Suggested reading list

There are many self-help books available about managing pain, and more are published each year. Some are written by people who have pain, and some by people who work with those affected by pain. All the titles below have been recommended to us. They are currently in print and should be available from most book shops.

This is one of the 'BESTMEDICINEsimple guide' series and covers many areas including: what causes back pain, devising a back pain management plan, medications that may help, treatments available . It also includes a helpful list of questions to ask your doctor.

2. Living With Back Pain. Helen Parker and Chris Main (1990) Manchester: Manchester University Press.
ISBN 0-719-03069-2

Addressing both the physical and psychological components of low back pain, this book presents a review of the major types of treatment. It focuses on approaches to the management of low back pain and offers coping strategies that are easy to learn and designed to minimize the impact of pain, enabling people to live with the problem.

3. Managing Pain Before It Manages You (2nd Ed.) Margaret Caudill (2002) New York: Guilford Press.
ISBN: 1-572-30718-8

This popular workbook teaches coping skills proven to decrease the discomfort, depression, and anxiety associated with chronic pain. Through hands-on exercises and homework assignments, readers are helped to understand the pain process, learn about medications and their effects, and recognize factors that exacerbate or relieve pain. Also included are a wealth of helpful ideas on coping with pain flare-ups, staying active, accomplishing personal goals, and more.

4. Overcoming Chronic Pain. Frances Cole, Helen Macdonald, Catherine Carus & Hazel Howden-Leach (2005) London: Robinson
ISBN 1-84119-970-2

This book uses cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help reduce the experience of pain. Amongst many aspects it explores practical ways to improve sleep and relaxation, shows you how to become fitter and pace your activities and looks at ways to maintain healthy relationships.

5. Manage your pain. L Beeston, A Molloy, M Nicholas & L Tonkin (2003) London: Souvenir Press
ISBN 0-28563-679-0

A very helpful book for people living with pain who want to learn more about pain management techniques which they can use. It is informative, but as the authors are Australian, you shoule be aware that it refers to their health service provision rather than the NHS

6. Managing your arthritis, Mary Dunkin (2005) London: Class
ISBN 1-85959-121-3

There are many forms of arthritis and this book gives details about the major forms and how management varies between them. Along with advice about diagnosis and getting appropriate care from health professionals it also gives details about medications, exercise, and the pros and cons of various food supplements and complementary therapies.

7. Pain: the science and culture of why we hurt. Marni Jackson (2003) London: Bloomsbury
ISBN 0-7475-6556-9

Not a self-help book but one that asks lots of questions about pain. There is something about the history of pain here, as well as an opportunity to explore the possibilities of pain management in the future through genetics. Along the way Ms Jackson tells the stories of people with pain, those who try to help them and those who research into pain.

8. The Back Book (2nd edition) (2002) The Stationery Office
ISBN 0-1170-2949-1

Designed as a guide for people with back pain, the advice in this 24-page booklet is based on the latest medical evidence. It was written by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers (Roland, Waddell, Klaber-Moffett, Burton, Main & Cantrell) and offers evidence-based advice on coping with back pain and leading a normal life.

9. Your guide to back pain. John Tanner (2005) Hodder Arnold.
ISBN 0-340-90499-2

One of a series of RSM guides to common health problems, this book provides down-to-earth information about how back pain occurs and how it can be managed by doctors, therapists and the person themselves.

10. Taking control of your pain (2005) AGE Concern
ISBN: 0-86242-387-2

This book provides a wealth of good practical advice written in a format that is easy to understand.

11. "Living with Chronic Pain". A CD or cassette tape produced by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Neil Berry. Please send a postal order or cheque made out to "Pain CD" for £5.00 to PO Box 84, Blackburn, BB2 7GH. Please indicate whether you require CD or Cassette.

A series of Tapes: Coping with Pain, Coping with Headaches and Migraine, Coping with Back Pain, Feeling Good (assertiveness and self-esteem). Available as a pack of 3 or individually. Produced by Talking Life (Wendy Lloyd Audio Productions), in conjunction with the Pain Relief Foundation, Walton Hospital, Liverpool. Details from Talking Life, PO Box 1, Wirral, CH47 7DD Tel:0151 632 0662 www.talkinglife.co.uk

12. Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions - Kate Lorig, Halstead Holman, David Sobel, Diana Laurent, Virginia Gonzalez, and Marian Minor: Bolder Colorado, USA: Bull Publishing ISBN -13: 978-1-933503-01-1 and ISBN-10: 1-933503-01-7 (available through Amazon, and/or due to be published in Britain Autumn 2007)

The authors developed the Chronic Disease Self Management Course at Stanford on which the British Expert Patient Programme is based. The book presents a range of techniques to help overcome physical and emotional problems including: understanding how illness affects you; goal setting and action planning; problem solving; managing common symptoms; relaxation; positive thinking; safe exercise; healthy eating; and making treatment decisions. There are also chapters on specific conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure. Although the book is written for America, the techniques are useful for pain management and a wide range of chronic conditions.

Click here to find out more about The Expert Patient Programme.