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Title details for Backbone by Karen Duffy - Available

Backbone

Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One

by Karen Duffy
ebook
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1 of 1 copy available
An inspirational, powerful, and funny manual for coping and living with devastating pain.
For two decades, Karen Duffy —New York Times bestselling author, former MTV VJ, Revlon model, and actress— has managed to live an enriching life despite living in a state of constant pain. Duffy has sarcoidosis, a disorder that causes the growth of inflammatory cells on different organs of the body. In her case, her sarcoidosis is located in her brain, causing her unimaginable pain. In this powerful, inspirational, funny, and important manual for surviving pain, Duffy draws on her experience as a patient advocate, certified recreational therapist, and hospital chaplain to illuminate gratifying methods people can use to cope with chronic pain and reinforces the sentiment that "circumstances determine our lives, but we shape our lives by what we make of circumstances" (Sir John Wheeler Bennet).
More than one-third of the US population—nearly 113 million Americans—is currently living with chronic pain, while another 133 million Americans live with some form of chronic illness. Half of the US population lives with the challenges of these invisible illnesses where their symptoms are not always obvious to the casual observer. Addressing a country ravaged by both chronic pain and opioid addiction, Backbone offers a salve of self-sufficiency, spunk, and perseverance. With a light tone, deft wordplay, and interactive gems such as the Bill Murray Pain Scale, Mastectomy Paper Dolls, and a crown to wear just for getting out of bed, Duffy's serious—and seriously funny—book is for the massive population living with chronic pain who are eager to be understood and helped, and sends the message that despite the pain, there is a way to a good life.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    November 7, 2017

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9781628727968
      • File size: 2713 KB

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9781628727968
      • File size: 4320 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      Starred review from October 1, 2017

      Duffy (actor, VJ for MTV; Model Patient) has managed a full life despite living with chronic pain. Her story is not all doom and gloom, however. A self-described optimist, she relays excerpts from her own experience and those of others to relate everyday situations fraught with physical limitations. Her style is funny, too. Inserted into the book are a set of mastectomy paper dolls, a variety of mustaches to stick on tongue depressors, and even a game of bingo consisting of platitudes spoken by well-meaning people. VERDICT Duffy's memoir is a joy to read and an inspiration for those who are healthy as well as those with lifelong travails.

      Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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