‘Pain Wise’ Provides Advice From Specialists

Chronic pain sufferers now have a new weapon in their fight to manage and control their pain. “Pain Wise: A Patient’s Guide to Pain Management,” a new book by doctors who specialize in pain management, is a resource for chronic pain sufferers.

The book explains in simple language the causes of pain, as well as effective Interventional Pain Management (IPM) techniques and advice on how to choose the best physician to treat chronic pain. According to a recent federal report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), chronic pain affects 116 million Americans and costs the U.S. approximately $560 to $635 billion annually.

Dr. Andrea Trescot, based in St. Augustine, co-authored the book with Dr. Francis Riegler of California and Dr. David Kloth of Connecticut. Together they bring years of experience as long-time practicing IPM physicians, educators and members of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), a physicians’ group dedicated to the promotion and development of IPM.

Pain Wise includes expert advice and information on:

■ How to choose a pain specialist that is right for you

■ All of the most common interventional pain management treatments

■ Getting the most out of your doctor visits

■ Minimally invasive disc surgery

■ Implantable pain relief devices

■ Cancer pain management

Pain-Wise offers renewed hope to chronic pain sufferers, many of whom become frustrated, depressed and exhausted after visiting doctor after doctor, trying drugs and treatments that do not address the root cause of their pain.

“Pain medicine has improved dramatically in the last few years,” states Trescot, the current U.S. Chair for the World Institute of Pain. “It is important to know what your options for pain relief might be, and we hope that this book will help to describe and explain those options.”

Trescot is a well-known and respected pain management physician and a member of the team of specialty physicians at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine.

She is a member of the most-respected state, national and international pain societies and a national expert on a va