Understanding Pain

This guide for general readers offers a conversational tone and accessible yet detailed explanations of medical concepts, along with recommends books, websites, and organizations. Contributors are experts in pain medicine, anesthesiology, cancer rehabilitation, and vocational counseling at US hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. They give advice on how to choose a pain practitioner and outline different types of pain and the medications used to manage pain, discussing addiction to pain medications and alternative medicine for managing pain. Of special interest is a brief chapter on how to apply for disability benefits. The book offers in-depth chapters on 15 painful conditions, from headache to cancer pain, covering signs and symptoms, diagnosis, tests, and treatment options. Later chapters explain aspects of surgery for chronic pain and pain control during and after surgeries. Kaye chairs the Department of Anesthesiology at Louisiana State University. Urman teaches anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Alan D. Kaye, MD, PhD, is professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. He also serves as director of Pain Services and as professor within the Department of Pharmacology. He is board certified in anesthesiology and pain management.

Richard D. Urman, MD, MBA, is an assistant professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and director of sedation services at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. He received both his MD and MBA degrees from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.