Recommended Reading: Chronic Pain

Recommended Reading: Chronic Pain

		The Winner’s Guide to Pain Relief, by myofascial pain specialist Hal Blatman, MD, and Brad Ekvall, BFA, is ready to teach you how to improve your quality of life. Read more about it here.

		Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2nd edition, by Mari Skelly and Helen Walker, is a compilation of many alternative treatments that could be of benefit for many patients with chronic pain and fatigue. Some of these patients also have myofascial pain. Readers may identify with many patient stories and may find them useful to teach companions about their own struggles to cope with illness.

		Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Irritable Bowel, by Gregory K. Penniston, DC. An easy to understand and well written guide to guaifenesin use.

		Pain Free 1-2-3, by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD There is good information on fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in this book. There is also a vast amount of helpful information on controlling some of the main perpetuating factors of these conditions. There are also problems with the book. These conditions share some of the perpetuating factors of myofascial pain. The review on the front of the book gives the reader the impression that this book is also on myofascial pain. It is not. The brief chapter on myofascial pain is a disappointment. It has nothing to do with myofascial pain. There are 3 references; two are on FMS and one on CFS. FMS has nothing to do with the muscles stuck in a shortened position, as is stated in this chapter. That is due to myofascial TrPs, not FMS. This is a significant and fundamental error in understanding the difference between FMS and TrPs. The chapter on Prolotherapy (by other authors, both MDs) also contains misinformation. Myofascial trigger point (TrP) injections, including attachment TrP injections, done with local anesthetic as per “Travell and Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual” is not prolotherapy. The chapter suggests strengthening a TrP-laden muscle by prolotherapy. According to the Travell and Simons Trigger Point Manual, you cannot strengthen a muscle with a TrP. According to the review of the last (Travell Seminar) Focus on Pain by Leon Chaitow, Dr. Chaitow states "Many trigger points develop in tissues damaged by surgery, and by techniques such as prolotherapy." (emphasis mine) You can access this review on www.painpoints.com/FOP.htm If you have perpetuating factors of Morton’s foot, rotated pelvis, or many other specific myofascial pain perpetuating factors, or if your pain is mainly generated by myofascial TrPs, you won’t find what you need in this book.

		Between Heaven and Earth, by Harriet Beinfiield L.Ac and Efrem Korngold La.Ac, O.M.D. This is the most complete book on Traditional Chinese Medicine I have read that is relatively easy for the layperson to understand and yet in-depth enough for the beginning health care professional to find valuable as a starting point. It covers practical basics, such as preparing herbal tea and the properties of food, as well as diagnostic patterns, theory, and suggestions for therapy.

		Wellness Recovery Action Plan, by Mary Ellen Copeland. This book presents a system developed and used successfully by people with a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. It has helped them use self help skills more easily to monitor their symptoms, decrease the severity and frequency of symptoms, and improve the quality of their lives. Paperback, $10.00. You can order it through Mary Ellen's website or by calling (802) 254-2092 or (602) 636-4445.

		The First Year – Fibromyalgia: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed, by Claudia Craig Marek. This book is one of the most valuable tools a newly diagnosed fibromyalgia patient can own. The author is a care provider who works with a respected doctor specializing in fibromyalgia. She has fibromyalgia and has raised two fibromyalgic sons. She has spent a great deal of time listening to and observing patients and doing her best to answer all who come to her with questions. This book is not just for the newly diagnosed. I believe that all patients with fibromyalgia, and their supporters, would benefit greatly from reading this book.

		"From Fatigued to Fantastic!: A Proven Program to Regain Vibrant Health, Based on a New Scientific Study Showing Effective Treatment for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia", by Jacob Teitelbaum 2001. You may have read the earlier version of this book, but this book is totally new. Dr. Teitelbaum has isolated some of the most common perpetuating factors of fibromyalgia and CFIDS, and in this book he teaches you how to deal with them. There is also detailed information that will help your doctor help you. This is a "must have" book.

		Your Guide to Metabolic Health by Dr. Gina Honeyman-Lowe and Dr. John Lowe This book is now available in a complete and easy-to-read format. It teaches metabolic rehabilitation in a way that is easy for patients to understand. The Lowe method it is not "just thyroid supplementation". It is a complete method for health improvement. You will learn why patients with fibromyalgia can benefit from metabolic rehabilitation. The book includes sections on diet, sleep, hormone balancing and other perpetuating factors, and is a hands-on, how-to book, with medical documentation. It is a valuable tool that can help you feel better.

		Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Research Program Visit this site for information on the recent Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain Research Program at Kettering University, including a video presentation by Drs. Jeff Hargrove, David Simons and Mary Lee Esty.

		The Headache & Neck Pain Workbook: An Integrated Mind and Body Program, by Douglas E. Degood, Donald C. Manning, Susan Middaugh, Terence C. Davies This book give you some step-by-step methods to provide relief from head and neck pain.

		PAIN: Clinical Manual, 2nd edition, by Margo McCaffery and Chris Pasero This is a book that should be thoroughly read (and used) by health-care providers of all types. Patients should (at the least) ask their libraries to get this book, because everyone will benefit from reading it. This book addresses many myths and misconceptions surrounding pain and explains the mechanisms of pain. It supplies pain management techniques, both medicinal and non-medicinal.

		Parting the Fog: The Personal Side of Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by Sue Jones This book is a series of essays and poems that will tug at your heart. As you read, you will see yourself in the pages and may be able to use this book to help explain the depths of your symptoms to those you love. There are also "personal pages" for you to fill in so that you can record your connection to the story of these connections that unfold in this book.

		Fibromyalgia:The New Integrative Approach. How to Combine the Best of Traditional and Alternative Therapies, by Milton Hammerly This doctor actually knows that fibromyalgia and myofascial pain are different! This book is about fibromyalgia, and the author covers it well, including supplements and herbs and a wide variety of complementary medicine.

		What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Pediatric Fibromyalgia, by R. Paul St. Amand, MD, and Claudia Marek If you have a child with fibromyalgia, or one you suspect may have fibromyalgia, you need to read this book. Guaifenesin therapy may provide a safe way to prevent many of the FMS symptoms from developing in your child. This book could prevent your child — and you — a lot of pain.

		The Chronic Pain Control Workbook, by Ellen Mohr Catalano and Kimeron N Hardin, 1996 This is a workbook which I found very helpful. It contains the spectrum of pain control measures as well as information on the nature of pain itself.

		Freedom from Chronic Pain : The Breakthrough Method of Pain Relief Based on the New York Pain Treatment Program at Lenox Hill Hospital, by Norman J. Marcus, Jean S. Arbeiter This is a book about the mind/body connection and what you can do to integrate these two parts in spite of a chronic pain condition. These methods are good options to raise the quality of your life without adding extra medications.

		We Are Not Alone: Learning to Live with Chronic Illness, by Sefra Kobrin Pitzele This is a book about the changes chronic illness brings into your life, and we accept and adapt. There is an extensive chapter on caregivers, a chapter on sex, and a chapter on adapting your house and environs to your needs. This book even has cartoons!

		Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally with Chinese Medicine, by Bob Flaws, 2000 Although I am not happy with the use of the word “curing” in this context, this book is very good for those patients with fibromyalgia who are interested in the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach. It includes the use of herbs.

		Full details on guaifenesin therapy plus a lot of information on fibromyalgia are found in What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia, by R. Paul St. Amand, MD, and Claudia Craig Marek. The authors and I agree to disagree about the relationship between fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain. I don’t understand why guaifenesin works, but I believe that it does. I have experienced it personally and seen it work in so many others. I believe that it helps remove substances that impair metabolism and that removal of these substances promotes healthier tissues. This book handles complex issues in a very clear and enjoyable manner.

		The Fibromyalgia Help Book, by Jenny Fransen, RN, and I. Jon Russell, MD, PhD This book is well-rounded, with sections on the problems of getting an FMS diagnosis, memory and concentration problems, lifestyle adjustments and employment issues.

		Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired, by Paul J. Donoghue, PhD, and Mary E. Siegel, PhD This is a good book on chronic invisible diseases and contains personal stories of the obstacles we face in dealing with them.

		When Muscle Pain Won't Go Away, by Gayle Backstrom Gayle was one of the first to write about fibromyalgia. She's part of the FMily. Her book contains explanations about FMS, treatment options, coping strategies, and many helpful appendices giving resources.

Fibromyalgia: Managing the Pain, by Mark J. Pellegrino, 1993 Mark Pellegrino is a remarkable physician who has fibromyalgia, an open mind, and a balanced sense of humor. In this book he gives us insight as to how he approaches a fibromyalgia patient and how to cope with the challenges of fibromyalgia, as well as valuable training on such topics as ways to make your car "fibromyalgia-proof".

For information on the recent Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain Research Program at Kettering University, including a video presentation by Drs. Jeff Hargrove, David Simons and Mary Lee Esty, click here.

Be Sick Well; A Healthy Approach to Chronic Illness, by Jeff Kane, 1991 This is a book about your support system. How does your illness impact others, including your doctor and your family and friends? What emotional changes can you expect in your own life? Here's where you learn how to deal with the changes in a positive manner.

Anatomy of an Injury: A Patients' Introduction to Rehabilitation, by Rachel A. Feinberg, MD, and Barry I. Feinberg, MD This book explains clearly how myofascial pain and other conditions can arise from chronic or acute trauma, and how improper physical therapy can worsen trigger points.

Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach: What You Can Do About Chronic Pain and Fatigue, by Miryam Ehrlich Williamson, 1996 Miryam has fibromyalgia. She has a good section on co-existing conditions, covers pain management and sleep, including alternative therapies.

Advances in Research, Getting the Most Out of Your Medicines, and FMS/CFS in Young People Fibromyalgia Network Newsletter, PO Box 31750, Tucson, AZ 85751-1750, Ph 800-853-2929, Fax 520-290-5550.
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