Table Of ContentCopyright © 2015 Bull Publishing Company and The Board of Trustees of the
Leland Stanford Junior University All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods,
without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses
permitted by copyright law.
Published by Bull Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1377
Boulder, CO, USA 80306
www.bullpub.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
LeFort, Sandra M.
Living a healthy life with chronic pain / Sandra M. LeFort, MN, PhD, Lisa
Webster, RN, Kate Lorig, DrPH, Halsted Holman, MD, David Sobel, MD,
MPH, Diana Laurent, MPH, Virginia Gonzalez, MPH, Marian Minor, RPT,
PhD.
pages cm
Summary: “Nobody wants chronic pain in their lives. Unfortunately, about 30
percent of people worldwide live with chronic pain conditions, many of which
have no identifiable cause. We wrote this book to help these people explore
healthy ways to manage and live with their chronic pain condition so they can
enjoy more fulfilling, satisfying lives”-- Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-936693-88-7
1. Chronic pain--Popular works. 2. Chronic diseases--Popular works. 3. Self-
care, Health. I. Webster, Lisa. II. Lorig, Kate. III. Holman, Halsted, 1925-IV.
Sobel, David. V. Laurent, Diana. VI. Gonzalez, Virginia. VII. Minor, Marian A.
Sobel, David. V. Laurent, Diana. VI. Gonzalez, Virginia. VII. Minor, Marian A.
(Marian Adams) RB127.L384 2015
616’.0472--dc23
2015002233
Printed in U.S.A.
19 18 17 16 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Interior design and project management: Dovetail Publishing Services Cover
design and production: Shannon Bodie, Lightbourne, Inc.
This book is dedicated to the memory of Howard Montrose Genge for his love,
courage, and wisdom in the face of pain; Mary Ellen Jeans, PhD, for believing
in education for people in pain; and people of all ages and their families who
struggle with pain in their lives.
Acknowledgments
any people helped us write this book. Among the
M
most important are the first 110 participants of the Chronic Pain Self-
Management Program study funded by the National Health Research and
Development Program of Health Canada. That study paved the way for
thousands of workshop participants in Canada, the United States, Denmark, and
other countries. All of these people, along with our wonderful workshop leaders,
told us what information they needed and helped us make adjustments along the
way. All of you have informed this new North American edition of our book.
Many professionals also assisted us, including Lynn Beatie, PT, MPT, MHA,
Bonnie Bruce, RD, DrPH, Norman Buckley, MD, FRCPC, Beth Darnall, PhD,
John W. Doyle, BA, Steven Feinberg, MD, Chaplain Bruce Feldman, MD,
Shelley Gershman, RN, Peg Harrison, MSW, Noorin Jamal, RN, MN-NP, Mary
Ellen Jeans, PhD, Roman Jovey, MD, Michael McGillion, PhD, RN, Patrick
McGowan, PhD, Ronald Melzack, PhD, Yvonne Mullin, MSc, RD, Sheila
O’Keefe-McCarthy, PhD, RN, Catherine Regan, PhD, Ned Pratt, BFA, Kathleen
Rowat, PhD, Richard Seidel, PhD, and Judith Watt-Watson, PhD, RN. A special
thanks to Nicolaj Holm Faber, Chief Consultant, Danish Committee on Health
Education, whose support has been invaluable. To all of you, your help has been
gratefully received.
A special thanks to Jon Peck, Jon Ford, and Erin Mulligan, who helped us
every step of the way. Editors are unsung heroes of good books. We wish to
acknowledge their fine contributions to making this a more readable,
understandable book. We would also like to thank our T-Trainers, Master
Trainers, and Leaders. There are now hundreds of you, and you all have made
important suggestions that helped us craft this book.
We would like to thank DRx, publisher of The Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Handbook (also published as Mind & Body Health Handbook) by David Sobel,
MD, and Robert Ornstein, PhD, for permission to adapt sections of their book.
Finally, many thanks to Jim Bull, Claire Cameron, and the team at Bull
Publishing. Bull Publishing has been a strong supporter of health-related books
for more than 40 years. Jim’s support and encouragement have been essential to
the development of this book. We couldn’t have done it without you!
If you would like to learn more about our continuing research, online
programs, trainings, and materials, please visit our website:
www.patienteducation.stanford.edu
We are continually revising and improving this book. If you have any
suggestions or comments, please send them to
Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Contents
Disclaimer
1 Overview of Self-Management and Pain
2 Becoming an Active Self-Manager
3 Finding Resources
4 Understanding and Managing Common Symptoms and Problems
5 Using Your Mind to Manage Pain Symptoms
6 Pacing: Balancing Activity and Rest
7 Exercise and Physical Activity for Every Body
8 Exercising for Flexibility, Balance, and Strength
9 Exercising for Endurance and Fitness: Moderate to Vigorous Physical
Activity
10 Communicating with Family and Friends
11 Communicating with Your Health Care Professionals
12 Sex and Intimacy
13 Healthy Eating
14 Healthy Weight Management
15 Managing Your Medicines
16 Medicines and Treatments for Chronic Pain
17 Making Treatment Decisions
18 Managing Specific Chronic Pain Conditions
19 Managing Angina Pain, Coronary Artery Disease, and Related
Conditions
20 Planning for the Future: Fears and Reality
Appendix: Helpful Hints for Everyday Living
Index
Back Cover
Disclaimer
This book is not intended to replace common sense, professional medical or
psychological advice. You should seek and get appropriate professional
evaluation and treatment for problems—especially unusual, unexplained,
severe, or persistent symptoms. Many symptoms and diseases require and
benefit from specific medical or psychological evaluation and treatment.
Don’t deny yourself proper professional care.
If your symptoms or problems persist beyond a reasonable period
despite using self-care recommendations, you should consult a health
professional. What is a reasonable period will vary; if you’re not sure
and you’re feeling anxious, consult a health care professional.
If you receive professional advice in conflict with this book, you should
rely upon the guidance provided by your health care professional. He or
she is likely to be able to take your specific situation, history and needs
into consideration.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself in any way, please seek
professional care immediately.
This book is as accurate as its publisher and authors can make it, but we
cannot guarantee that it will work for you in every case. The authors and
publisher disclaim any and all liability for any claims or injuries that you
may believe arose from following the recommendations set forth in this
book. This book is only a guide; your common sense, good judgment, and
partnership with health professionals are also needed.
