A Nation in Pain: Healing our Biggest Health Problem

466 Pages·2014·1.806 MB·English

by  Judy Foreman

HEALING OUR BIGGEST
HEALTH PROBLEM
JUDY FOREM

A Nation in Pain

A Nation in Pain
Healing Our Biggest Health Problem
Judy Foreman
1
1

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© Judy Foreman 2014
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Foreman, Judy.
A nation in pain : healing our biggest health problem / Judy Foreman.
pages cm
ISBN 978–0–19–983720–5
1. Chronic pain—United States. 2. Chronic pain—Treatment—United States. 3. Opioid abuse—
United States—History. 4. Pain—Alternative treatment. I. Title.
RB127.F672 2013
616′.0472—dc23
2013015742

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To Ken

CONTENTS
Introduction ix
How to Read Th is Book xi
Chapter 1 Th e Enormity of the Problem 1
Chapter 2 What Is Pain, Anyway? 19
Chapter 3 Th e Genetics of Pain 4 5
Chapter 4 Gender and Pain 6 1
Chapter 5 Children in Pain 7 9
Chapter 6 Th e Mind–Body in Pain 9 1
Chapter 7 Opioid Wars, Part I: Th e Problem 1 25
Chapter 8 Opioid Wars, Part II: Proposed Solutions 1 65
Chapter 9 How the Immune System Cranks Up Pain 1 89
Chapter 10 Marijuana: Th e Weed America Loves to Hate 2 01
Chapter 11 Beyond Opioids, Part I: Western Medicine 229
Chapter 12 Beyond Opioids, Part II: Complementary and
Alternative Medicine 2 55
Chapter 13 Exercise: Th e Real Magic Bullet 2 83
Chapter 14 Th e Way Forward 299
Acknowledgments 307
Appendix Resources for Chronic Pain Patients 313
Notes 315
Index 4 31