Listening to Pain

Scott M. Fishman, M.D. is a leading pain medicine clinician, teacher, researcher, and writer. He is President and Chairman of the American Pain Foundation and Past President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine as well as Professor and Chief of the Division of Pain Medicine at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. Dr. Fishman has received board certification in Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Pain Medicine, and Palliative Care. His other books include The War on Pain, Responsible Opioid Prescribing, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Bonica's Management of Pain 4

Introduction: The Healing Art of Communication ; Chapter 1: Asking the Right Questions ; Step 1: Slow Down ; Step 2: Focus on the Whole Patient, Not Just the Pain ; Step 3: Use Reflective Listening Skills ; The Importance of Taking a Comprehensive ; History ; Focusing on Function ; The Balancing Act of Compassion and Vigilance ; Chapter 2: Focusing on Function ; The Myth of Zero Pain ; A Different Approach ; Monitoring Functional Changes ; 'Universal Precautions' in Pain Management ; Chapter 3: Keeping Track of Treatment ; Why Documentation is a Doctor's (and Patient's) Best Friend ; Elements of Effective Documentation ; Assessment ; Patient Education About Risks and Benefits of Therapy ; Physician-Patient Treatment Agreements ; Monitoring Functional Progress, Adherence, and Adverse Events ; Modifying Treatments Over Time ; Chapter 4: Dealing With Difficult Patients ; The Sources of Aberrant Behaviors ; Managing Aberrant Patient Behavior ; Coping With Specific Aberrant Behaviors ; Terminating a Relationship ; The Rewards of Perseverance ; Chapter 5: Clinician Survival ; Appendix: Resources for Pain Management ; Acknowledgments ; About the Author