The Painful Truth: What Chronic Pain Is Really Like and Why It Matters to Each of Us

by Lynn Webster

Overview

The most common medical problem in America today, chronic pain is more prevalent than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. Yet tens of millions of people struggle with pain because they can't find someone who understands how much pain affects their lives--and because they live in a culture where pain is dismissed. Internationally recognized pain specialist Dr. Lynn Webster validates the debilitating nature of pain, offers practical answers, and helps you become a catalyst for changing the way pain is viewed in society. Drawing on his years of experience and the inspirational stories of others, he explores: - What a difference it makes to be heard - Why pain is much more than a symptom of disease - The benefits and risks of opioid prescriptions - How cultural attitudes toward pain affect us - The role of a caregiver in the journey of pain and recovery - How, even in the worst pain situations, you can have a fulfilling life The Painful Truth offers a path toward awareness, hope, and healing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190659752
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	700 KB

About the Author

Lynn R. Webster, MD, one of the world's leading pain experts, is board certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and addiction medicine. He is Vice President of Scientific Affairs for PRA Health Sciences, a leading international medical research organization, the founder of Lifetree Pain Clinic, and a Past President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1. Hope for Healing 1. It's Personal Pain as a human experience 2. More than a Survivor The resilience of Pain 3. Caught in a Web The complexity of pain 4. Friendly Fire Rejecting stigma 5. The New Scarlet Letter Addiction and recovery 6. Soul Mates Love amid pain 7. The God Prescription Spirituality and pain 8. Everyday Saints and Unsung Heroes Caregiving and care receiving 9. Coming of Age Self-advocacy Part 2. Everybody's Problem 10. The Chilling Effect Opioids and law enforcement 11. A Human Right Toward curing Acknowledgments Notes