Full Description
This book presents a concept of chronic pain that has been derived from years of clinical practice by two experts. It is derived from discussions with several hundred patients with persistent pain despite a multitude of prior attempts to cure their pain. It reveals an understanding of what causes chronic pain, what makes it worse, what medications are appropriate or inappropriate, and when a surgical or other procedure should or should not be done. It recognizes that most chronic pain patients are over-treated, rather than the opposite. There is great confusion among both doctors and patients about the role of pain medications, many of which are addicting and may make the pain worse rather than better. Most successful treatment of chronic pain begins with both the doctor and the patient recognizing the many factors that influence the pain. The book presents general principles, patient selection and non-surgical management of persistent non-cancer pain and teaches how to discuss these factors in a comprehensive and understandable format with both patients and other physicians.It presents guidelines for use of the surgical or office procedures that are appropriate for some of the patients with chronic pain.
Contents
Definitions of PainPain.- General Rules of Pain Management: Acute Pain.- Cancer Pain.- Chronic Pain. What is the Chronic Pain Syndrome? - Factors that make Pain worse: Physical Factors.- Pathological Factors.- Psychological Factors.- The Role of Depression in Chronic Pain.- The Role of Regression in Chronic Pain: Physical Regression.- Psychological Regression.- Pain and Disability.- Intolerance to Stress: The Role of Stress in Chronic Pain.- Narcotics: Inappropriate Use of Narcotics.- Narcotic Addiction and Chronic Pain.- Appropriate Use of Narcotics and Other Pain Medications.- How are Narcotics for Pain prescribed for a Patient with a History of Narcotic Abuse? - The Chronic Pain Syndrome: What is the Chronic Pain Syndrome?- How does the Chronic Pain Syndrome interfere with getting Better? - How the Doctor evaluates Chronic Pain?: The Interview.- The Physical Examination.- The Management Plan: How the Doctor and Patient work together to Manage Chronic Pain.- Specific Types of Chronic Pain: Low Back Pain.- Neck Pain.- Musculoskeletal Pain.- Headache.- Face Pain.- Neuropathy.- Surgery for Chronic Pain: When is Surgery indicated?- Interruption of Pain Nerves or Pathways.- Stimulation of the Nervous System to Treat Pain.- What to do if Surgery is not indicated?- Other Types of Persistent Pain. - How are They the Same and how are They Different?: Acute Pain.- Cancer Pain.
