Inside Chronic Pain

Inside Chronic Pain

Author: Lous Heshusius

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2013-09-15

Total Pages: 199

ISBN-13: 0801458781

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Chronic pain, which affects 70 million people in the United States alone-more than diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined-is a major public health issue that remains poorly understood both within the health care system and by those closest to the people it afflicts. This book examines the experience of pain in ways that could significantly improve how patients and practitioners deal with pain. It is the first volume of a new collection of titles within the acclaimed Culture and Politics of Health Care Work series called How Patients Think, intended to give voice to the concerns of patients about their own medical care and the formulation of health policy. Since surviving a near-fatal car accident, Lous Heshusius has suffered from chronic pain for more than a decade, forcing her to give up her career as a professor of education. Inside Chronic Pain, based in part on the pain journal Heshusius keeps, is a stunning memoir of a life lived in constant pain as well as an insightful and often critical account of the inadequacies of the health care system-from physicians to hospitals and health insurance companies-to understand chronic pain and treat those who suffer from it. Through her own frequently frustrating experiences, she shows how health care providers often ignore, deny, or incorrectly treat chronic pain at immense cost to both the patient and the health care system. She also offers cogent suggestions on improving the quality and outcome of chronic pain care and management, using her encounters with exceptional medical professionals as models. Inside Chronic Pain deals with pain's dramatic and destructive effects on one's sense of self and identity. It chronicles the chaos that takes place, the paralyzing effect of severe pain, the changes in personality that ensue, and the corrosive effects of severe pain on the ability to attend to day-to-day tasks. It describes how one's social life falls apart and isolation takes over. It also relates moments of happiness and beauty and describes how rooting the self in the present is crucial in managing pain. A unique feature of Inside Chronic Pain is the clinical commentary by Dr. Scott M. Fishman, president of the American Pain Foundation. Fishman has long tried to improve the lives of patients like Heshusius. His medical perspective on her very human narrative will help physicians and other clinicians better understand and treat patients with chronic pain.


Book Synopsis Inside Chronic Pain by : Lous Heshusius

Download or read book Inside Chronic Pain written by Lous Heshusius and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2013-09-15 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronic pain, which affects 70 million people in the United States alone-more than diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined-is a major public health issue that remains poorly understood both within the health care system and by those closest to the people it afflicts. This book examines the experience of pain in ways that could significantly improve how patients and practitioners deal with pain. It is the first volume of a new collection of titles within the acclaimed Culture and Politics of Health Care Work series called How Patients Think, intended to give voice to the concerns of patients about their own medical care and the formulation of health policy. Since surviving a near-fatal car accident, Lous Heshusius has suffered from chronic pain for more than a decade, forcing her to give up her career as a professor of education. Inside Chronic Pain, based in part on the pain journal Heshusius keeps, is a stunning memoir of a life lived in constant pain as well as an insightful and often critical account of the inadequacies of the health care system-from physicians to hospitals and health insurance companies-to understand chronic pain and treat those who suffer from it. Through her own frequently frustrating experiences, she shows how health care providers often ignore, deny, or incorrectly treat chronic pain at immense cost to both the patient and the health care system. She also offers cogent suggestions on improving the quality and outcome of chronic pain care and management, using her encounters with exceptional medical professionals as models. Inside Chronic Pain deals with pain's dramatic and destructive effects on one's sense of self and identity. It chronicles the chaos that takes place, the paralyzing effect of severe pain, the changes in personality that ensue, and the corrosive effects of severe pain on the ability to attend to day-to-day tasks. It describes how one's social life falls apart and isolation takes over. It also relates moments of happiness and beauty and describes how rooting the self in the present is crucial in managing pain. A unique feature of Inside Chronic Pain is the clinical commentary by Dr. Scott M. Fishman, president of the American Pain Foundation. Fishman has long tried to improve the lives of patients like Heshusius. His medical perspective on her very human narrative will help physicians and other clinicians better understand and treat patients with chronic pain.

Experiencing Chronic Pain in Society

Experiencing Chronic Pain in Society

Author: Lous Heshusius

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-04-25

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 9781544241128

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This extensively researched book is a follow up to the author's highly praised memoir Inside Chronic Pain . The present work describes the "outside" of chronic pain: It shows how chronic pain is poorly represented to, and deeply embedded in, society. It is written for people living with pain as well as for those who, for whatever reason, are in contact with them. Integrating social analysis with the lived experience, this book shows how multiple societal institutions and beliefs often make chronic pain worse, stand in the way of obtaining relief, or misrepresent chronic pain. They range, among others, from insurers who benefit from pain's invisibility, to inadequate knowledge by the world of medicine; from misapplied psychological theories, to the dilemma the opioid overdose tragedy presents to people living in pain; from the social stigma attached to chronic pain due to pain's invisibility, to the often inappropriately cheerful messages from others, even from self help organizations. Reading Experiencing Chronic Pain In Society is being shocked into awareness of how frequently people and institutions habitually contribute, often unintentionally, to the misery that is a life lived in pain. Throughout this book, the focus is on what needs to happen to coach invisible pain into visibility, and to correct societal obstacles to pain relief. From reviews, cited in the book: "I found myself engrossed in the profound revelations about the world in which I live." "It's terrific to hear the voice of one who not only lives with pain but is able to tease apart the complexity of the experience. Her insights inform how professionals and others might become part of the solution." "Heshusius shows how accepted ideas about evidence, professionalism and science distort how a broad array of professionals as well as members of society at large understand --or are unable to understand-- lives lived in pain." "People living with pain will find an author who finally speaks with them rather than about them or even for them." "Her books have taken me off the path of suicide..." "Read this powerful book if you want to understand chronic pain.


Book Synopsis Experiencing Chronic Pain in Society by : Lous Heshusius

Download or read book Experiencing Chronic Pain in Society written by Lous Heshusius and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-04-25 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This extensively researched book is a follow up to the author's highly praised memoir Inside Chronic Pain . The present work describes the "outside" of chronic pain: It shows how chronic pain is poorly represented to, and deeply embedded in, society. It is written for people living with pain as well as for those who, for whatever reason, are in contact with them. Integrating social analysis with the lived experience, this book shows how multiple societal institutions and beliefs often make chronic pain worse, stand in the way of obtaining relief, or misrepresent chronic pain. They range, among others, from insurers who benefit from pain's invisibility, to inadequate knowledge by the world of medicine; from misapplied psychological theories, to the dilemma the opioid overdose tragedy presents to people living in pain; from the social stigma attached to chronic pain due to pain's invisibility, to the often inappropriately cheerful messages from others, even from self help organizations. Reading Experiencing Chronic Pain In Society is being shocked into awareness of how frequently people and institutions habitually contribute, often unintentionally, to the misery that is a life lived in pain. Throughout this book, the focus is on what needs to happen to coach invisible pain into visibility, and to correct societal obstacles to pain relief. From reviews, cited in the book: "I found myself engrossed in the profound revelations about the world in which I live." "It's terrific to hear the voice of one who not only lives with pain but is able to tease apart the complexity of the experience. Her insights inform how professionals and others might become part of the solution." "Heshusius shows how accepted ideas about evidence, professionalism and science distort how a broad array of professionals as well as members of society at large understand --or are unable to understand-- lives lived in pain." "People living with pain will find an author who finally speaks with them rather than about them or even for them." "Her books have taken me off the path of suicide..." "Read this powerful book if you want to understand chronic pain.

Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain

Author: Dawn Marcus

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2009-01-24

Total Pages: 428

ISBN-13: 1603274650

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Patients with chronic pain present a unique set of challenges to the primary care clinician. In Chronic Pain: A Primary Care Guide to Practical Management, Second Edition, leading pain specialist Dawn A. Marcus, MD, again offers practical, clear, and succinct evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of the myriad painful conditions clinicians see in their offices every day, such as headache, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and abdominal pain. Sections addressing pain management in children, pregnant women, and seniors are also included. This new edition is designed to provide a pragmatic approach to assessing and treating the complex issues and characteristics of chronic pain patients. New chapters expand upon the evidence-based recommendations and practical office tools previously provided, with the addition of new chapters addressing risk management; pain syndromes in the shoulder, upper extremity, and lower extremity; and cancer and end-of-life pain. Chronic Pain: A Primary Care Guide to Practical Management, Second Edition provides strategies and techniques that are designed to improve the confidence with which the primary care physician can approach patients with complex pain complaints, reduce staff stress, and improve patient success.


Book Synopsis Chronic Pain by : Dawn Marcus

Download or read book Chronic Pain written by Dawn Marcus and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-01-24 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Patients with chronic pain present a unique set of challenges to the primary care clinician. In Chronic Pain: A Primary Care Guide to Practical Management, Second Edition, leading pain specialist Dawn A. Marcus, MD, again offers practical, clear, and succinct evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of the myriad painful conditions clinicians see in their offices every day, such as headache, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and abdominal pain. Sections addressing pain management in children, pregnant women, and seniors are also included. This new edition is designed to provide a pragmatic approach to assessing and treating the complex issues and characteristics of chronic pain patients. New chapters expand upon the evidence-based recommendations and practical office tools previously provided, with the addition of new chapters addressing risk management; pain syndromes in the shoulder, upper extremity, and lower extremity; and cancer and end-of-life pain. Chronic Pain: A Primary Care Guide to Practical Management, Second Edition provides strategies and techniques that are designed to improve the confidence with which the primary care physician can approach patients with complex pain complaints, reduce staff stress, and improve patient success.

A Nation in Pain

A Nation in Pain

Author: Judy Foreman

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2014-02

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 0199837201

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From neurobiology to public policy, examines the chronic pain crisis, which is a major national health concern, discussing the latest scientific discoveries and advances in treatments and providing a sensible plan of action.


Book Synopsis A Nation in Pain by : Judy Foreman

Download or read book A Nation in Pain written by Judy Foreman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2014-02 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From neurobiology to public policy, examines the chronic pain crisis, which is a major national health concern, discussing the latest scientific discoveries and advances in treatments and providing a sensible plan of action.

Chronic Pain and the Family

Chronic Pain and the Family

Author: Julie K. Silver M.D.

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2004-10-25

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 0674267362

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Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting as many as 48 million people in this country alone. It can demoralize and depress both patient and family, especially when there is no effective pain control and no hope for relief. Improperly managed, chronic pain can lead to substance abuse (usually painkillers) and to acute psychological and emotional distress. Pain begets stress and stress begets pain in a wretched downward spiral. Silver reviews the causes and characteristics of chronic pain and explores its impact on individual family relationships and on the extended family, covering such issues as employment, parenting, childbearing and inheritance, and emotional health. Silver treats aspects of chronic pain not covered in a typical office visit: how men and women differ in their experience of chronic pain, the effect of chronic pain on a toddler's behavior or an older child's performance in school, the risks of dependence on and addiction to pain medications, and practical ways for relatives beyond the immediate family circle to offer help and support to the person in pain.


Book Synopsis Chronic Pain and the Family by : Julie K. Silver M.D.

Download or read book Chronic Pain and the Family written by Julie K. Silver M.D. and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2004-10-25 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting as many as 48 million people in this country alone. It can demoralize and depress both patient and family, especially when there is no effective pain control and no hope for relief. Improperly managed, chronic pain can lead to substance abuse (usually painkillers) and to acute psychological and emotional distress. Pain begets stress and stress begets pain in a wretched downward spiral. Silver reviews the causes and characteristics of chronic pain and explores its impact on individual family relationships and on the extended family, covering such issues as employment, parenting, childbearing and inheritance, and emotional health. Silver treats aspects of chronic pain not covered in a typical office visit: how men and women differ in their experience of chronic pain, the effect of chronic pain on a toddler's behavior or an older child's performance in school, the risks of dependence on and addiction to pain medications, and practical ways for relatives beyond the immediate family circle to offer help and support to the person in pain.

The Truth about Chronic Pain

The Truth about Chronic Pain

Author: Arthur Rosenfeld

Publisher:

Published: 2004-12-29

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0465009905

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It's all in your head. "Learn to bear it." "That drug will make you a junkie."For the more than 75 million Americans affected by chronic pain, these are fighting words.Despite extraordinary medical progress in recent years, millions of people, debilitated by the pain of incurable cancer, crippling arthritis, unremitting headaches, and a host of degenerative disorders, continue to suffer needlessly. Here, in their own words, are the stories of more than forty people whose lives are dictated by pain-patients, healthcare professionals, ethicists, social commentators, and scientists-shining a powerful searchlight on America's most misunderstood health problem.The Truth About Chronic Pain reveals why pain is so often ignored or under-treated. Among the reasons are the widespread belief that pain is a sign of weakness and the unfounded fears that properly administered painkillers will cause addiction. As bureaucrats, doctors, and pharmacists become adversaries in the War on Drugs, people in pain are often denied the relief they need.The voices on these pages are an eloquent testament to individual courage and a powerful plea to medical institutions, political leaders, and insurance companies to implement effective solutions to the problem of pain.


Book Synopsis The Truth about Chronic Pain by : Arthur Rosenfeld

Download or read book The Truth about Chronic Pain written by Arthur Rosenfeld and published by . This book was released on 2004-12-29 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's all in your head. "Learn to bear it." "That drug will make you a junkie."For the more than 75 million Americans affected by chronic pain, these are fighting words.Despite extraordinary medical progress in recent years, millions of people, debilitated by the pain of incurable cancer, crippling arthritis, unremitting headaches, and a host of degenerative disorders, continue to suffer needlessly. Here, in their own words, are the stories of more than forty people whose lives are dictated by pain-patients, healthcare professionals, ethicists, social commentators, and scientists-shining a powerful searchlight on America's most misunderstood health problem.The Truth About Chronic Pain reveals why pain is so often ignored or under-treated. Among the reasons are the widespread belief that pain is a sign of weakness and the unfounded fears that properly administered painkillers will cause addiction. As bureaucrats, doctors, and pharmacists become adversaries in the War on Drugs, people in pain are often denied the relief they need.The voices on these pages are an eloquent testament to individual courage and a powerful plea to medical institutions, political leaders, and insurance companies to implement effective solutions to the problem of pain.

Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain

Author: Lakshmi Champak Vas

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2024-01-31

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 1040027970

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The book will reassure those suffering from chronic pain and readers that pains can be treated, and not just be ‘managed’. Contemporary pain management comprises some very sophisticated treatments, which address various parts of the nervous system that have been historically assumed to be responsible for pain. The author's approach is that all neuropathic pains are neuromyopathic with a major muscle pain component where the muscles are the final common factor in all chronic pains. This premise led to the innovation of a new system of pain management, which has been gratifyingly effective, providing cures for many complicated conditions. The book is about the discovery that many types of chronic pain are curable and others easily manageable. The novel concepts developed by the author and her research on pain management are described in this book. These are unique, and will be of interest to doctors, researchers, students, and patients.


Book Synopsis Chronic Pain by : Lakshmi Champak Vas

Download or read book Chronic Pain written by Lakshmi Champak Vas and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2024-01-31 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book will reassure those suffering from chronic pain and readers that pains can be treated, and not just be ‘managed’. Contemporary pain management comprises some very sophisticated treatments, which address various parts of the nervous system that have been historically assumed to be responsible for pain. The author's approach is that all neuropathic pains are neuromyopathic with a major muscle pain component where the muscles are the final common factor in all chronic pains. This premise led to the innovation of a new system of pain management, which has been gratifyingly effective, providing cures for many complicated conditions. The book is about the discovery that many types of chronic pain are curable and others easily manageable. The novel concepts developed by the author and her research on pain management are described in this book. These are unique, and will be of interest to doctors, researchers, students, and patients.

Under the Medical Gaze

Under the Medical Gaze

Author: Susan Greenhalgh

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2001-05-03

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 0520925092

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This compelling account of the author's experience with a chronic pain disorder and subsequent interaction with the American health care system goes to the heart of the workings of power and culture in the biomedical domain. It is a medical whodunit full of mysterious misdiagnosis, subtle power plays, and shrewd detective work. Setting a new standard for the practice of autoethnography, Susan Greenhalgh presents a case study of her intense encounter with an enthusiastic young specialist who, through creative interpretation of the diagnostic criteria for a newly emerging chronic disease, became convinced she had a painful, essentially untreatable, lifelong muscle condition called fibromyalgia. Greenhalgh traces the ruinous effects of this diagnosis on her inner world, bodily health, and overall well-being. Under the Medical Gaze serves as a powerful illustration of medicine's power to create and inflict suffering, to define disease and the self, and to manage relationships and lives. Greenhalgh ultimately learns that she had been misdiagnosed and begins the long process of undoing the physical and emotional damage brought about by her nearly catastrophic treatment. In considering how things could go so awry, she embarks on a cogent and powerful analysis of the sociopolitical sources of pain through feminist, cultural, and political understandings of the nature of medical discourse and practice in the United States. She develops fresh arguments about the power of medicine to medicalize our selves and lives, the seductions of medical science, and the deep, psychologically rooted difficulties women patients face in interactions with male physicians. In the end, Under the Medical Gaze goes beyond the critique of biomedicine to probe the social roots of chronic pain and therapeutic alternatives that rely on neither the body-cure of conventional medicine nor the mind-cure of some alternative medicines, but rather a broader set of strategies that address the sociopolitical sources of pain.


Book Synopsis Under the Medical Gaze by : Susan Greenhalgh

Download or read book Under the Medical Gaze written by Susan Greenhalgh and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2001-05-03 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This compelling account of the author's experience with a chronic pain disorder and subsequent interaction with the American health care system goes to the heart of the workings of power and culture in the biomedical domain. It is a medical whodunit full of mysterious misdiagnosis, subtle power plays, and shrewd detective work. Setting a new standard for the practice of autoethnography, Susan Greenhalgh presents a case study of her intense encounter with an enthusiastic young specialist who, through creative interpretation of the diagnostic criteria for a newly emerging chronic disease, became convinced she had a painful, essentially untreatable, lifelong muscle condition called fibromyalgia. Greenhalgh traces the ruinous effects of this diagnosis on her inner world, bodily health, and overall well-being. Under the Medical Gaze serves as a powerful illustration of medicine's power to create and inflict suffering, to define disease and the self, and to manage relationships and lives. Greenhalgh ultimately learns that she had been misdiagnosed and begins the long process of undoing the physical and emotional damage brought about by her nearly catastrophic treatment. In considering how things could go so awry, she embarks on a cogent and powerful analysis of the sociopolitical sources of pain through feminist, cultural, and political understandings of the nature of medical discourse and practice in the United States. She develops fresh arguments about the power of medicine to medicalize our selves and lives, the seductions of medical science, and the deep, psychologically rooted difficulties women patients face in interactions with male physicians. In the end, Under the Medical Gaze goes beyond the critique of biomedicine to probe the social roots of chronic pain and therapeutic alternatives that rely on neither the body-cure of conventional medicine nor the mind-cure of some alternative medicines, but rather a broader set of strategies that address the sociopolitical sources of pain.

An Anatomy of Pain

An Anatomy of Pain

Author: Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen

Publisher: Scribner

Published: 2021-02-02

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1982160985

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An illuminating, authoritative, and in-depth examination of the fascinating science behind pain and the complexities of its treatment—from one of the internationally leading doctors in pain management. Pain is a universal human experience, but we understand very little about the mechanics behind it. We hurt ourselves, we feel pain, we seek help from a professional or learn to avoid certain behaviors that cause pain. But the story of what goes on in our body is far from simple. Even medical practitioners themselves often fail to grasp the complexities between our minds and bodies and how they interact when dealing with pain stimulus. Throughout history we’ve tried to prevent and mediate the effects of pain—which has only resulted in a highly medicated population and a booming opiates industry. Written by a medical expert trained as an anesthesiologist, An Anatomy of Pain is the first book to clearly explain the current issues and complexities surrounding the treatment of pain and how society deals with those in pain, as well as how our bodies relate to pain. Common conception still equates pain with tissue damage but that is only a very small part of the story—the organ which produces pain is the brain. Case studies show that a woman who has undergone a c-section reports dramatically less pain than a patient who has had kidney stones removed in a similarly invasive operation. The soldier who drags himself or herself to safety after being shot deals with pain in a remarkably different way from someone suffering a similar injury on a street. The truth is that pain is a complex mix of nerve endings, psychological state, social preconceptions, and situational awareness. Filled with case studies and medical history, this enlightening book offers a crash course in all aspects of pain, from chronic to acute, and walks us through the current landscape of pain treatments—from medication (including opioids) to electrical nerve stimulation. Whether it’s a mild ache or severe discomfort, we all encounter pain in our lives and this important and illuminating book allows us to master the art of caring and coping with an experience that for so many can become all-consuming.


Book Synopsis An Anatomy of Pain by : Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen

Download or read book An Anatomy of Pain written by Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen and published by Scribner. This book was released on 2021-02-02 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An illuminating, authoritative, and in-depth examination of the fascinating science behind pain and the complexities of its treatment—from one of the internationally leading doctors in pain management. Pain is a universal human experience, but we understand very little about the mechanics behind it. We hurt ourselves, we feel pain, we seek help from a professional or learn to avoid certain behaviors that cause pain. But the story of what goes on in our body is far from simple. Even medical practitioners themselves often fail to grasp the complexities between our minds and bodies and how they interact when dealing with pain stimulus. Throughout history we’ve tried to prevent and mediate the effects of pain—which has only resulted in a highly medicated population and a booming opiates industry. Written by a medical expert trained as an anesthesiologist, An Anatomy of Pain is the first book to clearly explain the current issues and complexities surrounding the treatment of pain and how society deals with those in pain, as well as how our bodies relate to pain. Common conception still equates pain with tissue damage but that is only a very small part of the story—the organ which produces pain is the brain. Case studies show that a woman who has undergone a c-section reports dramatically less pain than a patient who has had kidney stones removed in a similarly invasive operation. The soldier who drags himself or herself to safety after being shot deals with pain in a remarkably different way from someone suffering a similar injury on a street. The truth is that pain is a complex mix of nerve endings, psychological state, social preconceptions, and situational awareness. Filled with case studies and medical history, this enlightening book offers a crash course in all aspects of pain, from chronic to acute, and walks us through the current landscape of pain treatments—from medication (including opioids) to electrical nerve stimulation. Whether it’s a mild ache or severe discomfort, we all encounter pain in our lives and this important and illuminating book allows us to master the art of caring and coping with an experience that for so many can become all-consuming.

The Global Pain Crisis

The Global Pain Crisis

Author: Judy Foreman

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017-03-06

Total Pages: 401

ISBN-13: 0190259256

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Tens of millions of people around the world live with chronic pain - many in such severe pain they are disabled by it. The Institute of Medicine estimates that chronic pain costs the U.S. alone $560 to $635 billion a year in direct medical costs and lost productivity. Morphine, an effective painkiller, costs only three cents a dose, yet because of excessive regulation in many countries, it is unavailable to millions of people who need it, even at the end of life. The World Health Organization notes that in addition to the one million end-stage AIDS/HIV patients who can't get morphine and other controlled medications, 5.5 million terminal cancer patients, nearly a million people suffering from accidents or violence, and an incalculable number of people living with chronic illnesses or recovering from surgery don't have access to it, either. Furthermore, women, children, older people, and the poor are disproportionally affected by inadequate pain relief. Physicians know almost nothing about chronic pain, much less how to treat it, for two reasons: medical schools barely teach it and government institutions allot almost nothing to the pain research budget. In The Global Pain Crisis: What Everyone Needs to Know®, renowned health journalist Judy Foreman addresses the most important questions about chronic pain: what is it, whom does it affect most, which pain relief methods in Western and alternative medicine are effective, what are the risks and benefits for opioids and marijuana, and how can the chronic pain crisis be resolved for good? Foreman's book is a wake-up call for a health problem that affects people across the globe, from all walks of life. Written in the classic, easy-to-read and quick reference style of the What Everyone Needs to Know® series, The Global Pain Crisis is a must-read for anyone whose life or work is affected by chronic pain.


Book Synopsis The Global Pain Crisis by : Judy Foreman

Download or read book The Global Pain Crisis written by Judy Foreman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017-03-06 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tens of millions of people around the world live with chronic pain - many in such severe pain they are disabled by it. The Institute of Medicine estimates that chronic pain costs the U.S. alone $560 to $635 billion a year in direct medical costs and lost productivity. Morphine, an effective painkiller, costs only three cents a dose, yet because of excessive regulation in many countries, it is unavailable to millions of people who need it, even at the end of life. The World Health Organization notes that in addition to the one million end-stage AIDS/HIV patients who can't get morphine and other controlled medications, 5.5 million terminal cancer patients, nearly a million people suffering from accidents or violence, and an incalculable number of people living with chronic illnesses or recovering from surgery don't have access to it, either. Furthermore, women, children, older people, and the poor are disproportionally affected by inadequate pain relief. Physicians know almost nothing about chronic pain, much less how to treat it, for two reasons: medical schools barely teach it and government institutions allot almost nothing to the pain research budget. In The Global Pain Crisis: What Everyone Needs to Know®, renowned health journalist Judy Foreman addresses the most important questions about chronic pain: what is it, whom does it affect most, which pain relief methods in Western and alternative medicine are effective, what are the risks and benefits for opioids and marijuana, and how can the chronic pain crisis be resolved for good? Foreman's book is a wake-up call for a health problem that affects people across the globe, from all walks of life. Written in the classic, easy-to-read and quick reference style of the What Everyone Needs to Know® series, The Global Pain Crisis is a must-read for anyone whose life or work is affected by chronic pain.