Pain is an unpleasant sensation. It is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage". Pain is part of the body's defence system: it triggers mental problem-solving strategies that seek to end the painful experience, and it promotes learning, making repetition of the painful situation less likely. The nociceptive system transmits signals that usually trigger the sensation of pain, it is a critical component of the body's ability to react to damaging stimuli and it is part of a rapid-warning relay instructing the central nervous system to initiate reactions for minimising injury. This book presents the latest research in the field from around the globe.

This riveting book takes the reader around the globe and through the centuries to discover how different cultures have sought to combat and treat physical pain. With colourful stories and sometimes frightening anecdotes, Dr Thomas Dormandy describes a chequered progression of breakthroughs, haphazard experiments, ignorant attitudes, and surprising developments in human efforts to control pain. Attitudes toward pain and its perception have changed, as have the means of pain relief and scientific understanding. Dr Dormandy offers a thoroughly fascinating, multicultural history that culminates with a discussion of today's successes, and failures, in the struggle against pain. The book's exploration is fused with accounts of the development of specific methods of pain relief, including the use of alcohol, plants, hypnosis, religious faith, stoic attitudes, local anaesthesia, general anaesthesia and modern analgesics. Dr Dormandy also looks at the most recent advances in pain clinics and palliative care for patients with terminal disease as well as the prospects for loosening pain's grip in the future. Thomas Dormandy, MD, is a retired consultant pathologist, Whittington Hospital, University of London, and Brunel University, London. He is the author of the prize-winning book 'The White Death: A History of Tuberculosis' and 'Opium: Reality's Dark Dream', published by Yale University Press.

Basic science and clinical pain research is particularly challenging for several reasons. First, pain is a subjective experience in response to nociception that follows actual or potential tissue damage. Since the ability to respond to this warning signal is essential for our survival, the nociceptive system that produces and transmits nociceptive signals is remarkably redundant and involves diffuse regions of the central nervous system. Second, unlike other sensory modalities, pain is a multi-dimensional experience including at least cognitive, affective, and sensory-discriminative components. Third, pain experiences can be influenced by psychological, socioeconomic, cultural, and genetic predispositions, making it exceedingly complicated to study pain and pain modulation. The topics covered in this volume are carefully selected and directly related to the daily practice of pain medicine. These topics include 1) central mechanisms of pain and pain modulation (Dickenson, Donovan-Rodriguez, Mattews) and clinical use of ion channel blockers (Chen); 2) spinal glutamatergic mechanisms (Guo, Dubner, Ren) and issues related to glutamate receptor antagonists in pain management (Mao); 3) basic science of opioid analgesics (Gintzler, Chakrabarti) and clinical opioid use (Smith, McCleane); 4) inflammatory cytokines (Samad) and clinical use of anti-inflammatory drugs (Fink, Brenner); 5) role of the sympathetic nervous system in pain mechanisms and its relation to clinical pain management (Sharma, Raja); 6) preclinical studies on tricyclic antidepressants (Gerner, Wang) and clinical use of antidepressants in pain management (Greenberg); 7) developing pain pathways and analgesic mechanisms during the developmental stage (Fitzgerald) and challenges of pediatric pain management (Lebel); 8) basic science mechanisms of serotonin agonists and their use in the clinical management of migraine headache (Biondi); 9) clinical research on gender differences in clinical pain and their implications for clinical pain management (Holdcroft); 10) current modalities of clinical cancer pain management (Popescu, Hord); and 11) preclinical and clinical information on alternative medicine (Chen).

Nurses at all stages of their careers have a pivotal role in dealing with patients in pain. This book is an essential guide to the management and understanding of pain and provides clear and accessible information on identification and classification of pain, responses, and systems for treatment and their impact upon the patient. The book focuses on the causes and effects of pain including injury, surgery, infection and disease, and considers situations that nurses and health-care professionals may encounter in the clinical setting. Treatments including pharmacological, surgical and complementary techniques are illustrated and emphasis is given to the patient's conception of pain and the factors influencing management and therapy.

Feared by most, sought out by others, pain may manifest itself as a benevolent messenger warning of imminent danger or a repellent nemesis that undermines and incapacitates us. Throughout the ages pain has intrigued those who focus on the soul and the sacred in equal measure to those who specialize in the body and medicine.

In "The History of Pain," Roselyne Rey draws on multidisciplinary sources to explore this universally shared experience. From classical antiquity to the twentieth century, she contrasts the different cultural perceptions of pain in each period, as well as the medical theories advanced to explain its mechanisms, and the various therapeutic remedies formulated to relieve those suffering from it.

This broad historical perspective, both accurate and remarkably erudite, highlights the extraordinary transformation in humanity's relationship to pain, chronicles the considerable progress made in its understanding and treatment, and explores the shadowy areas of mystery which remain to this day.

EL USO MAGICO Y RITUAL DE LAS HIERBAS
Richard Alan Miller, bioquiimco, fisico y herbolario de profesion, combina su conocimiento de la ciencia y los rituales para la exploracion y practica de la magia de las hierbas. Su libro descibe el uso historico, la estructura quimica, la preparacion para el consumo y los rituales magicos de diecinueve hierbas narcoticas, alucinogenas, estimulantes y sedantes, que incluyen semillas de maravilla, lechuga silvestre, damiana, escutelaria y hongos psilocibe. Se examina la quimica de cada hierba para determinar como afecta la percepcion consciente de la realidad y se recomiendan los rituales correspondientes para aumentar la conciencia fisica y psicologica. Al detallar los usos de las plantas en otras culturas y tradiciones religiosas, ademas de indicar las precauciones necesarias, el autor explica como se pueden utilizar estas sustancias naturales para aumentar la sexualidad, asi como para la relajacion muscular, el masaje, los ritos de iniciacion, la proyeccion astral y el desarrollo espiritual.

A collection of writings on psychodynamic theory, psychotherapy and physical illness. Issues addressed include the links between biopsychosocial and psychodynamic approaches to health care; the emotional needs of patients; and clinical interventions with psychosomatically ill patients.

This book presents important findings on the effects of hypnosis in reducing anxiety and pain in these children and demonstrate that hypnotherapy offers real promise of pain relief without drugs. Because of its rare combination of solid research and practical advice, this book should prove to be a multidimensional resource for clinical work and theoretical exploration.

This immensely practical volume describes the rationale, development, and utilization of cognitive-behavioral techniques in promoting health, preventing disease, and treating illness, with a particular focus on pain management. An ideal resource for a wide range of practitioners and researchers, the book's coverage of pain management includes theoretical, research, and clinical issues, and includes illustrative case material.

Body Reshaping through Muscle and Skin Meridian Therapy: An Introduction to 6 Body Types shows you how your weight and body shape can be a direct result of ill health and explains the structures and functions involved. It explores much more than just what your scale and the fit of your clothes might tell you. It looks at skin, fat, muscles, diaphragm, historical illnesses or injuries, body posture, body clock or circadian rhythm, digestion, blood vessels, nutrition, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system, and enteric nervous system. By examining the above factors, you will learn how they contribute toward changes in body shape (notice no mention of dieting or exercise). Muscle meridian therapy refers to the passive application of treatments to muscles not connected to any major organ. The techniques involved improve all the metabolic balances of the body (pressure, temperature, and balance) as well as your overall health. Therapies can benefit all people, including those with traumas such as digestive system disorders, autonomic nerve system disorders, medication complications, post-childbirth complications, major scarring, posture issues, and pain management. The author provides the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tools and techniques needed for practitioner-guided wellness or at-home wellness understanding and maintenance. The book offers a full guide to "body type" evaluation for muscle meridian therapy and presents a "passive" therapy method (like massage or acupuncture) to complement "active" therapies (like physical therapy and exercise). It covers concepts that are highly individualized yet very "whole body" for physical restoration and balance.

Pain is among the foremost complaints of women seeking gynecological consultation, yet the diagnosis is often limited to endometriosis. Chronic Pelvic Pain discusses how to diagnose a broad scope of underlying conditions presenting in relation to pelvic pain in women and their treatment. Starting with an anatomical review from a pain point of view, several chapters continue to explore specific conditions such as vulvodynia, the often overlooked painful bladder syndrome and pelvic inflammatory disease. Also covered are topics such as sexual dysfunction, psychological aspects of chronic pelvic pain and alternative treatment methods. Practical treatment tips for specific conditions which are readily applicable in everyday practice are provided throughout. Special attention is given to the use of sonography and MRI in diagnostics. With its comprehensive approach, addressing both body and mind, this is essential reading for medical specialists and consultants and specialist medical trainees in gynecology, pain medicine, and family practice.

Safe and effective injection techniques for the treatment of spinal pain Written by a multidisciplinary team of experts, Spinal Injection Techniques presents the most effective methods for injecting pharmaceuticals to address acute and chronic pain originating from the cervical spine to the sacrum. This new, second edition has been extensively revised and updated with replacement of many images and addition of an extended chapter with tips and tricks on diagnostic and clinical examination. The authors' emphasis is on techniques that represent viable alternatives to spine surgery and do not rely on diagnostic imaging. The first section of the book provides a general overview of the basic principles, diagnostics, and causal as well as symptomatic pain therapy for the spine. The second section, created in an atlas format, includes chapters on spinal anatomy and pain signaling, techniques for injection therapy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, management of potential complications and side effects, and multimodal spine therapy. Illustrated using real-life photographs from the authors' practice, each technique-related chapter guides the reader step-by-step and with great confidence through the injection procedures. Highlights: Provides detailed coverage of injection therapy using anatomic landmarks, without the use of image guidance Features minimally invasive spine therapy for inpatient and outpatient settings, with concomitant pharmaceutical treatments Includes essential information on contraindications and patient consent More than 500 color illustrations and photographs demonstrating the relevant anatomy, patient positioning, and accurate needle placement Conceived as a practical guide and useful compendium, Spinal Injection Techniques is invaluable for orthopedists and practitioners in physical medicine and rehabilitatio

Chronic pain is the most common long-term health condition in the United States. For the nearly 100 million Americans who struggle with this burden, the substantial risks of prescription opioid treatment have left many searching for safer, more effective alternatives. While multidisciplinary pain treatment programs can help, they are few in number-and few mental health practitioners receive adequate training in pain treatment. This book provides a comprehensive overview of treating patients with chronic pain, using evidence-based therapies. Taking a multidisciplinary approach that includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and chronic pain self-management, Darnall shows mental health professionals how to utilize mindfulness interventions, hypnosis, and biofeedback, and also address comorbid problems such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Included are compelling case studies, and resources for clinical and patient training.

The management of pain can often be achieved by medications, physical therapies, or by various procedural techniques that have evolved in recent decades. With the trend towards more outpatient surgeries and less invasive surgeries to decrease perioperative risk, perioperative time, and costs, the practice of anesthesia is evolving to utilize regional anesthesia techniques both for inpatients and outpatients. Regional anesthesia is being performed for outpatient surgeries, obstetric anesthesia, trauma, chronic pain states, and for acute post-operative pain management. Therefore, it is paramount for physicians and nurses practicing anesthesia to understand the essentials of regional anesthesia, its evolving techniques, and appropriate utilization of modern equipment and technology to provide care safely. Essentials of Regional Anesthesia, Second edition, is a concise, up-to-date, evidence-based handbook that enables every resident, physician and nurse to understand the basics of regional anesthesia and the standard of care guidelines for the practice of regional anesthesia in a comprehensive fashion. This new edition includes: * Updated and new chapters on Ambulatory, Critical Care, and Obstetrics topics * Full color, clear, detailed, anatomic drawings * Clinically relevant, practical aspects of regional anesthesia * International contributing authors who are experts in their field * Latest ultrasound techniques and images Review of 1st edition: "There are many books available on regional anesthesia, and the trend is either to focus on illustrations, forgoing any discussion, or on text descriptions, making them bulky and hard to read. This book maintains that perfect balance between text and illustrations. It is truly a master companion book on regional anesthesia." (Tariq M. Malik, Doody's Book Reviews, April, 2012)

The successful management of chronic pain remains an elusive goal. As more complex diagnostic and intervention procedures become available, patients and clinicians alike have ever-greater expectations of banishing the problem of pain altogether. Unfortunately this hope is rarely fulfilled and the frustration experienced by everyone affected by chronic pain has remained more or less the same over the last two or three decades. Based on over 40 years' of experience and research The Practical Pain Management Handbook is a unique resource specifically designed for therapists involved in running Pain Management Programmes (PMPs). This engaging and effective handbook includes: intensive inpatient and extended outpatient programmes all of which are at least 25 hours in length; interactive materials designed to be used to form the basis of group discussion. Where there is a question in the text the suggested answer material is provided; assignments and tasks that can be used as homework or group session exercises; both standard Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) technologies as both have been found to be valuable in PMPs. The handbook is organised into sections to fit a useful logical sequence but can be adapted to suit your preference.

Recently, there has been a significant and healthy shift to establish the effectiveness of clinical practice, widely referred to as evidence-based medicine. This book fills a major gap in the practice literature for healthcare professionals engaged in providing psychosocial care for their patients suffering from chronic pain or illness. Oxford University, a leader in evidence-based medicine, now has a master s program in evidence-based social work, the only one of its kind. Much of the practice of medicine is evidence based; however, much of the psychosocial care provided to patients is not. This is not due to the absence of such evidence; rather, practice has traditionally relied on clinical evidence, common sense, and practitioner wisdom. However, given the demand for results from governments, from insurance companies, and, most importantly, from patients, psychosocial care must move in the direction of evidence-based practice, for which a great deal of research is available.

This book will (1) provide empirically derived support and understanding of psychosocial problems encountered by patients and (2) explore the efficacy of the interventions available for patient care. Chapter 1 will take a historical view of the development of evidence-based practice in medicine and psychology. Chapter 2 will examine the concept of empirically supported evidence, ie, the extent to which the impact of psychosocial problems on health has been measured. The remaining eight chapters will explore a range of psychosocial issues through case illustration and examine both the problems and their management from an evidence-based approach. This book is a departure from reports on evidence-based practice to the extent that the empirical bases of the problems reported, and not just their treatment, are subjected to scrutiny."

Pain therapy, effective and cost-effective, easy to learn A highly effective, low-risk pain management therapy to include in your patient services, Injection Therapy in Pain Management provides a practical, step-by-step approach that will allow physicians, including those without extensive prior experience, to manage pain through the injection of local anesthetics. Its clear, symptom-oriented format and detailed directions show how to recognize clinically recurring pain patterns, administer the correct treatment, and manage pain syndromes successfully. Special Features: Precise instructions for implementing injection techniques safely and efficiently - even for more complex pain such as headache and in the shoulder Nearly 100 clear anatomic illustrations that use a simple color key to demonstrate injection points and areas of pain distribution - an ideal visual learning aid Concise descriptions of indications; differential diagnoses; materials and techniques; insertion points, direction and depth; possible risks and side effects; and concomitant therapies for pain treatment A straightforward double-page format with text on one side and anatomic drawings on the facing page for easy mastery of techniques For all busy clinicians whose aim is to relieve pain quickly and effectively, and add a valuable, cost-effective service to their practice, this atlas-style teaching reference is essential. Orthopedists, sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, and practitioners of manual medicine will find a wealth of information and a "roadmap" of techniques that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday practice.

Up-to-date information on pain managementincluding options to consider when conventional treatment is ineffective Providing effective treatment for pain-especially to elderly clients-can be a vexing problem for even the most knowledgeable clinician. In Clinical Management of the Elderly Patient in Pain, some of the world's leading authorities describe the unique difficulties that arise when trying to provide pain relief to elderly patients. They examine conventional treatment with opioid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with a broad range of alternatives to consider when frontline drugs fail. Non-drug options for pain relief from the fields of physical medicine and psychology are also explored. Essential topics addressed in Clinical Management of the Elderly Patient in Pain include: pain as an aspect of advancing age how pharmacology differs in elderly patients available therapeutic options, including opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-epileptic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, membrane stabilizers, and topical agents physical medicine approaches psychological approaches to pain in the elderly Most publications on this subject focus on the use of opioids, non-steroidal drugs, and other commonly prescribed analgesics. Clinical Management of the Elderly Patient in Pain takes a different approach. Editor Gary McCleane, MD, says, Our need, with elderly patients, is to provide treatment that is both effective and easily tolerated. This is not a book devoted to opioids and non-steroidals, although they are addressed. Nor is it about those analgesics used in younger patients being used in smaller doses with the elderly. Rather, it contains practical options for treating pain when other simple remedies fail to help. At times this will involve using conventional analgesics in scaled-down doses, but at others it will involve using substances not yet fully recognized as possessing analgesic properties because they fit the bill in terms of possible analgesic actions, side-effect profiles, and lack of drug/drug interactionsand because practical experience suggests they may be useful in the scenario described. Clinical Management of the Elderly Patient in Pain is designed as a point of interface between the specialist pain practitioner and the clinician faced with all the problems of satisfactorily managing pain in elderly patients. It presents commonsense, practical, patient-oriented options that make it a useful resource for busy clinicians.

This seventh edition of a bestseller has been totally revised and updated, making this the most comprehensive rewrite in the book's long and distinguished history. It includes new chapters, new sections and section editors, and new contributors. Offering an interdisciplinary approach to pain management, the book delivers a scholarly presentation for those concerned with pedagogy, while still being accessible to those concerned with the immediate application of techniques. Here's what you get in the Seventh Edition: Tighter focus on discipline-specific approaches Expanded coverage of electrical and magnetic therapies New information on behavioral approaches Diagnostic tests and evaluations Updated information on legal and ethical issues

Ein Selbsthilfebuch fur Menschen mit chronischen Schmerzen - und deren Angehoerige: Millionen von Menschen in Deutschland sind von chronischen Schmerzen betroffen. Schmerzkranke haben oft eine lange Vorgeschichte mit den verschiedensten medizinischen und chirurgischen Massnahmen sowie erfolglosen Therapieversuchen. Betroffene erleben sich ihren Schmerzen hilflos ausgeliefert. Und Partner, Familie, Freunde leiden mit. Aus dem Inhalt: Dieses Therapiebuch begleitet Sie bei der Behandlung Ihrer Schmerzerkrankung. Mit dieser Hilfe werden Sie zum Experten Ihrer eigenen Krankheit. Sie erfahren alles Wissenswerte uber die verschiedenen Erkrankungsbilder, Symptome, ihre Ursachen und Behandlungsmoeglichkeiten. Sie finden Unterstutzung, dass die Symptome nicht eingebildet sind oder auf persoenlicher Schwache beruhen. Sie lernen auf Ihre Beschwerden Einfluss zu nehmen und die Schmerzen zu lindern. UEber den Autor: Dr. med. Martin von Wachter ist Facharzt fur psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie mit Zusatzausbildung in psychosomatischer Schmerztherapie und Traumatherapie.

Dieses Praxisbuch liefert Physiotherapeuten, Padiatern, Ergotherapeuten und Logopaden die wichtigsten Anlagetechniken bei Kleinkindern, Kindern und Jugendlichen. Aus dem Inhalt: * Kontraindikationen, Farblehre und Kombinationstherapien * Anlagetechniken fur Muskulatur, Ligamente und Lymphsystem * Funktionsweise von K-Taping und Grundregeln fur die Behandlung von Kindern * Indikationsspezifische Tape-Anlagen, z. B. bei Haltungsschaden, Plexusparese, Fussdeformitaten oder Lungenerkrankungen Optimieren Sie Ihre Behandlungsergebnisse und verhelfen Sie Ihren kleinen und groesseren Patienten zu mehr Lebensqualitat. In der 2. Auflage komplett aktualisiert und um weitere Anlagetechniken erganzt.

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.

This definitve clinical reference comprehensively reviews the most advanced methods for assessing the person in pain. Empirically supported instruments and procedures are detailed, including self-report measures, observational techniques, psychophysiological measures, and more. Best-practice recommendations are provided for assessing the most prevalent pain sydromes and for working with children, the elderly, and people with communication difficulties. The book also weighs in on the limitations of existing methods and identifies key directions for future research. New to this edition: tighter organization with more concise chapters and a heightened focus on practical clinical issues; incorporates significant advances in knowledge about pain and pain syndromes; numerous new or refined assessment instruments and procedures, including applications of advanced imaging techniques; and chapter providing an integrated, comprehensive assessment approach for any type of chronic pain.