Preface
This is a pocket book about patients who suffer long-term pain. It is designed for primary care clinicians (for example doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists or pharmacists) who want to learn more about the treatment of people with long-term pain. It is written in a distinct style to take the development of ideas about pain from the simple to the complex during the course of a chapter, and the course of the book. The information provided is up to date and relevant for the treatment of patients in long term pain written by doctors who’s practise is either wholly or substantially related to people with pain. It is not intended to be an exhaustive text; it provides relevant examples of everyday patients with their problems to provide carers with the confidence to prescribe and treat patients with more difficult pain. A starting list of references is given, where appropriate, and links to internet resources have also been provided.
The book emphasizes the need to consider the triumvirate of biological, psychological and social impacts of pain. Details of the science behind common conditions and their remedies are also given in a chatty style in an attempt to demystify areas of medicine that are often seen as problematic. The book is extensively edited to provide the consistent style; most chapters use actual cases around which the theme of the chapter is developed to maintain the ‘hands-on’ nature of the text.
