The Way Out

A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain

By: Alan Gordon, Alon Ziv

Narrated by: Alan Gordon

A groundbreaking mind-body protocol to heal chronic pain, backed by new research.

Chronic pain is an epidemic. Fifty million Americans struggle with back pain, headaches, or some other pain that resists all treatment. Desperate pain sufferers are told again and again that there is no cure for chronic pain.

Alan Gordon, a psychotherapist and the founder of the Pain Psychology Center in Los Angeles, was in grad school when he started experiencing chronic pain, and it completely derailed his life. He saw multiple doctors and received many diagnoses, but none of the medical treatments helped. Frustrated with conventional pain management, he developed Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), a mind-body protocol that eliminated his own chronic pain and has transformed the lives of thousands of his patients. PRT is rooted in neuroscience, which has shown that while chronic pain feels like it's coming from the body, in most cases it's generated by misfiring pain circuits in the brain. PRT is a system of psychological techniques that rewires the brain to break out of the cycle of chronic pain.

The University of Colorado Boulder recently conducted a large randomized controlled study on PRT, and the results are remarkable. By the end of the study, the majority of patients were pain-free or nearly pain-free. What's more, these dramatic changes held up over time. The Way Out brings PRT to listeners. It combines accessible science with a concrete, step-by-step plan to teach sufferers how to heal their own chronic pain.

©2020 Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The Way Out is a groundbreaking approach to the treatment of chronic pain that gives hope to those who were thought to be incurable. All chronic pain patients owe it to themselves to read this book. (Andrew Weil, MD, number one New York Times best-selling author of Spontaneous Healing)

“With straightforward and practical wisdom, The Way Out presents a sophisticated yet simple approach to understanding and healing chronic pain - an approach grounded in advanced science and proven clinical experience.” (Gabor Maté MD, author of When the Body Says No

"At long last, a successful treatment for chronic, disabling pain. The Way Out provides valuable information about the ailment of pain, and many helpful suggestions on how to heal." (Aaron Beck, MD, founder of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), emeritus professor of psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine)

These Methods are Already Starting to Work for Me!

I am in awe of this book and the work behind it, so much so that I believe this is my first book review. In a book that is short but so sweet, Alan Gordon lays out (clearly with the help of his knowledgeable and insightful co-author, Alon Ziv) "the process" for ending chronic pain. It's already starting to work for me, and while it takes time and effort, they make it easy. The book is an easy read, easy to understand (aided by the anecdotes that make otherwise-challenging concepts turn into aha moments), compassionate, and humorous. Net effect: a truly elegant solution to one of mankind's worst plagues: chronic pain. I first bought the Audible version, then wanted the hard copy for easy reference. Alan's voice is so soothing & encouraging, that it helps the concepts sink in. I've been using related methods (including mindfulness & meditation, an app for chronic pain, Alan's tell me about your pain podcast produced in conjunction with that app, and others) for some time, and each new approach adds help & benefit. But in my opinion, Alan Gordon's methods taught here are for me the icing on the cake, and (pending publication of his peer-reviewed study with Tor Wager, a neuroscientist specializing in pain and Dr. Howard Schubiner, a physician specializing in treating pain with mind-body methods) apparently the most successful evidence-based approach for treating chronic pain. What a great listen! If you don't want the hard copy, buying the Kindle version and then the Audible (so as to use WhisperSync), might be an awesome alternate way to get the most out of this work.

Eye opening - this is how chronic pain should be taught

As a healthcare provider myself, and a new one at that, and as one that has been dealing with a chronic pain issue for 2 years, this book is one of the most eye opening things I’ve ever heard.

If you do with unrelenting chronic pain like I have, especially those that have tried every trinket and have seen every specialist, I urge you to listen to this book. It will reshape how you think about pain and who knows it could cure yours or at least turn it down a few food notches.

Potentially life-changing book

I have suffered from chronic pain for over six years, and can already tell improvement in my pain as a result of reading this book. It is well written, well performed, and simple to follow. Alan Gordon’s voice is calm and reassuring, and I especially appreciate his sense of humor, which adds lightness to what otherwise could be a rather heavy topic. The inclusion of examples of patient experiences helps to keep the book relatable. The book’s concepts are informed by the latest scientific understanding of pain, the brain, and how pain pathways develop. The suggested steps for overcoming chronic pain that is “neuroplastic” (not due to current structural physical disorders), if followed faithfully, could prove life-changing. For anyone suffering from or attempting to treat chronic pain—patients and practitioners alike—I highly recommend this book.

game changing! after 12 years, I am out of pain!

can't say more, this approach has me pain free. great listen! it works! and it's easy to follow and learn how to stop chronic pain once and for all.

encouraging read

I found this book to be very encouraging and to have a unique approach to pain. I like the reader's voice who is the author actually he is very sympathetic. I'm still dealing with pain after having read this the second time but still hopeful and not worse. my rheumatologist said that I was doing well.

A must read for anyone suffering in chronic pain

Comforting voice of Dr. Gordon with in-depth review of chronic pain appeal to me most, let alone the case scenarios which resonate with many suffering in chronic pain. Strategies suggested might not work for everyone but certainly worth trying.

Eye-opening!

I can’t wait to dive into trying this pain reprocessing therapy! It makes so much sense and is explained clearly and with compassion.

Best book I have found on this subject

This book is fantastic and walks you through all of the things regarding how to understand and learn to self manage chronic pain. I have the audio version and it is very easy and relaxing to listen to and follow along. Definitely my favorite book so far that I have read onthis subject.

Life Changer

The information you need. I recommended this to the physicians in my family. As a psychotherapist who lived with chronic pain... this was truly my Way Out. Thank you

Excellent for anyone who suffers from chronic pain

As someone who suffers from chronic migraine, this book was so helpful. I think that most people who suffer from flares can easily get into a neuroplastic pain cycle. I loved listening to Alan Gordon patiently explain his findings about neuroplastic pain, the techniques to help alleviate this type of pain and the fear cycle, and other patients’ stories who have recovered. It was very much like listening to a therapist and I know that I’ll go back to certain sections for repeated listening. Highly recommend to all those who struggle with pain of any kind.