Backbone

Living with Chronic Pain Without Turning into One

By: Karen Duffy

Narrated by: Karen Duffy

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.

©2017 Karen Duffy (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Entertaining and inspiring!

This book was the most inspiring and uplifting I have read on dealing with the difficulties of life, whether you have physical disabilities or not. Love the author and her narration!

Be educated with laughter on a serious subject

I can never thank Karen enough for writing this book, and letting the world know that people with Sarcoidosis and Chronic Illness are suffering and looking to not only be heard, but solutions. Karen explains the seriousness of the disease with her unique sense of humor, Take the time to read or listen to this, as you are educated with laughter.

A must for chronic pain sufferers

I loved this book, Ms. Duffy is an inspiration! Ms. Duffy shares her experience with chronic pain and brings a humorous approach to the suffering. I was searching for a book to help me cope with the loss of the person I used to be due to constant chronic pain and I found exactly what I needed.

Inspireing, very helpful and funny! Thank you .

Karen you helped me and made me smile . A worth your wild read. Thankyou again Karen. prayers and peaceful thoughts coming to you and yours.❤😊

Life = Change

This book is an insightful and humorous account of how to live with pain, chronic pain, everyday pain, and inevitable pain. It is a book I will return to as life is change and change involves pain.
Karen Duffy’s story reminds me that what’s important is how we respond to what happens to us and that’s about 90% of how we live our lives; the other 10% this was just what happens to us. It’s our attitude toward external things and even a life in pain can be a great life if you if you wanted to be.
Audible enhanced the reading experience, especially since it was read by the author.