What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Back Pain: The 6-Step Program for Lasting Relief (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Series) »

DEBRA K. WEINER, M.D., lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic back pain, but what most don't realize is that their ailment is often caused by a combination of factors. According to Dr. Debra K. Weiner, identifying the disorders that contribute to chronic back pain is a critical part of the treatment process. To achieve lasting relief, a multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach is needed—no single pill or therapeutic procedure will solve the problem. In this authoritative guide, Dr. Weiner has distilled 20 years of research and clinical practice into an integrative six-step program. Readers will learn: how to identify the causes of their back pain and determine which treatments are most useful; how to distinguish their problem from potential misdiagnosis; traditional and alternative physical therapies and exercises; proven mind/body approaches; a guide to common medications and injections; pros and cons of different surgeries and invasive procedures; and much more.

Introduction     xi
Understanding Back Pain
Your Aching Back: Why You Hurt     3
Getting Help for Your Chronic Back Pain     34
Six Steps to Back Pain Relief
Step 1: Let's Get Physical     75
Step 2: Body Therapies     112
Step 3: Minding Your Back     147
Step 4: Getting the Point: Injection Therapies     183
Step 5: Meet the Meds     200
Step 6: Surgery and Other Invasive Treatments     222
Epilogue: Looking Ahead at Back Pain     252
Notes     261
Glossary     277
Resources     285
Suggested Reading and Videos/DVDs     291
Index     295