Understanding Chronic Pain: A Doctor Talks to His Patients

by Robert T Cochran

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781577363026
Publisher:	TURNER PUB CO
Publication date:	06/01/2007
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

A graduate of Vanderbilt UniversityMedical School, Robert T. Cochran Jr., M.D., completed his residency in internal medicine and neurology at the Universityof Texas and Duke University. In 1963, he established his private medical practice in Nashville, where he continues to work today.

Serving as the co-director of the Pain Center at Centennial Hospital in Nashville in the 1990s, Dr. Cochran built a reputation as a leader in chronic pain treatment. Treating thousands of pain patients throughout his forty-year practice has enabled him to explore the commonality of all chronic pain sufferers, as well as understand the real scope of painfulness.

Dr. Cochran uniquely incorporates the fields of neurology, internal medicine, and psychiatry in deriving insightful—sometimes disturbing yet hopeful—conclusions for the chronic pain sufferer. He brings to light intriguing new treatment strategies that should be of interest to the medical community and chronic pain sufferers alike.

Dr. Cochran and his wife, Donna, reside in Nashville. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

For additional information, go to Dr. Cochran’s website, www.understandingpain.com.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Drugs Useful for Pain	xi
	Introduction	xiii
1.	Failure to Recover	3
2.	What is Chronic Pain?	9
3.	Identifiers and Risk Factors	13
4.	Mind-Soul Disease	23
5.	Drugs for Pain	39
6.	Memory	54
7.	Triavil	64
8.	The Painful Brain	77
9.	Sexual Abuse	85
10.	Referred Pain	95
11.	Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy	99
12.	Kindling	110
13.	Substance Abuse	117
14.	Bipolarity	125
15.	Chronic Fatigue	143
16.	Migraine	155
17.	Neurogenic Inflammation	169
18.	Attention Deficit Disorder	179
19.	Summing Up	192
	Epilogue	200
	About the Author	202

Interviews

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.

Editorial Reviews

Dr. Cochran’s book should be read by all physicians and given to all patients who suffer with chronic pain.” –Clifton K. Meador, MD, Executive Director/ Meharry Vanderbilt Alliance

“As an advocate for chronic pain patients, Dr. Cochran presents and accurate account of the personal and painful struggles of his patients. This exceptional book will enlighten patients and health care practitioners.” –Sharon Ostalecki, PhD, author of The Complete Guide to Fibromyalgia: From Medical Experts and Patients

From the Publisher