Meanings of Pain: Volume 3: Vulnerable or Special Groups of People

The third and final volume of the Meaning of Pain series explores the meaning of pain for vulnerable groups, including children, women, older adults, veterans, addicts, people with mental health problems, homeless people, and people in rural or indigenous communities. It focuses on the lived experience of pain in these groups and examines the question of what pain experience could mean in defenseless fetuses, neonates, pre-term babies, and children. The series aims to create a vocabulary on the "meanings of pain" and a clinical framework to use it, stimulating self-reflection about the role of meaning in optimal pain management.

Format: Hardback
Length: 147 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The third and concluding installment in the Meaning of Pain series delves into the profound and multifaceted experiences of pain among individuals belonging to "vulnerable" or "special" groups. This comprehensive volume explores the intricate connections between pain and its meanings, shedding light on how these meanings evolve and shape both the individuals experiencing pain and their overall well-being over time.

Immediate pain serves as a vital warning signal, alerting the person in distress to potential harm or injury. However, as pain persists, it can intertwine with more complex cognitive meanings, including thoughts and anxieties related to the adverse consequences of pain. These cognitive meanings can give rise to existential sufferings, which transcend the physical sensations of pain and encompass feelings of loss, loneliness, and despair. While chronic pain can affect individuals from all walks of life, there are specific groups of people who require urgent clinical support and understanding. These "vulnerable" or "special" groups include children, women, older adults, veterans, addicts, individuals with mental health problems, homeless individuals, and members of rural or indigenous communities.

Throughout the book, several chapters focus on the lived experiences of pain within these vulnerable populations. For instance, the book delves into the pain experiences of black older adults in the United States, rural Nigerians, US veterans, and adults with acquired brain injury. It examines in depth the question of what pain could mean in the defenseless fetus, neonate, pre-term baby, and child, shedding light on the unique challenges and complexities faced by these vulnerable groups.

The overarching goal of this book series is to establish a comprehensive vocabulary on the "meanings of pain" and provide a clinical framework for its application. It is hoped that the series will inspire self-reflection about the role of meaning in optimal pain management and foster a deeper understanding of the multifaceted aspects of pain.

Meanings of Pain is designed to serve a wide audience, including individuals with pain, family members or caregivers of people with pain, clinicians, researchers, advocates, and policy makers. Volume I of the series was published in 2016, and Volume II is scheduled for release in the near future. By expanding our understanding of the meanings of pain, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and effective approach to pain management that recognizes the profound impact of pain on individuals and society as a whole.

Weight: 407g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030958244
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022