“Buy this book and make sure that your doctor reads it too!” – Dr Steve Gilbert, Staff Specialist in Anaesthesia and Pain Management, former Lead Clinician for Chronic Pain in Scotland
“Phil’s book has everything necessary to help people with chronic pain change their life. To live, thrive and not just survive. A must-read for people in pain: learn to live again.” – Linz Stevens, living well despite chronic pain.
Chronic pain is much more common than you might think – it affects nearly one-fifth of the population. Chronic pain is defined as any pain that continues for longer than three months. It has a variety of causes including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, accidents or operations, although sometimes there is no apparent cause.
Many people suffering from chronic pain have been told by medical professionals that ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do for you’, leaving them feeling abandoned and isolated. If you have been told this, or you think this news may be in your future, then this book is for you.
Self-management is an important approach to coping better and managing this long term condition. Written with humour, and making use of cartoons and line drawings, this book encapsulates 20 years of pain management courses given by Phil Sizer at Pain Association Scotland to patients, GPs, and other health professionals. Divided into three sections (Understanding, Managing, Coping) Its approach is based on a holistic, bio-psycho-social model of health including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), positive psychology, relaxation, hypnotherapy, motivational interviewing and coaching.
Topics include:
introduction by Pain Association Scotland
understanding chronic pain – definitions, acute vs chronic
pacing – how to avoid over-doing
realistic goal-setting
stress management
relaxation and sleep
dealing with flare-ups
diet and foods to avoid
coping with unhelpful thinking (racing mind, anxiety and negative thoughts)
challenging limiting beliefs
relationships with others
accepting help
importance of humour – attitude and values
being a person not a condition
If you can learn how to make changes and live better with your pain, things will improve, be different, and most importantly, so much better.
“Phil’s book has everything necessary to help people with chronic pain change their life. To live, thrive and not just survive. A must-read for people in pain: learn to live again.” – Linz Stevens, living well despite chronic pain.
Chronic pain is much more common than you might think – it affects nearly one-fifth of the population. Chronic pain is defined as any pain that continues for longer than three months. It has a variety of causes including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, accidents or operations, although sometimes there is no apparent cause.
Many people suffering from chronic pain have been told by medical professionals that ‘I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do for you’, leaving them feeling abandoned and isolated. If you have been told this, or you think this news may be in your future, then this book is for you.
Self-management is an important approach to coping better and managing this long term condition. Written with humour, and making use of cartoons and line drawings, this book encapsulates 20 years of pain management courses given by Phil Sizer at Pain Association Scotland to patients, GPs, and other health professionals. Divided into three sections (Understanding, Managing, Coping) Its approach is based on a holistic, bio-psycho-social model of health including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), positive psychology, relaxation, hypnotherapy, motivational interviewing and coaching.
Topics include:
introduction by Pain Association Scotland
understanding chronic pain – definitions, acute vs chronic
pacing – how to avoid over-doing
realistic goal-setting
stress management
relaxation and sleep
dealing with flare-ups
diet and foods to avoid
coping with unhelpful thinking (racing mind, anxiety and negative thoughts)
challenging limiting beliefs
relationships with others
accepting help
importance of humour – attitude and values
being a person not a condition
If you can learn how to make changes and live better with your pain, things will improve, be different, and most importantly, so much better.
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Reviews
A fantastic resource for people with pain, those close to them and also for professionals.
The lived experience of those with chronic pain who have been helped by Phil shines through, and will inspire hope in others that they too can reclaim what matters to them. I strongly recommend this book both to patients affected by chronic pain and clinicians who look after them.
This book is simple to read, will help patients to live well with their pain, reconnect with their own values, and change the direction their pain seems to be driving them in.
I found it to be engaging, easy to read and easy to understand. And pain is a complex issue which requires a lot of understanding... a must-have for healthcare providers everywhere.
A lovely book, with a gentle and encouraging style. A welcome addition in the desert of kindly, supportive self-management books for chronic pain.
People living with chronic pain face many challenges on a daily basis. This book will be the most important tool they will have in their possession. They should take it with them everywhere... I recommend this book to all I know who are living with chronic pain.
Phil is an obvious expert in the field of pain management. He is able to explain complex biological/ physiological principles in easily understandable language and the information contained within each of the respective chapters is pure gold. Throughout the book there are funny, witty, sometimes mischievous additions that brought a wry smile to my face, as I am sure they will yours. I would highly recommend this book - gets 10/10 from me.
"[There is] a definite gap in the market for a book like this. It hits the nail on the head and makes sense of all the emotions that affect pain intensity."
"Phil's years of experience working in the area and really engaginging in meaningful conversations shine through as he demonstrates a nuanced understanding of some of the most complex and tricky issues that come up in the presence of persistent pain."
This book is a gift... offering us Phil's passion and wisdom for self-management within its pages.