It Hurts

“This work represents a lifetime of experience and Dr. Olson’s passion for helping those who must confront not only pain but the potential challenges inherent in some health and compensation systems...

“It’s not every day that you get to crawl inside the head of a psychologist to get a glimpse of how he views chronic pain and the people it affects. This view from the 'other side of the couch' however is exactly what the reader receives—insights of relevance to clinicians and patients alike from a pain psychologist who has spent literally thousands of hours working with individuals faced with chronic pain. Dr. Olson has devoted his career to caring for and advocating on behalf of people with pain. His book is rich in antidotes, the basics of multidisciplinary care, and offers clear examples for why affective and cognitive factors need to be addressed in any case involving chronic pain. A true gem in this book is his collection of case studies. Representing hundreds of hours of therapeutic work, these cases provide a sampling of the challenges that face both patients and clinicians focused on managing pain for the long term.

–David A. Williams, Ph.D., Professor, Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry & Psychology, Associate Director, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Associate Director, Research Development, MICHR, University of Michigan, President, American Pain Society