September 2008
Self-Help/Addiction/
Pain Management
ISBN-10: 0-9799869-5-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-9799869-5-6
6x9, 229 pages, Trade Paper
$14.95
www.adaywithoutpain.com

This country is facing an epidemic of chronic pain, dependence on painkillers, and in many cases addiction to prescription medication.

More than 50 million people in the US suffer from long-lasting pain that persists for years. Government agencies report 22 percent of primary care patients report being in pain. 4.5 million patients die in pain each year, and pain is the most frequent reason Americans seek medical attention annually.

This book is for anyone who is in pain or cares about someone who is in pain. It is for professionals who treat pain and for anyone who wants to know more about pain. In other words, it is a book for everyone. A Day Without Pain offers a concise and thorough explanation for the mechanisms of pain, opioid use, addiction, and holistic solutions that bring relief from chronic pain. Other highlights include:

  • Brain functions and the major role these functions play in the experience of pain.
  • The important role of emotions in chronic pain and ways to address those emotions.
  • Information on the disease of addiction and how it leads some people to use opioids in an out-of-control manner.
  • How opioids make pain worse in many people with chronic pain.
  • Family issues that occur when a member of the family has chronic pain.

Containing over 30 pages of treatment alternatives, A Day Without Pain reviews methods used to treat pain in a comprehensive, holistic manner without the use of narcotic/opioid/painkillers so that health and function can be restored.

Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM

Written by Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM with Mike Donahue

Mel Pohl, MD, FASAM is Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Director of Las Vegas Recovery Center (LVRC), the only private freestanding, medically managed inpatient detoxification and addiction treatment facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was a major force in developing LVRC’s Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program.

Dr. Pohl is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM) and co-chaired ASAM’s Third, Fourth, and Fifth National Forums on AIDS and Chemical Dependency. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of Nevada School of Medicine, a Board Certified Family Practitioner, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice. Recently, Dr. Pohl was asked by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to consult regarding their initiative on prescription drug abuse. He is a nationally known public speaker and co-author of The Caregivers Journey: When You Love Someone with AIDS (Hazelden, 1990) and Staying Sane: When You Care for Someone with Chronic Illness (Health Communications, 1992).

Mike Donahue is a retired journalist with nearly 35 years of writing and editing experience. His work has appeared in numerous national and international publications. He has received many awards for his work, including the William Blakeslee award from the American Heart Association for outstanding scientific reporting. Donahue is the author of fiction and nonfiction books about the west and its inhabitants.