Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Migraine sufferers, arthritis victims, people with bad backs and those with cancer pain all have to cope with pain over the course of many months or years.
Doctors often feel helpless in the battle against chronic pain. They may fear that if they prescribe potent narcotics, they will be prosecuted by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
But there are ways to cope with severe pain. Acupuncture, massage therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis and many different kinds of medications can all contribute to quality of life.
Guests: Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is Medical Director of the Annapolis Center for Effective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Therapies. He is the author of Pain Free 1-2-3: A Proven Program for Eliminating Chronic Pain. His Web site is www.Vitality101.com
Gwendolyn Stritter, M.D., is a pain specialist and a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, and the American Pain Society. Her practice is based in Portola Valley, California. She can be reached at 650-851-0377 or at the following email address: asst@strittermed.org
The People's Perspective on Medicine