What to Do for a Pain in the Neck: The Complete Program for Neck Pain Relief »

Jerome Schofferman, M.D., is a member of the SpineCare Medical Group, a nationally known center for the treatment of disorders of the spine, and the director of research and education for the San Francisco Spine Institute. An associate editor of Spine, he has lectured to orthopedic and neurosurgeons, pain specialists, and other physician groups, as well as to the insurance industry and the general public. He lives in Sausalito, California.

No one who works at a computer or drives a car will be surprised to learn that neck pain is on the rise. About 70 million people in the United States have had neck pain, and the incidence is increasing. Like back pain, neck pain can become a constant plague that is both mysterious and difficult to treat.

Here at last is help. In What to Do for a Pain in the Neck, one of today's leading experts on neck pain provides a broad range of treatments and preventive measures so that you do not have to learn how to live with pain -- you can banish it.

Combining his own extensive experience with the best scientific information available, Dr. Jerome Schofferman presents strategies ranging from such simple tips as rearranging your desk, workstation, and computer height to daily exercise routines to aggressive treatments requiring professional care. Among the areas he explores in depth are

• Potential causes of neck pain

• Neck-related headaches

• Whiplash (including the effects of litigation on the rate of recovery)

• What to expect from a chiropractor or physical therapist

• Over-the-counter and prescription pain medications

• Acupuncture, meditation, magnet healing, massage, and other complementary therapies

• First aid for intermittent flare-ups

1. Introduction
2. The Causes of Neck Pain: Where Does the Pain Come From?
3. How to Make the Diagnosis of Neck Pain
4. Whiplash and Whiplash-Associated Disorders
5. Whiplash and the Legal System
6. Neck-Related Headaches
7. Treatment of Acute Neck Pain: Neck First Aid
8. Treatment of Neck Pain: Exercise and Strength Training
9. Treatment of Neck Pain: Posture and Body Mechanics
10. Treatment of Neck Pain: Medications
11. Treatment of Neck Pain: The Role of the Physician
12. Treatment of Neck Pain: The Role of the Chiropractor
13. Treatment of Neck Pain: The Role of the Physical Therapist
14. Treatment of Neck Pain: Alternative and Complementary Therapies
15. Sports and Other Recreational Activities
16. The Psychology of Pain
17. Psychological Problems and Chronic Pain: What You Can Do
18. Conclusions and Future Directions

Appendix A: Selected Readings

Appendix B: Health Care Resources

Index