Stop Pain: Inflammation Relief for an Active Life »

Vijay Vad, M.D., is a sports-medicine specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery and a professor at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is the author of Back Rx and Arthritis Rx. In 2007, he created the Vad Foundation, dedicated to two causes: supporting medical research into back pain and arthritis, and funding education for disadvantaged girls worldwide. He co-founded The Inflasoothe Group in 2008. Dr. Vad lives in New York City with his family.

Do you feel trapped by chronic pain? Do you avoid going places and doing things you once loved, because getting there simply hurts too much?

If you are one of the estimated 50 million people who suffer with chronic pain, you know the impact it has on your life. But now, with advances in our understanding of pain, relief is possible with self-care options that will minimize your dependence on narcotics or medical procedures.

In Stop Pain, Vijay Vad, M.D., teaches you the ins and outs of pain—bringing to light the links between inflammation and other factors that increase pain. Covering everything from stress relief techniques to an anti-inflammatory diet, Dr. Vad shows you the things you can do to alleviate pain.

Dr. Vad lays out concrete strategies for dealing with the most common pain problems. He then addresses the possible risks and rewards of various treatments for other types of chronic pain. His analysis of conventional and complementary options—including everything from prescription medications and surgical intervention to physical therapy, acupuncture, and breathing exercises—will open your eyes to the many ways you can take back control of your life.

Contents

Introduction....................xi
Chapter One: What Is Pain?....................3
Chapter Two: The Link Between Inflammation and Pain....................17
Chapter Three: Finding the Source of Pain....................27
Chapter Four: The Best Diet for You....................49
Chapter Five: Exercise....................71
Chapter Six: Ergonomics....................87
Chapter Seven: Herbs and Supplements to Fight Inflammation....................99
Chapter Eight: Conventional Over-the-Counter Medications....................117
Chapter Nine: Managing the 12 Most Common Pain Problems with the Stop Pain Regimen....................123
Chapter Ten: Physical Integrative Care....................135
Chapter Eleven: The Mind-Body Connection and the Stress Factor....................147
Chapter Twelve: Prescription Medications, Invasive Procedures, and Surgical Options....................163
Chapter Thirteen: Everything You Wanted to Know about Pain....................183
Afterword....................189
Appendix A: What to Do If You Are in Severe Acute Pain Right Now....................191
Appendix B: Sample Exercises for Low-Back Strength and Treating Arthritis of the Hip and Knee....................195
Appendix C: Resources....................203
Endnotes....................213
Selected Bibliography....................223
Index....................225
Acknowledgments....................231
About the Author....................233