It has been estimated that 60 million Americans suffer from pain. There has been an explosion in pain research, new pharmaceuticals, the recognition of complementary and alternative therapies, interventional techniques and surgery, professional pain societies and providers with expertise in pain management. The most common condition seen in primary care settings and in pain clinics is lower back pain.Several studies indicate that primary care providers feel ill-prepared to deal with pain issues. Back and neck pain, myofascial pain, whiplash and fibromyalgia are particularly challenging and troublesome for this group. There are multiple reasons for this discomfort, including lack of training, absence of guidelines, concerns about addiction risk and many other issues.As part of the Oxford American Pain Library, this practical handbook is designed to serve as a concise yet authoritative resource on diagnosing and treating back and neck pain. Co-authored by two primary care physicians and a nurse practitioner with extensive expertise in pain medicine and management, the book is tailored to the needs of busy health care professionals treating patients in the primary care setting, and focuses on essential clinical information for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in family practice, and internal medicine. In addition to covering all aspects of diagnosis, treatment-both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, and ongoing management of back and neck pain, the handbook also features a section dedicated to similar conditions of myofascial pain, whiplash and fibromyalgia. In addition to covering traditional clinical areas such as pathogenesis, co-morbidities, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, the book also presents an array of practical tools and features such as screening tools for easy diagnosis, disability assessment tools, tips on best questions to ask, useful checklists and additional patient resource information. The pocket-sized format, concise chapters, multiple charts and graphs and bulleted highlights are ideal for all providers needing a quick, easily accessible, portable reference on back and neck pain.
