Total Recovery

Solving the Mystery of Chronic Pain and Depression

By: Gary Kaplan D.O. D.O., Donna Beech

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

About 100 million Americans live with some form of chronic pain—more than the combined number who suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But chronic pain has always been a mystery. It often returns at the slightest provocation, even when doctors can't find anything wrong. Oddly enough, whether the pain is physical or emotional, traumatic or slight, our brains register all pain as the same thing, and these signals can keep firing in the nervous system for months, even years.

In Total Recovery, Dr. Gary Kaplan argues that we've been thinking about disease all wrong. Drawing on dramatic patient stories and cutting-edge research, the book reveals that chronic physical and emotional pain are two sides of the same coin. New discoveries show that disease is not the result of a single event but an accumulation of traumas. Every injury, every infection, every toxin, and every emotional blow generates the same reaction: inflammation, activated by tiny cells in the brain, called microglia. Turned on too often from too many assaults, it can have a devastating cumulative effect.
Conventional treatment for these conditions is focused on symptoms, not causes, and can leave patients locked into a lifetime of pain and suffering. Dr. Kaplan's unified theory of chronic pain and depression helps us understand not only the cause of these conditions but also the issues we must address to create a pathway to healing. With this revolutionary new framework in place, we have been given the keys to recover.

was helpful in my quest

I was encouraged as to how and what i can do next in trying to do what's best and who can help me that I haven't tried yet. also, where I can find applicable information.

Complete

Fascinating, intriguing, and knowledgeable are all words that describe this fantastic book. Gives another view of chronic pain and depression.

Incredible book! terrible choice of reader.

This book will TOTALLY change your life if you suffer from Chronic pain, mental illness, Lyme Disease or Lyme Syndrome, Diabetes, Cancer... hell just about any disease. The Narrator is a really poor choice for this book though. He mispronounces important words like Micro-Glia and he's just way to dramatic in his inflection but what can you do. I am DEFINITELY glad I listened to this EXTREMELY GLAD!

Different-Thinking Doctor

What made the experience of listening to Total Recovery the most enjoyable?

The thing I like most about this book is the way this man thinks. I've spent 14 years in pain, but aside from the first doctor I had (who was new), nobody ever asked any questions. I would walk into the room, I'd describe what was going on, and they'd give a quick solution without ever fully listening to me. But nothing has ever fixed it. This man is very different than a lot of physicians. Even though those doctors may want you well, they don't seek out answers. Of course, I guess insurance doesn't pay for researching for answers!

What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?

The narrator had a nice, smooth voice. The reading had nice timing and emphasis.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of my favorite quotes (which I won't quote correctly, I'm sure) went something like, "They (the doctors) didn't seem to be asking the right questions, if they were asking any questions at all." Oh boy, do I live this.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this and downloaded the Kindle version as well. If you're in a lot of pain like me, holding and reading a book is nearly impossible. Audio alone is also difficult. But with the kindle (on an iPad), you can see/hear the text at the same time. It sticks in your mind that way. You can Airplay it up on AppleTV if you have that. Very nice!

I can’t

I really wanted to like this book. I love the subject/content but I just can’t listen to this narrator.
I’ll just read the book myself.