This is a personal narrative, a record of my passage among victims of chronic pain and the discoveries that have come from those encounters. I write for physicians, nurses, therapists, and caregivers, but mostly, I write for you who suffer the disease. I know you very well, perhaps as well as anybody in the world. I have listened to your stories with patience and attention, and I have been greatly rewarded. You have trusted me with the deep recesses of your thoughts and fears, and the memories of the dreadful experiences that are so often the origin of chronic pain. I have treated thousands of you and I believe I have some understanding of your illness. I offer a series of essays about people like you who suffer chronic pain. From their case histories, I derive certain conclusions. Some conclusions are bold and imaginative. Some are disturbing and frightful. Not all of them will apply to you, but some certainly will. My wish is that you gain greater understanding of you.

Understanding Chronic Pain is a personal narrative, a record of Dr. Cochran's passage among victims of chronic pain and the discoveries that came from those encounters. Dr. Cochran speaks to physicians, nurses, therapists, and caregivers, but mostly, he speaks to and writes for those who suffer from the disease of chronic pain. This book offers a series of essays about people who suffer chronic pain. From their case histories, the author derives certain conclusions. Not all of them apply to all patients, but some certainly will. His wish, he says, is that the book will help chronic pain sufferers gain greater understanding of their illness -- for only in understanding can it be conquered.

In 2004, Dr. Robert T. Cochran published "Understanding Chronic Pain," a ground-breaking work exploring the links between pain, depression, childhood trauma, substance abuse, and bipolar disease. A companion to that work, "Curing Chronic Pain" demonstrates the advancements Cochran has made in successfully treating patients suffering from pain. He has found that chronic pain, a single core illness, can be alleviated with the careful application of certain drugs, even those in the controversial opiate class. In many cases, Cochran says, "miraculous cures have been achieved."

Presented in a conversational, anecdotal format, this book examines the specific experiences of chronic pain patients under Cochran's supervision. As a reader you will be struck by Cochran's warmth, compassion, intellect, and willingness to confront the complicated issues surrounding treatment. There is hope in "Curing Chronic Pain."

In 2004, Dr. Robert T. Cochran published Understanding Chronic Pain, a ground-breaking work exploring the links between pain, depression, childhood trauma, substance abuse, and bipolar disease. A companion to that work, Curing Chronic Pain demonstrates the advancements Cochran has made in successfully treating patients suffering from pain. He has found that chronic pain, a single core illness, can be alleviated with the careful application of certain drugs, even those in the controversial opiate class. In many cases, Cochran says, miraculous cures have been achieved. Presented in a conversational, anecdotal format, this book examines the specific experiences of chronic pain patients under Cochran's supervision. As a reader you will be struck by Cochran's warmth, compassion, intellect, and willingness to confront the complicated issues surrounding treatment. There is hope in Curing Chronic Pain.