Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Third Edition [Paperback]

Margaret A. Caudill MD PhD MPH (Author), MD Herbert Benson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2008

Imagine finding a way to spend less time in doctors’ offices, and to decrease the discomfort, depression, and anxiety associated with chronic pain. Managing Pain Before It Manages You offers just that--a program to help you reduce your pain and learn coping skills to get your life back. Developed over the author’s many years of working with chronic pain sufferers, this program has been proven effective. Program participants report that they have been able to take control of their pain and cut their doctor visits by more than one third! Straightforward and compassionate, this hands-on guide provides detailed information plus step-by-step techniques, activities, and worksheets (perforated for easy removal and photocopying). Dr. Margaret Caudill helps you:

 

*Understand the causes of chronic pain

*Recognize what increases and decreases your pain symptoms

*Reduce your pain and emotional distress

*Learn effective problem solving

*Make informed decisions about medications and nutritional therapies

*Incorporate relaxation, meditation, and gentle exercise into your daily routine

*Communicate effectively about your pain

*Set realistic goals

 

New to the Third Edition

Thoroughly revised and updated, the third edition includes the latest information on medications and other clinically proven treatment strategies, expanded coverage of specific pain disorders, and a new appendix featuring Internet resources. Plus, readers can download free MP3 audio files of three of the guided relaxation exercises in the book (one hour total).

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wellspring of wisdom and practical approaches that can help transform your life as well as your pain. Caudill is one of the original pioneers in the holistic approach to pain management."--Joan Borysenko, PhD, author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind

 

"Too often, people with chronic pain feel that they are on a lonely and isolated journey. This book is a 'must-have' companion that can point the way to many new possibilities. With step-by-step guidance, it empowers readers to take back their lives from pain."--Scott Fishman, MD, author of The War on Pain

 

"Focusing on what people can do on their own to manage persistent pain, this is a truly special book. It is packed with important information and practical tips from one of the leading international authorities in the field."--Francis J. Keefe, PhD, Associate Director for Research, Duke University Pain and Palliative Care Program

 

"Dr. Caudill's book and program gave me back my life after I was involved in an automobile accident. The pain that became chronic was untreatable, and it felt as though my life was lost. Then my doctor referred me to Dr. Caudill's 10-week pain management program, which provided me with the tools to put my life back together. Gradually, I was able to return to work full time and manage the pain and stress on a daily basis. Now I use Dr. Caudill's book to run periodical pain management programs at the clinic where I am employed. It's amazing how clients can be transformed."--Nancy L. Hale, MEd, LMHC

 

"Dr. Caudill's book helped me deal with the debilitating pain that accompanied one stage of my cancer treatment. I found it easy to respond to the book's logical approach and actionable suggestions. Before long I had a set of tools that not only helped me manage my pain but also helped me manage other side effects I was experiencing. This is truly an empowering resource!"--Brenda Isaacs, Lyme, New Hampshire

 

"This wonderful book is responsible for helping thousands of our patients manage their chronic pain. Offering tested, up-to-date advice, Dr. Caudill helps the reader have a happier, more productive life--with less pain."--Gilbert J. Fanciullo, MD, Director, Section of Pain Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

 

"If there were a course called 'Living Your Life 101' for people with chronic pain, this wonderful guide would be the textbook. I can attest that the program in this book, over time, leads to a sense of peace, a deeper ability to cope, and the possibility of enjoying life again."--Ann S., Brookline, New Hampshire

 

"This book continues to be the gold standard for the self-management of pain. It is informative, easy to read, and encouraging. An invaluable guide for anyone who wishes to take charge of his or her life despite persistent pain."--Dennis C. Turk, PhD, coauthor of The Pain Survival Guide; John and Emma Bonica Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Research, University of Washington

About the Author

Margaret A. Caudill, MD, PhD, MPH, is a board-certified internist and a Diplomate of Pain Medicine. For more than 25 years, Dr. Caudill has worked to improve the lives of people with chronic illness through medical treatments that address both mind and body. She has researched and written extensively on mind-body medicine and lectures internationally on the biopsychosocial treatment of pain. Currently, she is Instructor of Anesthesiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center's Pain Management Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical and Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; Third Edition edition (October 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593859821
• ISBN-13: 978-1593859824
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Chronic Pain
  • #85 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Mental & Spiritual Healing

More About the Author

Margaret A. Caudill, MD, PhD, is a board-certified internist and a Diplomate of Pain Medicine. She is Adjunct Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Dartmouth Medical School and has served as Co-Director of the Arnold Pain Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, and as Co-Director of the Department of Pain Medicine, Dartmouth Hitchcock, Manchester, New Hampshire. Dr. Caudill has long been interested in empowering people with chronic illness through medical treatments that bring mind and body together. She has researched and written extensively on mind/body medicine and lectured internationally on the importance of the biopsychosocial treatment model of pain.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Beneficial Book!, December 14, 2009

By 

M. Rocha "rochas4" (La Habra, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Third Edition (Paperback)

I purchased this book as a requirement for a pain management program that I attended. The book has been incredibly helpful in my efforts to improve my overall quality of life and manage my fibromyalgia better. The information provided would help anyone with any type of pain problem. I recommend it to everyone I know who has a back problem, or any type of pain. My functioning is so much better, and my day to day life is just easier. I also have a much better mental outlook on life, as a result of taking better care of myself. My family and friends all see a huge difference in my functioning level and happiness. Having the tools to cope better has given me so much hope for the future. I no longer feel like a victim of this illness. Also, I have read just about every book on pain that I can get my hands on. This has to rank up there with the best of them. The trick is that you have to implement the suggestions and really change some things about your life if you want it to work. Do not hesitate one second to buy this book!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very helpfull, just stick with it, May 6, 2009

By 

ebinizer scroge "geting by" (san diego,ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Third Edition (Paperback)

Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Third Edition

This book was recommend to me by my pain management Doctor. so,I figured it must have some validity to it,so I apprehensively gave it a try.stick with it because at times it can seem a little simplistic and over the top, but believe me, give it a chance. And you will learn whats eating at you to cause the pain to become worse, or if you suffer from debilitating pain like I do, it does gives you ideas and ways to try to change your stinkin thinkin. Here is to a life with at least 50% reduction in pain!!!!!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books on the Subject, July 7, 2010

By 

Guipi Boy "gupiboy" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Managing Pain Before It Manages You, Third Edition (Paperback)

I have had chronic pain for years and I work with people who have chronic pain.

If you are looking for self-help with chronic pain, I do not think you will be disappointed with this book. It is one of three I provide to patients to help introduce basic chronic pain coping resources. The others are the "The Pain Survival Guide," by Dennis Turk, PhD and "Hypnotize Yourself Out of Pain Now!" By Bruce Eimer, PhD. I suggest owning all three. They effectively cover a range of knowledge of what works in helping chronic pain patients help themselves.

In "Managing Your Pain . . ." Dr. Caudill describes up-to-date and proven means of controlling pain. The book is systematically structured as an effective self-help tool. Caudill explores how mind and body interact to manage pain. The book effectivly provides many well-formed exercises to effectively encourage adoption of pain management skills. I encourage patients to use it as part of their outpatient pain treatment process and routinely suggest it to patients who prefer to work on their own. In either case, many patients effectively apply it with little or no assistance. The book also offers suggestions of additional readings.

I also recommend this book to healthcare professionals who regularly, or occasionally, treat individuals with chronic pain, as an effective summary of current clinical wisdom on chronic pain.

It is important to add that, for many with chronic pain, gaining the motivation to help self is the biggest challenge. Often a first issue is determining if the cost of addressing, managing and taking responsibility to manage you pain appears worth the benefit. Caudill treats both issues with understanding and empathy.