"Understanding Pain" from the American Academy of Neurology

"Understanding Pain" covers the topic of pain management for all types of pain, including, but not limited to, back and neck pain. I highly recommend it as a guide to help you manage your decision-making about treatments for chronic back pain or neck pain. Written by a specialist in the field and published by a prestigious medical association, it provides a thorough introduction to pain medicine.

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"Understanding Pain: What it is, Why it Happens and How It's Managed" is a guide for patients and their families to help take an active and informed role in pain management and care. The book is written by Harry J. Gould, III, M.D., Ph.D., published by the American Academy of Neurology, and provides a thorough introduction to the subject of pain medicine. Topics include anatomy and physiology, drug and non-drug pain management and when surgery should be considered. The book does a good job of considering all aspects of pain management treatment, allowing the reader to understand and compare the available options. A main theme that runs through the book is that each person’s pain is different, and successful treatment or management of pain depends upon thorough evaluation as well as considering all aspects of the individual's pain.

The longest chapter in the book is also the densest one, but is worth the read if you can get through it. Entitled "Anatomy of Pain – The Basis for Selecting Treatment Options," it describes the roles of pain pathways in the generation and interpretation of pain. Dr. Gould says that this understanding of pain pathways provides the foundation for developing a treatment plan that works.

The last chapter, called "Age and Sex – Special Considerations," covers those unanswered questions that may easily fall through the cracks when speaking with your health-care provider. Some examples include how to recognize pain in infants (as they cannot speak for themselves), misconceptions about pain and the elderly, and difference in pain tolerance between men and women.

This book is loaded with information on how the field of pain medicine works and for the most part is well-written and easy to understand. I highly recommend it in your quest for taking responsibility for your own pain.

Updated: March 16, 2007

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