+pain

It seriously changed my life. It looks like the price has gone up a significant amount since I purchased it a year or so ago. Maybe you can find it for cheaper? I think it was around $45 when I bought it which seemed like a lot... until I thought of the thousands of dollars I had paid for all my medical crap.

My therapist has a book on techniques for managing chronic pain. Here it is. There's a section on mantras/relaxation techniques and how to condition your body to go into a state of relaxation when you hear a certain sound or phrase. Haven't tried it yet but the theory behind it seems solid.

Ah, MIL needs to understand how seriously stress affects - sorry if she already does - but I mean its going to be key to you doing better ... maybe she got illness herself (mentally)

I dont know how sometimes things really get me and sometimes not.

Btw, have a look at this book - it has INSANE positive reviews, it seems little known. I'm reading through now and its eye-opening. Intense, but eye-opening. Check the reviews on it... It's intense and not easy, but it seems like the real deal, I'm only small way in. - I got a book version

https://www.amazon.com/You-Pain-Free-Break-Chronic-ebook/dp/B01N6Q1ZM0

Me too, go into burning hell.

I'm leaving this board anyway. Thanks for your words. Had enough bad experiences and triggered into more pain with ppl here than any benefit it offers.

Here are some:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2013/using-mindfulness-to-approach-chronic-pain/
http://www.bemindful.org/kabatzinnart.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Solution-Pain-Step-Step/dp/1572245816
http://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Meditation-Pain-Relief-Reclaiming/dp/1591797403

My only reservation with this technique is that part of me doesn't want to accept that I just have to accept the pain for now, as I still want to find a 'cure'. With my particular problem (degenerative disc disease) there are 2 components: mechanical pain and central sensitisation. The mechanical pain comes from my bones and muscles and tendons not working properly and getting tight/weak/obnoxious. The central sensitisation (where the brain changes in response to long term pain, making the pain more severe, spreading the area of pain and causing pain to normal touch and non painful stimuli) is the part that I feel can respond to things like mindfulness. At the same time I can continue to have physiotherapy and do pilates, etc to work out the issues with the mechanical component.
tl;dr: just because you're still looking/hoping/working for a cure or effective treatment doesn't mean you can't 'wind down' the emotional aspects of pain and try to calm your brain down so you can study!