Managing Pain before It Manages You (Paperback)

by Margaret A. Caudill MD PhD MPH (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American
Managing Pain before It Manages You is a well spring of wisdom and practical approaches that can help transform your life as well as your pain. Dr Caudill's enormous wealth of knowledge, extensive clinical experience, and compassionate understanding combine to make this the single best book on pain available today. It will surely become a classic.

Review
"...a how-to workbook." --The Bookwatch

" ...This book does not just provide excellent content; it is also structured to motivate people and is written in a manner that seems to invite learning....It is written in a clear and articulate style that is friendly and informative but not condescending, while at the same time educational and scientific without being pedantic. The book is both philosophical and practical, providing learning experiences on several levels. The chapters are well organized, including essential information on a wide variety of topics, backed by references to relevant research and citing the principal investigators involved in the research. There is a nice combination of education, examples, and exercises in each chapter, providing a positive and inviting learning atmosphere. The summaries at the end of each chapter are excellent as are the bibliographies that are provided. The coverage of different approaches to pain management is notable for its breadth and the obvious comfort the author has with her material. A good deal of very practical and useful information is presented in a concise fashion....I recommend this volume without hesitation both as a self-help book for chronic pain sufferers and as an important source of treatment information for professionals who may wish to become more knowledgeable about chronic pain and its treatment." --Journal of Pharmaceutical Care in Pain & Symptom Control

"...Initial chapters set the tone that is continued throughout the book: direct information presented in a very compassionate tone by the author. The reader gets the sense that the author has great understanding of the experience of living with chronic pain; yet she also promotes the importance of controlling pain, rather than being controlled by it. Very practical suggestions are given for the use of relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, physical exercise, nutrition, and other non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain. A strength of the book is the chapter devoted to effective communication which is a common frustration for the patient in interacting with heath care providers." --Disabilities Studies Quarterly

"This book presents a well defined and clearly articulated program designed to teach persons who live with pain how to manage pain and feel more in control of their lives....Occupational therapy practitioners who work with this population should find this book appealing and useful. It is practical and offers clear materials to reproduce and use in group and individual sessions....This book should fit nicely as a valuable resource in any occupational therapy department." --American Occupational Therapy Association

"....This book may be used in conjunction with a formally structured pain-control program or on an independent basis. Its practical, jargon-free style is geared towards the lay reader. A user-friendly style and many simple measurement scales facilitate application...." --Child and Family Behavior Therapy
-- Review

Dr. Caudill's narrative is crystal clear and insightful, demonstrating great empathy for pain sufferers. She has a knack for clearly and concisely discussing relevant information while anticipating readers' misconceptions and reservations, addressing them throughout the volume. This volume can be used by people with chronic pain on their own as well as an adjunct to treatments provided by professionals. If followed carefully, this volume will surely make a difference in the lives of those with diverse chronic pain syndromes. Dr. Margaret Caudill has produced an outstanding volume that will set the standard against which all future volumes targeting those with chronic pain will be judged. -- Dennis C. Turk, Ph.D., Director, Professor of Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, & Behavioral Science, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press (December 2, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898622247
• ISBN-13: 978-0898622249
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #340,521 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am recovering from chronic pain and this book really helps, December 19, 1997

By	Steve Grinstead, ([e-mail]) (Cupertino, California) - See all my reviews

This book "Managing Your Pain..." is the best book I have discovered in my personal 13 year recovery journey with chronic pain. Dr. Caudill has presented the information in a clear and understandable fashion, making it easy to make effective behavioral changes as well as attitude shifts. I am also working as a pain management specialist and recommend this book to all of my clients. I have never received an unfavorable review from them. I especially like the chapters "Mind Body Connection" and "Body Mind Connection." The other important feature of this book is that the author allows people who purchase her book to copy the exercises and even makes it easy by adding removable pages for ease of photo copying. I highly recommend this to both people suffering from chronic pain and health care providers with chronic pain clients. Steve Grinstead.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for chronic pain..., September 5, 2000

By A Customer

This workbook is a great adjunct to cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain. The techniques in the book are well-explained and can also be used by people suffering from other chronic problems, such as depression. This book is written at an intermediate reading level, making it more difficult to understand for some and too simplistic for others. However, the therapist should be able to pick and choose the chapters that are right for their client.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Changed My Life, September 15, 2003

By	Frances B. (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

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

After decades of dibilitating pain, employing techniques offered in this book changed my life dramatically. I am now in control of my pain and my life. There is no "quick fix" to chronic pain, but with resolve and dedication to educating yourself, it is possible to live a fulfilling life even with chronic pain. This book offers just that, real life techniques and tools you can employ immediately, to change your approach to a chronic problem. I recomend this book to anyone who is serious about making positive lifestyle changes in order to manage their pain more effectively. Drugs and their negative side effects are not the only option. I have my life back after many, many years.