Rowland G. Hazard, MD is emeritus professor of orthopedics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He has devoted his over 30-year clinical and research careers to the understanding and care of people who are disabled by chronic low back pain. He has been a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation, and he is internationally known for developing the goal achievement model for overcoming painful disability.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Nobody Knows Your Pain the Way That You DoChapter 2. You Can’t Get What You Want ‘Til You Know What You WantChapter 3. The Medical Office VisitChapter 4. DrugsChapter 5. RelaxationChapter 6. Acute and Chronic Pain Chapter 7. WellnessEpilogueSuggested ReadingsAppendix AAppendix BIndexAbout the Author

'Recovering the ability to have a good life' is possible for sufferers of back pain, suggests physician Hazard in his powerful debut. Chronic back pain—the kind that lingers for months or years—is a big business in the U.S., Hazard writes: despite the fact that Americans spend more than $100 billion annually to find relief, few actually do. Hazard takes readers through a three-week rehabilitation course, his “functional restoration program” comprising lessons drawn from conversations with over 3,000 pain-disabled patients over 30 years. His plan helps readers reframe the way they think about their pain by imagining where they want to be in four months, and offers guidance for creating a course of action to realize their goals. Readers will also learn how to have a more productive visit with their doctor (coming prepared with questions such as “Do I have a medical reason not to exercise?”), better understand the value of taking it easy, and learn helpful relaxation techniques such as visualization. Hazard includes patient stories to bring his lessons to life, and worksheets (such as a training chart and pain questionnaire) round things out. Those suffering with back pain will find Hazard’s guide packed with information and full of encouragement.

Rowland G. Hazard, MD is emeritus professor of orthopedics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He has devoted his over 30-year clinical and research careers to the understanding and care of people who are disabled by chronic low back pain. He has been a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation, and he is internationally known for developing the goal achievement model for overcoming painful disability.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Nobody Knows Your Pain the Way That You DoChapter 2. You Can’t Get What You Want ‘Til You Know What You WantChapter 3. The Medical Office VisitChapter 4. DrugsChapter 5. RelaxationChapter 6. Acute and Chronic Pain Chapter 7. WellnessEpilogueSuggested ReadingsAppendix AAppendix BIndexAbout the Author

'Recovering the ability to have a good life' is possible for sufferers of back pain, suggests physician Hazard in his powerful debut. Chronic back pain—the kind that lingers for months or years—is a big business in the U.S., Hazard writes: despite the fact that Americans spend more than $100 billion annually to find relief, few actually do. Hazard takes readers through a three-week rehabilitation course, his “functional restoration program” comprising lessons drawn from conversations with over 3,000 pain-disabled patients over 30 years. His plan helps readers reframe the way they think about their pain by imagining where they want to be in four months, and offers guidance for creating a course of action to realize their goals. Readers will also learn how to have a more productive visit with their doctor (coming prepared with questions such as “Do I have a medical reason not to exercise?”), better understand the value of taking it easy, and learn helpful relaxation techniques such as visualization. Hazard includes patient stories to bring his lessons to life, and worksheets (such as a training chart and pain questionnaire) round things out. Those suffering with back pain will find Hazard’s guide packed with information and full of encouragement.

Rowland G. Hazard, MD is emeritus professor of orthopedics, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He has devoted his over 30-year clinical and research careers to the understanding and care of people who are disabled by chronic low back pain. He has been a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation, and he is internationally known for developing the goal achievement model for overcoming painful disability.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Nobody Knows Your Pain the Way That You DoChapter 2. You Can’t Get What You Want ‘Til You Know What You WantChapter 3. The Medical Office VisitChapter 4. DrugsChapter 5. RelaxationChapter 6. Acute and Chronic Pain Chapter 7. WellnessEpilogueSuggested ReadingsAppendix AAppendix BIndexAbout the Author

'Recovering the ability to have a good life' is possible for sufferers of back pain, suggests physician Hazard in his powerful debut. Chronic back pain—the kind that lingers for months or years—is a big business in the U.S., Hazard writes: despite the fact that Americans spend more than $100 billion annually to find relief, few actually do. Hazard takes readers through a three-week rehabilitation course, his “functional restoration program” comprising lessons drawn from conversations with over 3,000 pain-disabled patients over 30 years. His plan helps readers reframe the way they think about their pain by imagining where they want to be in four months, and offers guidance for creating a course of action to realize their goals. Readers will also learn how to have a more productive visit with their doctor (coming prepared with questions such as “Do I have a medical reason not to exercise?”), better understand the value of taking it easy, and learn helpful relaxation techniques such as visualization. Hazard includes patient stories to bring his lessons to life, and worksheets (such as a training chart and pain questionnaire) round things out. Those suffering with back pain will find Hazard’s guide packed with information and full of encouragement.