Understanding Pain: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How It's Managed (American Academy of Neurology Press Quality of Life Guides)

An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and an additional 25 million experience acute pain as a result of surgery or injury. Many people assume they must live with pain, but this is simply untrue. Most pain can be managed or greatly eased with proper pain management; however, the reality is that most pain goes untreated, under-treated, or improperly treated. With proper management the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of millions of Americans can be improved.Understanding Pain provides a comprehensive guide for individuals who do not have medical training yet experience chronic pain and wish to improve their understanding about the problem they live with each day. Chapters include:Chapters include: Explanation and rationale for acute and chronic pain treatments A self-evaluation to collect and organize important information that should be communicated to the healthcare provider An explanation of how pain is perceived and processed by the brain to equip patients with a basis for understanding the selection of treatment options Resources for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals And much more This book will help patients understand the multifaceted nature of pain and the range of treatment options available for its management. It will also enable them to communicate more effectively with their doctors and other healthcare providers. This latest volume in the American Academy of Neurology Press Quality of Life Guide series is an essential tool for all individuals coping with chronic pain, caregivers, and allied healthcare professionals.

Most people who suffer from chronic pain assume it’s something they must simply learn to live with, but this is just not true. Most pain can be managed or greatly reduced with proper pain management, but the reality is that most pain goes untreated, under-treated, or improperly treated. With proper management, the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of millions of Americans can be improved. Understanding Pain is an essential resource for those who experience the problem and want to better understand the pain they live with each day. Written in layman’s terms, this detailed guide explains how pain is perceived; helps patients evaluate and organize information about their symptoms; explores alternative, pharmacological, and invasive treatments; and much more. The book helps patients understand the multifaceted nature of pain and the range of treatment options available, enabling them to communicate more effectively with doctors and other healthcare providers.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Jennifer E Tyrrell, BScN, MN(The Hospital for Sick Children)
Description:This is a guide to help patients and families understand pain. Among the unique characteristics of the book are the suggestions on how to give a complete pain history to a healthcare provider and the emphasis on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, often forgotten in guides/books aimed at patients and families.
Purpose:The purpose is to help the reader develop a framework for understanding pain and become better prepared to manage the life changes associated with pain. This is a worthy objective as everyone will experience pain at some point in his lifetime. The topics in the guide meet the stated objectives well.
Audience:According to the author, the intended audience includes patients and families experiencing or affected by pain. My only concern is that the reading level is too high for the audience. The language and level of detail (e.g., anatomy and physiology) are more appropriate for a healthcare practitioner or highly educated patient/family member (college level).
Features:The book covers many facets of pain management that are important for patients and families to know. However, the design is not innovative and includes a minimal amount of illustrations. The glossary is comprehensive and the list of resources is excellent for patients and families who would like more information.
Assessment:Overall, the book meets a need for many patients and families struggling to deal with this very common condition. I am just concerned that the language and amount of information might be overwhelming for some.

Contents......Page 8 About the AAN Press Quality of Life Guides......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 CHAPTER 1: Pain Defined—What Are We Treating?......Page 18 CHAPTER 2: The Evaluation—What Should I Tell My Doctor?......Page 26 CHAPTER 3: The Multidisciplinary Approach—The Best Way to Treat My Pain......Page 38 CHAPTER 4: The Anatomy of Pain—The Basis for Selecting Treatment Options......Page 42 CHAPTER 5: Nonpharmacologic Options for Pain Management......Page 62 CHAPTER 6: Pharmacological Options in Pain Management—Nonopioid Analgesics......Page 70 CHAPTER 7: Pharmacological Options in Pain Management—Opioid Analgesics......Page 80 CHAPTER 8: Opioid Analgesics—Myth versus Benefit......Page 94 CHAPTER 9: Pharmacologic Options in Pain Management—Adjuvant Medications......Page 100 CHAPTER 10: Pharmacologic Options in Pain Management—Dosing and Alternate Routes of Administration......Page 110 CHAPTER 11: Invasive Options and When to Consider Them......Page 118 CHAPTER 12: Age and Sex—Special Considerations for Pain Management......Page 128 A......Page 138 C......Page 139 D......Page 140 E......Page 141 I......Page 142 M......Page 143 N......Page 144 P......Page 146 S......Page 147 T......Page 148 V......Page 149 W......Page 150 Resources......Page 152 A......Page 160 C......Page 161 E......Page 162 I......Page 163 M......Page 164 N......Page 165 P......Page 166 R......Page 167 V......Page 168 Z......Page 169 Most people who suffer from chronic pain assume itвЂTMs something they must simply learn to live with, but this is just not true. Most pain can be managed or greatly reduced with proper pain management, but the reality is that most pain goes untreated, under-treated, or improperly treated. With proper management, the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of millions of Americans can be improved.В Understanding Pain is an essential resource for those who experience the problem and want to better understand the pain they live with each day. Written in laymanвЂTMs terms, this detailed guide explains how pain is perceived; helps patients evaluate and organize information about their symptoms; explores alternative, pharmacological, and invasive treatments; and much more. The book helps patients understand the multifaceted nature of pain and the range of treatment options available, enabling them to communicate more effectively with doctors and other healthcare providers. "An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and an additional 25 million experience acute pain as a result of surgery or injury. Many people assume they must live with pain, but this is simply untrue. Most pain can be managed or greatly eased with proper pain management however, the reality is that most pain goes untreated, under-treated, or improperly treated. With proper management the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of millions of Americans can be improved. Understanding Pain provides a comprehensive guide for individuals who do not have medical training yet experience chronic pain and wish to improve their understanding about the problem they live with each day. Chapters Pain defined: what are we treating? The evaluation: what should I tell my doctor? The multidisciplinary approach: the best way to treat my pain The anatomy of pain: the basis for selecting treatment options Nonpharmacologic options for pain management Pharmacological options in pain management: nonopioid analgesics Pharmacological options in pain management: opioid analgesics Opioid analgesics: myth versus benefit Pharmacological options in pain management: adjuvant medications Pharmacological options in pain management: dosing and alternate routes of administration Invasive options and when to consider them Age and sex: special considerations for pain management.