Twelve Steps For Those Afflicted With Chronic Pain: A Guide To Recovery From Emotional And Spiritual Suffering [Paperback]

Stephen Colameco M.D. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2005

The 12-Steps presented in 12-Steps for those Afflicted with Chronic Pain are intended to help individuals recover from the emotional suffering that so often accompanies chronic pain. Just as participation in AA does not preclude pharmacological treatment with antidepressant medications, participation in Dr. Colameco's program does not preclude medical treatments. The methods presented in 12-Steps for those Afflicted with Chronic Pain draw upon the rich tradition of other 12-Step programs and of cognitive behavioral therapy. For those who have failed traditional medical treatments, such as medications, surgery, and spinal injections, the Steps presented in 12-Steps for those Afflicted with Chronic Pain offer hope for a better future with little, if any, risk. Within the cover of this book, lies a solution to problems that contribute to pain suffering-lack of trust, fear, worry, blame, isolation, and resentment. 12-Steps for those Afflicted with Chronic Pain

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Colameco is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and is Certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine as well as the American Board of Family Medicine. He attended Temple University School of Medicine where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society and a winner of an Emmanual Weinberg Award for excellence in internal medicine. He completed three years of residency training in family practice at Hahnemann University Hospital where he served as Chief Resident and was one of twelve national recipients of a Meade Johnson Prize for family practice training. After his residency, he completed a faculty development fellowship at Temple University School of Medicine; during his fellowship, he concentrated clinical studies in addiction medicine. Dr. Colameco has served a medical director for addiction treatment programs, medical director for a company managing workers compensation pain management cases, has worked on psychiatric units as an addiction specialist, and has served as a residency director. He currently is medical director for Volunteers of American Delaware Valley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (May 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419606212
• ISBN-13: 978-1419606212
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Chronic Pain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twelve Steps For Those Afflicted With Chronic Pain: A Guide To Recovery From Emotional And Spiritual Suffering, October 12, 2007

By 

Gabriella Travaline "Creative Chloe" (Williamstown, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twelve Steps For Those Afflicted With Chronic Pain: A Guide To Recovery From Emotional And Spiritual Suffering (Paperback)

A fascinating and insightful book on how to live and deal with chronic pain by applying the twelve steps! The author guides you through the steps and explains how each one can lead you further on the spiritual journey to a happier, healthier existence

*The book also gives directions on starting your own "pain anonymous" group where the book can serve as a text for reviewing the steps.
I started a local group which has been an unlimited source of inspiration for me and the other members!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit out of touch, April 6, 2008

By 

S. Douglas (Northern California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twelve Steps For Those Afflicted With Chronic Pain: A Guide To Recovery From Emotional And Spiritual Suffering (Paperback)

In my opinion, the author oversimplifies the causes of chronic pain, and so also, the solutions to it. It is written from the medical model that became so prevalent during the 1990's which was promoted by pain clinics: one that emphasizes the role of secondary gains, while leaving out the role of secondary losses; one that trivializes the struggles of dealing with chronic pain by simply providing inspiration and the unspoken message to "try harder." It shows a marked lack of understanding of the process of isolation that chronic pain persons experience. It asks a lot of open-ended questions designed to foster reflection, with little advice on how to turn ones' answers into solutions. However if a person is new to the chronic pain experience, or they have an addiction to pain medications that goes beyond mere "physical dependence," or they have never read a book with lots of inspirational stories to motivate them to try harder, then this book might be beneficial to them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twelve Steps for those afflicted with chronic pain, May 8, 2008

By 

Ronald A. Hebron "Ron A Hebron" (Redmond, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twelve Steps For Those Afflicted With Chronic Pain: A Guide To Recovery From Emotional And Spiritual Suffering (Paperback)

A great guide for anyone who wants to use the "twelve steps" in a slightly different application than they are traditionally used to recover from alcoholism or drug addiction.