Overcoming Pain: What It Is, Why It Is, and Successful Ways to Treat It

Designed to address the issues of the more than 48 million chronic pain sufferers in the United States, this guide to coping with and overcoming persistent pain examines pain in biological, cultural, and behavioral contexts. The treatment options for arthritis, back and neck pain, angina, diabetes, and other afflictions are outlined and explained, as are the advantages and disadvantages of non-medication-based therapy. Also critiqued are the disparities in quality and quantity of treatments received by African Americans in contrast to those received by the population at large. A diverse list of resources, including pain specialists and clinics, support groups, organizations, and web sites, is also provided.