The Science: Why Back Pain Persists When Tissues Heal
Here's what conventional medicine often misses: up to 85% of chronic back pain has no clear structural cause. MRIs show herniated discs in people with no pain, and show "normal" spines in people suffering intensely. The disconnect between structural findings and pain experience suggests that chronic back pain often involves the nervous system more than the tissues.
The concept is "central sensitization"—your brain and spinal cord have learned to amplify pain signals. The original injury may have healed months or years ago, but your nervous system is still sounding the alarm. This creates a feedback loop: pain triggers protective tension, tension restricts blood flow and movement, restriction perpetuates pain. Stress, fear about the pain, and frustration all feed this sensitized system.
Dr. John Sarno's groundbreaking work on "tension myoneural syndrome" (TMS) proposed that repressed emotions—particularly anger—can manifest as chronic back pain. Modern pain science has validated much of this: we now know that emotional centers in the brain directly influence pain perception. Tapping appears to work on both sides of this equation: calming the sensitized nervous system and processing the emotional components that keep it activated. Research shows Tapping can reduce cortisol by 24-43% and decrease activity in the amygdala—both directly relevant to chronic pain patterns.
The Sarno connection: Many people who've read Dr. Sarno's books but couldn't make the mind-body connection find that Tapping provides the missing link. It gives them a way to actually process the emotions that may be fueling their pain, rather than just intellectually understanding the concept.
Real Results
Joe Huff's Story
"I have had 3 major spinal surgeries. 2 of them fusions one in my neck and the other lower lumbar. The 3rd was an artificial disc. The result was failed back surgery syndrome causing me extreme chronic pain. The pain was so severe they had to install a pain pump in my left buttock and a catheter in my spine above the damaged discs."
Joe had exhausted every medical option. A pain pump delivering morphine directly to his spine was the only thing keeping his pain manageable. Then he heard about Tapping at a Pain Summit.
"Though I was skeptical I decided to give Tapping a try. After Tapping I literally felt my lower back pain leave my body. Without the pain I began a year long quest to get the pump removed. During that year they slowly decreased the amount of morphine in the pump to zero."
Joe's transformation didn't stop there. He got his wife Tapping for weight loss—she lost 35 pounds. He gave his therapist a copy of the book. Now he taps for any issue that comes up and tells everyone who will listen about how Tapping changed his life.
Sandra Schwartz's Story
"I was on the Amtrak home to NYC and my sciatica started acting up and I was in my usual 'gut' pain. I've been dealing with chronic Lyme for some time with parasitic infections as well so all this pain is pretty common place for me. I tried to take a nap but the pain was too intense."
Sandra had an NLP practice and understood the mind-body connection intellectually—but hadn't applied Tapping to herself. She pulled out Nick's book on the train, saw his inscription "Sandra Tap!!!" and decided to try it on her sciatica.
"I began to work on my sciatica...one round of Tapping...gone. Amazing!!! Then I went to work on my gut... Pain that has been constant every day since July had in a few minutes gone from an 8 to about a 2 if that. That was two days ago and the pain has not increased at all."
Even more powerful: during her Tapping, Sandra uncovered the emotional piece behind years of chronic illness—a seed planted in childhood by loving parents who didn't understand the weight of their words. Addressing that brought a permanent shift.
Donna Abram-Cioppa's Story
"As a clinician I've used Tapping with psychological trauma patients. But I've never used it myself for pain. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and have had sciatic issues for years. Today....after one day....my pain has gone from a 9 to a 1. A pain free day...for me, lol!"
It's a common pattern: practitioners who use Tapping to help others finally turn it on themselves and are amazed by the results. Donna had years of sciatic issues and osteoarthritis. One day of Tapping on her own pain—using Nick's chronic pain book—and she experienced her first pain-free day in years.
Working With Back Pain
Rate the pain: Before Tapping, note your pain level 0-10. Tap on "Even though I have this back pain..." and check the number afterward.
Get specific: Where exactly is the pain? What does it feel like—stabbing, aching, burning? Specificity helps.
Explore emotions: What does this pain make you feel? Frustrated? Scared? Hopeless? Tap on those emotions too.
Start Relieving Your Back Pain
These sessions are designed specifically for physical pain relief.
Releasing Physical Pain 15 min Tension Release 12 min