Pain Recovery for Families: How to Find Balance When Someone Else's Chronic Pain Becomes Your Problem Too

Chronic pain can be a life-changing condition and not just for the person in pain: chronic pain affects the whole family. Even a well-functioning family is likely to be thrown out of balance when one of its embers has chronic pain. Family members commonly try to be supportive and compassionate, but may struggle with feelings of guilt, helplessness, depression, anxiety, and even resentment. In many cases, the pain sufferer's problematic use of prescription drugs or other substances for pain management adds to the family's confusion and distress.

Pain Recovery for Families: How to Find Balance When Someone Else's Chronic Pain Becomes Your Problem too offers a solution-oriented approach for family members to maintain a healthy life balance while providing support to someone with chronic pain. In this comprehensive guide, top treatment specialists in chronic pain rehabilitation, chemical dependence treatment, and family recovery share easy-to-implement strategies to restore physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. Also included are self-assessments and interactive exercises that address the many facets of chronic pain and its effects on the family. This book is an essential resource for anyone faced with the complex challenges of living with a loved one in chronic pain.

Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM is Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Director of Las Vegas Recovery Center. Dr. Pohl is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Pohl is the author of A Day without Pain (Central Recovery Press, 2008) and was a key force in developing the Chronic Pain Recovery Program at Las Vegas Recovery Center.
Frank J. Szabo, Jr., LADC is Clinical Director of Las Vegas Recovery Center and Senior Vice President of Clinical Services for Central Recovery Treatment, the parent organization of Las Vegas Recovery Center. Mr. Szabo has more than twenty years experience as a clinician, supervisor, and executive director within the addiction treatment and recovery fields and has worked for several state-funded treatment programs. He was instrumental in developing the Family Renewal Program and worked closely with Dr. Pohl to develop the Chronic Pain Recovery Program at Las Vegas Recovery Center.
Daniel Shiode, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, currently in full-time private practice, as well as a consulting psychologist for Las Vegas Recovery Center. Dr. Shiode received his education and training at UCLA and the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. He has been licensed in California since 1987 and in Nevada since 1992. His areas of specialty include clinical hypnosis, pain management, psychological aspects of medical conditions, and post-traumatic disorders.
Robert Hunter, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist licensed in the State of Nevada, founder of Nevada Psychological Associates and Problem Gambling Center of Las Vegas, and a consulting psychologist for Las Vegas Recovery center. Dr. Hunter has received wide media and professional attention for his highly successful compulsive gambling program and is internationally recognized as an expert on problem gambling. In addition, he continues to work with drug and alcohol addiction and the management of chronic pain. He also has run a multidisciplinary general practice since 1982 and continues to see general practice patients.