Mastering Pain - A Twelve-Step Program for Coping with Chronic Pain (Paperback, Ballantine Books ed)

Pain can be devastating. It can lead to depression, loss of sleep, tension in the family and a reduction of productive hours on the job. Now, Dr. Richard A. Sternbach, director of the Pain Treatment Center at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, presents a dramatic easy-to-follow program that he has found can help you take control of your pain -- and take control of your life -- while significantly reducing the amount of medication you may need. He targets the specific causes of pain -- sports injuries, back problems, migraines, arthritis and more -- and offers specific techniques to combat them, including:
* A comprehensive conditioning plan
* Prescription analgesics and nonprescription alternatives
* Proven relaxation exercises such as biofeedback
* Positive reinforcement from friends and family
* A psychological training program for changing the way you confront pain
* Plus, a complete chapter on how to manage cancer pain, and an appendix listing the major pain treatment centers across the country.
"Advice that might be more important than your medicine cabinet when it comes to living with pain."
-- USA Weekend