RC933.B47

Acknowledgments iv Foreword ix Introduction 2 Chapter 1 What Is Pain? 8 How Pain Happens 9 How Nerves Call 911 10 The Gate Theory of Pain 11 The Command Center 12 Different Types of Pain 13 Arthritis: A Major Cause of Chronic Pain 14 Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis 15 Fibromyalgia 15 Bursitis, Tendinitis and Similar Diseases 16 Other Forms of Chronic Pain 17 Are All Pains Equal? 18 Children and Pain 19 Finding Ways to Fight Pain 20 Chapter 2 What's Causing Your Pain? 24 Finding Pain's Cause 24 Diagnosis: Tests and Questions 25 What If You Don't Have a Doctor? 26 Pain Centers and Pain Clinics 28 What Is Your Medical History? 30 Talking to Your Doctor About Pain 31 How to Describe Pain 32 Diagnosis: Physical Exams and Medical Tests 33 Laboratory Tests 35 Imaging Tests 37 Tests Involving Minor Surgery 40 What If a Diagnosis Isn't Clear? 41 Developing Your Pain-Management Plan 42 Sample Pain Questionnaire 45 Chapter 3 Taking Drugs for Pain 56 What Is a Drug? 56 Drugs: Important Things to Know 57 Questions About Your Health 61 Quick Terms About Drugs 62 Chapter 4 Analgesics and NSAIDs 66 Analgesics 66 Acetaminophen 66 Narcotics 68 Newer Analgesics 69 Narcotics: Can You Get Hooked? 70 Topical Analgesics 72 Transdermal Patches 73 NSAIDs: Fighting Inflammation 74 NSAIDs and Stomach Problems 76 COX-2 Drugs 77 Chapter 5 Corticosteroids, DMARDs and More 82 Corticosteroids 82 Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs 85 Biologic Response Modifiers 87 Other Drugs for Chronic Pain 89 Gout Drugs 89 Drugs for Fibromyalgia 90 Other Drugs 92 Chapter 6 Pumps, Implants Surgery and More 98 Injections and Implants 98 Injections 98 Joint Fluid Therapy 99 Corticosteroid Injections 100 Soft-Tissue Injections 101 Nerve Block Injections 101 Implantable Devices 103 Intrathecal Drug Delivery Pumps 103 Neurostimulation Devices 104 Surgical Pain-Relief Procedures 105 Arthroplasty or Total Joint Replacement 105 Arthroscopy 106 Other Common Surgeries 106 Nerve-Related Surgeries 107 Chapter 7 Natural Options: Herbs, Supplements and More 110 What Is an Alternative Therapy? 110 What's the Controversy About Alternatives? 111 Alternatives: Be Savvy 113 Herbs and Supplements for Chronic Pain 116 The Placebo Effect 117 Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate 118 Boswellia 119 Bromelain 119 Cat's Claw 120 Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO) 120 Collagen 121 Devil's Claw 121 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) 121 Feverfew 122 Flaxseed 122 Ginger 122 GLA 123 Gotu Kola 123 Green Tea 123 MSM 124 New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel 124 SAM-e 124 Sea Algae 125 Shark Cartilage 125 Stinging Nettle 126 Thunder God Vine 126 Turmeric 126 Kava: A Possibly Risky Supplement 126 Willow Bark 126 Supplements for Fibromyalgia 128 Ginseng 128 Grapeseed 128 Melatonin 129 St. John's Wort 129 Valerian Root 129 Vitamins, Minerals and Dietary Changes 130 Gout and Diet 130 Is Food a Pain Trigger? 131 Vitamins and Minerals 134 Chapter 8 Massage, Manipulation and Other Alternatives 140 Acupuncture and Acupressure 140 Manipulation Therapies 142 Chiropractic 142 Cranio-Sacral Therapy 144 Somatic Therapy 145 Massage 145 Reflexology 147 Other Pain-Relief Therapies 148 TENS 148 Biofeedback 148 Hydrotherapy, Water Exercise and Balneotherapy 149 Hypnosis 151 Ultrasound Therapy 151 Prolotherapy 152 Aromatherapy 152 Controversial Alternative Therapies 153 Chapter 9 Do-It-Yourself Pain Relief 158 The Power of Heat and Cold 158 Heat Treatments 159 Cold Treatments 159 Heat and Cold: Be Safe! 159 Self-Massage 160 Joint Protection 160 Exercise: Boost the Body's Defenses 161 The Benefits of Exercise for Pain 162 A Solid Exercise Plan 162 Can Exercise Increase My Pain? 163 Are You Doing Too Much? 164 Flexibility Exercises 164 Sample Flexibility Stretches 165 Strengthening Exercises 168 Cardiovascular or Aerobic Exercise 169 Walking Progression for Fitness 171 Head-to-Toe Water Workout 172 Alternative Exercise Methods 172 Chapter 10 Reducing Painful Stress 178 What Is Stress? 178 Easing Stress Step by Step 179 Stress Journal 180 Learning to Relax 181 Sample Stress Journal 181 Sample Relaxation Exercises 183 Writing Your Stress Away 184 Conclusion 186 Resources 186 Glossary 190 Index 200

Describes the causes of chronic pain, natural and alternative treatment options, exercises to alleviate pain, and ways to create a pain-management plan. Are you one of the millions of people who live with chronic pain every day? Does pain keep you out of work, affect your relationships and disturb your sleep? If so, what you are looking for is relief...now. With the new Arthritis Foundation's Guide to Pain Management, you will find information on the most effective treatment solutions -- both medical and natural -- for even the toughest