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    Backbone: Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One
    Backbone: Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One
    Backbone: Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One
    Audiobook5 hours

    Backbone: Living with Chronic Pain without Turning into One

    Written by Karen Duffy

    Narrated by Karen Duffy

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Backbone is a life-fulfilling message about managing chronic pain and living a life of purpose. 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. In this powerful, inspirational, funny, and important manual for surviving pain, Duffy draws on her experience as a patient advocate, trained recreational therapist, and hospice 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 one hundred 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 suffers from these invisible illnesses where their symptoms are not always obvious to the casual observer. Duffy herself suffers from 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. Backbone is for the massive population of sufferers who are eager to be understood and helped, and sends the message that despite the pain, there is a way to a good life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateNov 7, 2017
    ISBN9781543655780
    Author

    Karen Duffy

    Karen Duffy continues to model for Revlon, tour the country as a women's health advocate, and report for Michael Moore's new show, The Awful Truth. She lives with her husband in New York City.

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    Reviews for Backbone

    3.5/5

    9 ratings1 review

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    • 4/5
      3.5 Whenever I see a book about chronic pain I tend to grab it, hoping for some new information or novel insights. I can't say there was anything really new here except I definitely admired the author.Chronic pain can be wearing, especially if you have a condition, as I have, where you don't necessarily look sick. Duffys life and the way she manages her pain is inspirational in that she has found things that work for her. She does reiterate the importance of getting up and moving, walking to the best of your ability, daily if at all possible, three times a week if you can't do daily. Walking has additional benefits, on retaining memory, relieving stress and other healthful benefits. Watching her son play hockey and she thinks to herself that if her son, as a goalie, can handle the pain he endures, she can handle hers. She quotes philosophers she admires, and uses as inspiration, daily saying to keep her motivated. There is much in this book, quite a bit of it common sense, though sometimes when in pain it is hard to put things into practice. Misdirection works, actually works best for me, reading to get my mind off myself, is my drug of choice. Of course, there are drugs to help and in worse case scenarios these are put into use.I did enjoy reading about her life, how she has managed and the things she goes through daily, just to make it through. I admire her will and perseverance.ARC from edelweiss