What do you think?
Rate this book
Paindemic: A Practical and Holistic Look at Chronic Pain, the Medical System, and the antiPAIN Lifestyle
In the current medical system, there are over 100 million Americans experiencing pain of varying degrees. Paindemic offers a perspective from Dr. Melissa Cady, a physician who is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine yet taught with osteopathic and allopathic approaches. Dr. Cady has suffered from chronic pain, which she has managed conservatively despite the opportunity to do more risky interventions. Paindemic offers the rational approach of the anti-PAIN Lifestyle as a solution to addressing chronic pain effectively with less risk.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
36 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Cady
4 books19 followersMelissa Cady is a native Texan. With a love for learning and an active lifestyle, it is no surprise that she eventually pursued the medical profession. Her appreciation and fascination with the human body transitioned her from personal trainer to medical student.
Cady is a physician trained in an osteopathic medical school followed by allopathic postgraduate training. She is board-certified in anesthesiology and fellowship-trained with a board certification in pain medicine. She currently practices medicine in Austin.
Her initial desire to become an author originated from her realization that one of the greatest needs within the medical system is education, which is undervalued, underpaid, and therefore, under-delivered. Cady's belief is that education of the general public can empower and direct people toward better choices and health while avoiding unnecessary medical interventions.
Melissa Cady takes great pride in building rapport with patients by being educational and practical despite the overwhelming pressure by the medical system to minimize time with patients, move more quickly, or succumb to irrational expectations or politics.
Cady is a physician trained in an osteopathic medical school followed by allopathic postgraduate training. She is board-certified in anesthesiology and fellowship-trained with a board certification in pain medicine. She currently practices medicine in Austin.
Her initial desire to become an author originated from her realization that one of the greatest needs within the medical system is education, which is undervalued, underpaid, and therefore, under-delivered. Cady's belief is that education of the general public can empower and direct people toward better choices and health while avoiding unnecessary medical interventions.
Melissa Cady takes great pride in building rapport with patients by being educational and practical despite the overwhelming pressure by the medical system to minimize time with patients, move more quickly, or succumb to irrational expectations or politics.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2025
.Only a person in chronic pain knows the long endless hours at night of tossing and turning. Looking at the time and getting up to try sitting in a recliner to ease the pain.
It does not matter if it be neck, knees, hips, or back.
It is like the teeth of a dog grinding. The lower back in a grip like a vise. Will it ease off today?
Yes, sometimes turned down like a background noise. Always there.
Can you ever remember the time pain did not haunt your every step.?
This was personally a fascinating read for me written by a person with an in-depth understanding and empathy of how chronic pain can slowly erode the joy in life in every aspect.
It does not matter if it be neck, knees, hips, or back.
It is like the teeth of a dog grinding. The lower back in a grip like a vise. Will it ease off today?
Yes, sometimes turned down like a background noise. Always there.
Can you ever remember the time pain did not haunt your every step.?
This was personally a fascinating read for me written by a person with an in-depth understanding and empathy of how chronic pain can slowly erode the joy in life in every aspect.
July 17, 2020
In the final pages of this book, it describes society as one that “focuses on instant gratification and self-entitlement.” Especially from our health care system. And that system is often more than willing to oblige.
This book preaches the gospel of personal responsibility pretty heavily. Pain is the body’s way of letting us know something is wrong—and we can either mask that pain and cover up the symptoms with drugs or procedures that are often unnecessary, or we can do our due diligence and work with our health providers to find the cause of those symptoms. Sometimes that may involve enduring the pain a bit longer. But it might just save us from needless medical expenses and undergoing invasive procedures that don’t end up working.
Example: sciatica. Pain that radiates down a person’s leg. The discomfort is felt in the leg, but the cause is often found in the lower back in a herniated or bulging disc. But that disc still might not be the root cause. The root cause may very well be poor posture, sitting at a desk 8+ hours a day, etc. Surgery will eliminate the bulged disc, but it doesn’t solve the problem if the posture and sitting issues aren’t addressed. And it’s quite possible that addressing those issues and some good physical therapy might do just what you hope to get out of that discectomy—reduced pain and increased mobility.
Seriously worth the read if you experience pain. Education is key. This book will help guide you towards accumulating that education.
This book preaches the gospel of personal responsibility pretty heavily. Pain is the body’s way of letting us know something is wrong—and we can either mask that pain and cover up the symptoms with drugs or procedures that are often unnecessary, or we can do our due diligence and work with our health providers to find the cause of those symptoms. Sometimes that may involve enduring the pain a bit longer. But it might just save us from needless medical expenses and undergoing invasive procedures that don’t end up working.
Example: sciatica. Pain that radiates down a person’s leg. The discomfort is felt in the leg, but the cause is often found in the lower back in a herniated or bulging disc. But that disc still might not be the root cause. The root cause may very well be poor posture, sitting at a desk 8+ hours a day, etc. Surgery will eliminate the bulged disc, but it doesn’t solve the problem if the posture and sitting issues aren’t addressed. And it’s quite possible that addressing those issues and some good physical therapy might do just what you hope to get out of that discectomy—reduced pain and increased mobility.
Seriously worth the read if you experience pain. Education is key. This book will help guide you towards accumulating that education.
December 12, 2023
Great information. Everyone experiencing pain-related issues should read this book.
It is a worthwhile investment of time and money.
It is a worthwhile investment of time and money.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews