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It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life
Transform your everyday life by reducing and eliminating chronic pain with the latest science-backed pain relief techniques and expert practical advice from America’s bestselling doctor and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta.
Are you one of the 52 million people who experience chronic pain in your day-to-day life? In It Doesn’t Have to Hurt, Sanjay Gupta makes the empowering argument that there are effective options for relief that you can start practicing today to greatly reduce your chances of suffering pain tomorrow.
The significance of reducing and even eliminating pain cannot be overstated. Gupta shows how pain carries an enormous amount of physical, social, and emotional baggage, which is, in part, why it has been so hard to treat, and too often ignored. It can also present in infinite ways. Yet both patients and practitioners labor under the mistaken idea that most pain problems can be fixed with a drug or procedure. It turns out we have tremendous agency in choosing how we’ll respond. The brain “creates” pain, but it also has the capacity to reduce or even eliminate it. There is more evidence than ever about the benefits of sleep, diet and nutrition, mindfulness-based pain management (MBPM), myofascial and other hands-on treatments, as well as yoga, specialized psychotherapies, and even social “prescriptions”—prompting more doctors than ever to focus on these solutions.
Gupta runs the gamut of conventional and complementary approaches, including the technique known as Mobilization Exercise Analgesia Treatment, foam rolling, acupuncture, trigger point injections, and vital “prehabilitation” before any operation. He shares how to make sense of all those over-the-counter pills, patches, and pain products, as well as drugs advertised on television or prescribed by your doctors. He covers psychedelics, supplements, and CBD. And he highlights insights from some of the nation’s leading pain scientists and specialists, plus stories of challenge and triumph over pain by those with lived experience.
Gupta sorts through them all with his pain-smart guide to a pain-smart life.
With expert guidance and a wealth of science-backed strategies, It Doesn’t Have to Hurt is your ultimate resource for reclaiming your life from chronic pain and unlocking a future of lasting relief—starting today.
Are you one of the 52 million people who experience chronic pain in your day-to-day life? In It Doesn’t Have to Hurt, Sanjay Gupta makes the empowering argument that there are effective options for relief that you can start practicing today to greatly reduce your chances of suffering pain tomorrow.
The significance of reducing and even eliminating pain cannot be overstated. Gupta shows how pain carries an enormous amount of physical, social, and emotional baggage, which is, in part, why it has been so hard to treat, and too often ignored. It can also present in infinite ways. Yet both patients and practitioners labor under the mistaken idea that most pain problems can be fixed with a drug or procedure. It turns out we have tremendous agency in choosing how we’ll respond. The brain “creates” pain, but it also has the capacity to reduce or even eliminate it. There is more evidence than ever about the benefits of sleep, diet and nutrition, mindfulness-based pain management (MBPM), myofascial and other hands-on treatments, as well as yoga, specialized psychotherapies, and even social “prescriptions”—prompting more doctors than ever to focus on these solutions.
Gupta runs the gamut of conventional and complementary approaches, including the technique known as Mobilization Exercise Analgesia Treatment, foam rolling, acupuncture, trigger point injections, and vital “prehabilitation” before any operation. He shares how to make sense of all those over-the-counter pills, patches, and pain products, as well as drugs advertised on television or prescribed by your doctors. He covers psychedelics, supplements, and CBD. And he highlights insights from some of the nation’s leading pain scientists and specialists, plus stories of challenge and triumph over pain by those with lived experience.
Gupta sorts through them all with his pain-smart guide to a pain-smart life.
With expert guidance and a wealth of science-backed strategies, It Doesn’t Have to Hurt is your ultimate resource for reclaiming your life from chronic pain and unlocking a future of lasting relief—starting today.
- GenresNonfictionHealth
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 25, 2025
When I saw that Sanjay Gupta had written a book on pain I was instantly intrigued. I know that Dr. Gupta as many interests beside neuroscience and has reported and research many others over the years. As someone who has watched Dr. Gupta on CNN as Chief Medical Correspondent and am an avid listener of his podcast Chasing Life, I knew I wanted to read this book. Also, being someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) an autoimmune disease I was interested to see what he might have to say about it in this book. I loved learning about how in someways we ourselves control some of our pain, our reactions, our past experiences, how we even take care of our bodies prior to illness and or injury or surgeries. Recovery can also looks completely different from one patient to the next even when they have experienced the exact same surgery.
Pain isn’t universal for all, but Dr. Gupta dives into all aspects of pain and backs up all his information with studies and feet from patients and other physicians.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for entrusting me with this eARC in return for my honest review. I believe this book can be helpful for people in pain, those taking care of people in pain and really everyone.
Pain isn’t universal for all, but Dr. Gupta dives into all aspects of pain and backs up all his information with studies and feet from patients and other physicians.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for entrusting me with this eARC in return for my honest review. I believe this book can be helpful for people in pain, those taking care of people in pain and really everyone.
April 7, 2025
Those with chronic pain are too familiar with the ups and downs in life that come with it. This book gives them hope – hope for some type of relief.
He starts with a personal story of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s 82-year-old mother. She called him in a panic – a mother who never called her son, the brilliant surgeon, unless it was urgent. She lost her balance and seriously injured her back. Of course, he dropped everything to be by her side.
Besides the important work he does at the hospital, he's also a remarkable investigative reporter and writer. He understands his audience which makes this book a must for those who are looking for relief from pain. He gives solid information that makes sense. Even if you think you’ve learned all there is to know, this may give you something else to consider.
Dr. Gupta provides a review of the drugs that are on the market – some that are no longer used much and others that are new. He presents several alternative methods that may be helpful: injection therapies such as nerve blocks, gel injections, Botox, acupuncture and more.
He also talks about people who have benefited from yoga, meditation, mindfulness, art classes and taking walks in nature. We all know the importance of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise plan. He makes you rethink about the items on your grocery list.
I have been diagnosed with chronic pain and this book was unexpected how it helped me understand more about myself and what I can do to find different paths of support. It’s convincing and highly recommended.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 2, 2025.
He starts with a personal story of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s 82-year-old mother. She called him in a panic – a mother who never called her son, the brilliant surgeon, unless it was urgent. She lost her balance and seriously injured her back. Of course, he dropped everything to be by her side.
Besides the important work he does at the hospital, he's also a remarkable investigative reporter and writer. He understands his audience which makes this book a must for those who are looking for relief from pain. He gives solid information that makes sense. Even if you think you’ve learned all there is to know, this may give you something else to consider.
Dr. Gupta provides a review of the drugs that are on the market – some that are no longer used much and others that are new. He presents several alternative methods that may be helpful: injection therapies such as nerve blocks, gel injections, Botox, acupuncture and more.
He also talks about people who have benefited from yoga, meditation, mindfulness, art classes and taking walks in nature. We all know the importance of sleep, a healthy diet and exercise plan. He makes you rethink about the items on your grocery list.
I have been diagnosed with chronic pain and this book was unexpected how it helped me understand more about myself and what I can do to find different paths of support. It’s convincing and highly recommended.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 2, 2025.
August 30, 2025
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
I wanted to read this book because I suffer from multiple chronic pain issues, and I was hoping it contained the magic recipe to getting my life back. A large portion of the book discusses case studies, stories from patient visits, and personal experiennce. I admit I did get frustrated with some of the stories of patient visits because I could relate so well to a couple of them, and it just described all of the pain they were in and why and then ended it. I would have loved to known what measures were taken, to give me an idea of what might work for me, as well. I did appreciate that he didn't focus on just one or two types of pain, but rather a wide range of conditions, and what types of OTC meds, and exercises worked best for different conditions. I also appreciated the information about an inflammatory diet - what to eat & not eat, and why. Overall, if you are a chronic pain sufferer, then you need to have this in your arsenal!
I wanted to read this book because I suffer from multiple chronic pain issues, and I was hoping it contained the magic recipe to getting my life back. A large portion of the book discusses case studies, stories from patient visits, and personal experiennce. I admit I did get frustrated with some of the stories of patient visits because I could relate so well to a couple of them, and it just described all of the pain they were in and why and then ended it. I would have loved to known what measures were taken, to give me an idea of what might work for me, as well. I did appreciate that he didn't focus on just one or two types of pain, but rather a wide range of conditions, and what types of OTC meds, and exercises worked best for different conditions. I also appreciated the information about an inflammatory diet - what to eat & not eat, and why. Overall, if you are a chronic pain sufferer, then you need to have this in your arsenal!
September 11, 2025
Review of It Doesn't Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life by Sanjay Gupta, M.D.
Dr. Gupta definitely has the credentials to write this book and I was eager to learn what he had to say on this topic. He has written a very interesting book that is highly informative, helpful, and empowering. He writes in a style that makes the information easy to understand, demonstrates his wide range of knowledge and research, and shows his compassion. I was encouraged to read of the growing focus and increasing number of studies being done on pain, chronic pain, and pain management.
The book is written in two parts. Part 1, "The New Science of Pain", explains the different types of pain, discusses various studies and findings, and shows the medical field as a whole increasing focus to take on this challenge. Part 2, "Taking Charge for a Pain-Smart Life", offers a wide range of modalities for dealing with pain (traditional and non-traditional) and encourages pain sufferers to become more active in their own care, and more willing to explore non-traditional options.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who deals with chronic pain issues, loves someone who does, or wants to become more informed about this topic. This rates 5 stars from me. A very nice reference to have on hand.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to access a DRC via NetGalley. The book is available now. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
Dr. Gupta definitely has the credentials to write this book and I was eager to learn what he had to say on this topic. He has written a very interesting book that is highly informative, helpful, and empowering. He writes in a style that makes the information easy to understand, demonstrates his wide range of knowledge and research, and shows his compassion. I was encouraged to read of the growing focus and increasing number of studies being done on pain, chronic pain, and pain management.
The book is written in two parts. Part 1, "The New Science of Pain", explains the different types of pain, discusses various studies and findings, and shows the medical field as a whole increasing focus to take on this challenge. Part 2, "Taking Charge for a Pain-Smart Life", offers a wide range of modalities for dealing with pain (traditional and non-traditional) and encourages pain sufferers to become more active in their own care, and more willing to explore non-traditional options.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who deals with chronic pain issues, loves someone who does, or wants to become more informed about this topic. This rates 5 stars from me. A very nice reference to have on hand.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to access a DRC via NetGalley. The book is available now. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.
September 7, 2025
This book should work well for kindling.
Hocus pocus designed to sell books to desperate people. I'm surprised that voodoo and essential oils aren't included in the possible treatments for pain.
Hocus pocus designed to sell books to desperate people. I'm surprised that voodoo and essential oils aren't included in the possible treatments for pain.
September 17, 2025
An unfortunate bunch of nonsense, completely debunked by the American council on science and health. So much nonsense in fact that ther is now an article addressing how ridiculous this book is. acsh.org.
July 28, 2025
This book provides practical advice on lifestyle, stress, and treatment options, delivered in a reassuring and accessible tone.
However, much of the material will be familiar to readers with even a basic interest in health and wellness. It offers little in the way of fresh research or original insight, leaning more towards general wellbeing than in-depth medical analysis.
A helpful introduction, but unlikely to offer much new for the well-informed reader.
However, much of the material will be familiar to readers with even a basic interest in health and wellness. It offers little in the way of fresh research or original insight, leaning more towards general wellbeing than in-depth medical analysis.
A helpful introduction, but unlikely to offer much new for the well-informed reader.
September 10, 2025
Pain reduced
Just feading the book reduced my pain. Quite remarkable how well some of these ideas work. Some are instantly applicable. Thanks Sanjay?
Just feading the book reduced my pain. Quite remarkable how well some of these ideas work. Some are instantly applicable. Thanks Sanjay?
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews