Navigating Life with Chronic Pain provides accessible, comprehensive,
and up-to-date information about the challenges patients, family, and
caregivers face when confronted by chronic pain. No two pain experiences
are the same, so your chronic pain depends on where you have pain, how
long you have experienced pain, and how the pain symptoms developed.
Everyone needs a customized approach because pain symptoms, other
medical conditions, past pain experiences, beliefs about pain,
environment, ability to cope with the pain, and financial and social
support (like family, friends, and caregivers) are different for every
person.
This book aims to provide clear and reliable information about chronic
pain, including "what" (definition), "how" (pathophysiology), and "why"
(etiology). The authors expertly guide the reader through current
approaches to diagnoses, including a review of diagnostic tests, as well
as a comprehensive, integrated approach to chronic pain treatment. They
demystify the pain evaluation and explain why pain professionals might
ask you for detailed and seemingly personal information. Through the use
of patient stories, you get real-world experiences and advice on
navigating the day-to-day challenges of chronic pain. You will learn how
to take control of your chronic pain using a variety of tools, like
behavioral, exercise and nutritional approaches, medications,
alternative treatments (yoga and tai chi), and injections or surgery.
