“If we notice burning toast, doesn’t it make the most sense to take appropriate action before it catches fire?”

That's one of our favourite lines leading into the The Everyday Pain Guide: Your Go-To Guide for When Pain First Strikes Volume 2 - Fix the Fire Damage by Dr. Ya-Ling J. Liou, a chiropractor, and helps to sum up her mission therein to offer structured guidance for DIY pain relief when you need it most.

The second in a three-volume series, this isn't a narrative journey through pain theory, it's an empathetic reference tool built for action when aches flare up and access to help isn't available.

As the follow-up to Volume 1 - Put Out the Fire, and unlike alternative books meant to be read in one shot, cover to cover, this one functions as a working manual — the kind you'll return to repeatedly as new concerns arise or old ones resurface.

Originally from Montreal, and now based in Seattle, Dr. Liou is refreshingly realistic, encouraging readers to start small rather than not starting at all.

"You don’t need to “tough it out,” “suck it up,” or “walk it off.” In fact, the road to relief depends on you not having to blindly push through. This is your first step toward a world without toxic pain denial.” — Dr. Liou

A chiropractic physician with over three decades of clinical experience, her book distills clarity across three categories of pain triggers: body mechanics (posture, alignment, movement patterns), body chemistry (nutrition, inflammation, biochemical balance), and stress biology (how stress, mental and emotional factors, and the nervous system interact).

For each, she provides distinct action plans in the form of tangible steps organized around three stages of recovery: Release, Retrain, and Reinforce. With over 100 photos, illustrations, and diagrams, the book makes guidance accessible and actionable for most mobility levels, even mid-ache and injury.

Beyond physical adjustments and movement modifications, Dr. Liou dives deep into relaying the ways foods and caffeine can trigger inflammation, how food sensitivities and environmental allergies can play a role in discomfort, and addressing stress responses including emotions, toxic positivity, sleep quality, and nervous system retraining.

While Volume 2 - Fix the Fire Damage is available for e-readers, there are some considerations to be had across formats…

The book’s Action Plans and then needing to cross-reference visual elements proved challenging to navigate on a small handheld Kindle, but the experience was better on the Kindle app for iPad (we could zoom in on the photos and graphics to better understand positioning for the exercises). That being said, this seems to be a book that could benefit from the ability to tangibly flip back and forth, bookmark or dog-ear pages, and have it physically in-hand when pain strikes.

Also, it’s important to note that this guide is designed for everyday aches and pains, not necessarily chronic pain stemming from severe disease or major injury.

As Dr. Liou acknowledges, there's no substitute for one-on-one professional guidance, but this collection acts as a valuable starting point and resource for those moments when pain appears and professional help isn't immediately accessible. She also reinforces that no matter the modality — chiropractor, massage, physical therapy, etc — the results can often only be temporary unless the patients take action towards recovery as well.

At the time of publishing this review, the paperback is available for $93 CAD, while the e-reader version for $41 CAD. (This series is sometimes included for rent in Kindle Unlimited subscriptions, as well). It’s important to note that the book is priced more in line with a textbook or reference manual, and not your typical self-help book, because… Well, it kind of is! At over 600+ pages, complete with step by step instructions, illustrations, and images, it provides an absolute trove of information that matches its valuation — especially if seeing a well-being practitioner in-person is not an option.

In all, we think this could be a valuable addition to any bookshelf or nightstand, encouraging both strong pain recovery and future injury prevention when incorporated into one’s routine.

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The Everyday Pain Guide: Your Go-To Guide for When Pain First Strikes Volume 2 - Fix the Fire Damage

by Dr. Ya-Ling J. Liou

Published July 2025

via Return to Health Press

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