Information for Patients and Friends

 

What It's Like To Be The Patient
added 2 March 2005 (OFF SITE) - Web Link

Thanks to Stephen Taylor for this excellent article and for granting permission to ASAMS to reprint it in our members newsletter
www.painrecoveryonline.com

An excellent look from both sides of the physicians desk

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Countering Chronic Pain Myths
added 25 July 2003 (ON SITE) - Word file 275k

Thanks to Marilyn Oakes for permission to reproduce this article
www.oakes.org

The purpose of this lecture is to identify ten common pain myths, potential solutions to the problems posed by the myths.

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Chronic Pain - Opioid Therapy FAQ 
(ON SITE) 12 Feb 02

Thanks to Dr William E. Hurwitz MD for permission to post this article

Dr Hurwitz advises that the information in the guide was written a few years ago and needs some revision. It is based on his clinical experience than on the research literature, and any one viewing the site should keep this in mind.

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Chronic Pain - Hope Through Research 
(ON SITE)

National Institute of Neurological disorders and Stroke
Thanks to the National Institutes of Health for permission to post this article

The whys and wherefores of chronic pain,covering an understanding of chronic pain, treatments, drugs used and where to go for help.

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Fact Sheet on Chronic Nonmalignant Pain (CNP) (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

Marcia E. Bedard, PhD

This fact sheet debunks some myths about chronic pain and highlights the plight of people plagued with unrelieved chronic pain and mentions arachnoiditis among the most common causes of severe CNP. It also points out discrimination of chronic pain patients and other persons with chronic pain who are at risk for undertreatment. References are included.

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Neurostimulation and the Nervous System: Theories of Pain (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

Charles V. Burton, M.D., for the Burton Report

The means by which neurostimulation influences the intact nervous system to produce pain relief is not known. 

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From Patient To Person: Ten Steps (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

American Chronic Pain Association

The ten steps you may need if facing chronic pain.

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Hopkins Researchers Uncover Basics of Perplexing Pain Syndromes (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

A team of neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins offers the first concrete evidence of what's behind some of the most incapacitating pain syndromes people can suffer, a move suggesting immediate strategies for treatment.

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Issues in Defining Pain (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

C. Richard Chapman, PhD

This article highlights the need to consider the emotional components related to pain. Brief and well written, it recommends treating the whole person rather than the presenting symptom.

 

We thank C. Richard Chapman, PhD. Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington at Seattle, WA for permission to share this material and invite our viewers to visit his website for futher information.

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Just Give Me Something for the Pain (ON-SITE)

Melissa Hendricks

Using Morphine to control chronic spinal pain.

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The Handbook on Chronic Pain (ON-SITE)

Thanks to Dr Richard Hansen

Excellent resource handbook.

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Perspectives in Intractable Pain Management: An analysis of current divering viewpoints (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

Kristin Bundy
For the National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain

An excellent analysis of the views surrounding the proper management of intractable pain.

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Treatment of Nonmalignant Chronic Pain (OFF-SITE)

 

Dawn A. Marcus, MD, for the American Academy of Family Physicians

Details on how best to care for patients suffering from diseases and disorders that cause chronic pain.

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Use of opioid analgesics for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain (OFF-SITE)

Canadian Pain Society

This is the consensus statement and guidelines from the Canadian Pain Society task force.

 

Our sincere thanks to Donna E Kennedy for permission to link to this excellent paper for our visitors.

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Chronic Pain. A New Disease (OFF-SITE)

By Daniel Brookoff M.D.

Chronic pain is a potentially fatal disease and is the most common cause of long term disability. Although effective medical therapy is available, chronic pain is commonly viewed as a physical illness not worthy of treatment. Recent studies provide the rationale for a more aggressive and comprehensive approach to chronic pain syndrome. This is an excellent article for both physicians and patients describing chronic neuropathic inflammation and pain and their treatment. It includes excellent illustrations or normal and abnormal pathways of pain.

 

Our thanks to Lee Powers for permission to link to this article.

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Chronic Pain 2: The Case for Opioids
(OFF-SITE)

By Daniel Brookoff M.D. University of Tennessee
Methodist Hospitals of Memphis

Opioid medications allow us to treat chronic pain
as aggressively as we would any pathogen, but we
must first overcome ingrained misconceptions
about patients' motivations for seeking treatment
and about the addictive properties of the drugs.
With controlled use, the newer sustained-release
formulations give real hope for safe and sustained
pain relief.

 

Our thanks to Lee Powers for permission to link to this article.

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Understanding Pain
Excerpt from: Briefing on the Brain-Body Connection (Printer-friendly version of entire document)

Steven E. Hyman, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health

This exerpt is from a letter presented before the U.S House of Representatives and deals with the issue of the relationship between chronic pain and its effects on the brain, including the development of depression.

 

ASAMS thanks the NIMH Public Inquiries office for permission to post this exerpt and to link to their website.

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North American Society for Action on Pain (off-site)

NASAP is an organization of chronic pain patients assisting other patients in locating adequate and ongoing treatment of their pain and advocating both politically and personally for CPPs. We also host an e-mail list discussion forum comprised of lay and professional participants facilitated to educate and allow the exchange of information and idea, as well as support of list members.

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Pain Management: The Benefits & Risks of Opioids (off-site)

by Michael Clark MD MPH
Thanks to Jane McKenzie White for permission to link.

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A Virtual Pocket Dictionary of Pain Terms (on-site)

by 

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Managing Pain 
(off-site)

Managing Pain explains the complexity of pain including how it is transmitted, types and characteristics, evaluating and treating pain, types of medications and several techniques to manage it.

Thanks to Mayo Clinic for permission to link

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Chronic Pain Links Site
(off-site)

An ever growing collection of web-site links related to chronic pain, and the many disorders known to cause such pain. The site presently offers more than 1200 links and will, as time allows, include a brief description of what each site offers.

Thanks to Dave Lamborne for permission to link

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Chronic Pain after Spinal Cord Injury (OFF-SITE)

Thanks to Cynthia Salzman, University of Washington, Rehabilitation Medicine

Originally published in the Summer 1995 issue of Spinal Cord Injury Update

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Pain and Spinal Cord Injury (OFF-SITE)

Thanks to Cynthia Salzman, University of Washington, Rehabilitation Medicine

Originally published in the Summer 2001 issue of Spinal Cord Injury Update

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