Understanding Pain: An Introduction for Patients and Caregivers

Pain is informally defined as the body's way of uncovering a problem. Whether due to an injury, infection, or something else, pain alerts a person that something is not right. Sometimes pain goes along with inflammation and swelling, and when it does, the problem is more evident. Oftentimes, pain is more generalized to the entire body, signaling a viral infection such as a flu virus. Still other times, there is no apparent root cause for a person’s pain. Yet, millions of people suffer from some form of pain on a daily basis.

Understanding Pain walks readers through the various types of pain, the causes and symptoms, as well as the methods of treatment currently available. From prescription medication to acupuncture and massage therapy, various approaches may work for some but not for others. But handling pain is essential for living well and functioning on a daily basis. Here, the authors provide a comprehensive introduction to the subject, covering self-care as well as caring for others in pain, and addressing alternative as well as traditional methods of pain management.

Naheed Ali, M.D., is the author of Diabetes and You: A Comprehensive, Holistic Approach (Rowman & Littlefield, 2011), The Obesity Reality (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012), Understanding Alzheimer’s (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012), and Arthritis and You (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). He has appeared as a special guest on numerous talk shows and has been quoted in many national print magazines and TV websites across the US, including Woman’s World, Prevention, Whole Living, MSN.com, USAToday.com, and others.

Moshe Lewis, M.D., M.P.H, an ivy league-trained pain physician and physiatrist. He currently serves as the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the St. Luke's Campus of the California Pacific Medical Center. He lives in northern California, where he enjoys traveling and writing during his spare time. He can be visited online at MosheLewisMD.com.