Nick Worth says 'Pain: The ultimate mentor' is the book many physios would wish they had written

Pain: The ultimate mentor

Author: Kevin Hunt

Publisher: Self-published

Price: £17.99 (hardcover); £12.99 (paperback); £8.99 (Kindle)

ISBN-10: 1739292510; ISBN-13: 978-1739292515

For more information, click 

What did you do in the lockdown period throughout the Covid-19 pandemic? If you managed to get started on that project you had often thought about, but had never quite had time to complete, then you have something in common with the author of this book, Kevin Hunt. He used the time to put down in writing his thoughts and experience from his extensive physiotherapy career to create this book which is patient focused and accessible to all.

I know of numerous fellow physiotherapists who have spoken about creating a book from the stories and examples that their career has offered them – myself included! But Kevin Hunt has written the book that I feel that a lot of physiotherapists would wish to write.

Through using simple metaphors and patient-friendly terminology, the author has enabled anyone who has experienced significant pain – especially those living with persistent pain – some positive outlooks and explanations for some of what they are experiencing.

The ‘health hexagon’

There is a mixture of varied approaches that often seems familiar. I felt like I must have read many similar books that the author has over his career, as there were several examples where I was aware of the theory presented. But there were also several ideas and references that were new to me that I may look further into in the future. It was clear that the author has listened to many podcasts, TED talks and webinars in order to amalgamate the ideas into a logical and digestible textbook.

The six areas that the author uses to illustrate his thoughts is through the ‘health hexagon’. The elements of this are: physical life, mental life, spiritual life, emotional life, sleep and diet.

The blend of case studies, personal experiences and storytelling takes the reader on a journey through pain theories by mixing general knowledge with some deeper learning at times which doesn’t feel too forced. There are no radical ideas, but it is a collection of what the author has used throughout his 25-year clinical career to good effect with his patients.

Clinical experience

The book includes many aspects of mindset and psychological approaches to pain. There are glimpses of ‘The Chimp Paradox’ by Professor Steve Peters, ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck and ‘Black box thinking’ by Matthew Syed. The coaching techniques appear to be natural and well considered by the author and come from successes in his clinical life.

I have watched many experienced physiotherapists, who are persistent pain experts, telling patients similar stories to explain and richly illustrate the concepts of pain and its manifestations. They really enable the patient to think differently about how they experience pain.

Having the audacity to write and self-publish this great book should be applauded by all physiotherapists – it just makes you wish that you could write something as enjoyable and worthwhile!

‘Lightbulb’ moments

The personal reflections are included along the way to entertain as well as inform. Experiences such as purchasing a sofa with his wife or recording an album demonstrate the author's desire to take personal responsibility for ‘making things happen’ in his life. It is repeatedly shown that 'being cognisant in the present' can offer those patients with persistent pain the motivation and tools to change their mindset in certain situations. The ‘lightbulb’ moments that are described create an awareness of taking time to reframe challenging situations to improve the reader’s outlook.

The technical advice that is offered is simple and mirrored many of my own views. An example is when a patient asks you which pillows or bed to buy when they have back pain. I agreed with the author about answering with ‘whichever one feels right for you’. This is easily accessible for patients looking for sensible approaches.

Many sections of the book cover the balance of cortisol in the body and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The author discusses responses to stress and inflammation that are of interest to physiotherapists, but may be a challenge to some readers.

'Permission to move'

The book offers help to those in persistent pain and offers them permission to move. The text is reassuring and encourages patients to take more control of their pain perception and management. I liked the idea of using Elvis as a way of dealing with negative thoughts and the inner voice in the author’s head. Telling the inner dialogue ‘a little less conversation, a little more action please’ is a great way of demonstrating the practical and simple tips for self-care that are contained in this book.

Having the audacity to write and self-publish this great book should be applauded by all physiotherapists – it just makes you wish that you could write something as enjoyable and worthwhile!

To read a recent PhysioUpdate Q&A with Kevin Hunt, click  

Twitter: @Spinalphysio (Kevin Hunt); @Nickworthphysio (Nick Worth)