Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Health columnist Foreman didn't fully comprehend the meaning of hurting until her own bout of severe, protracted neck pain. Five years of research and 200 interviews (with doctors, scientists, and patients) later, she discovered that inadequate management of pain is a serious health problem and, while there may not be a cure, an integrative approach to treating pain is helpful. At least 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. It triggers about 40 percent of hospital ER visits. Foreman explains the biology of pain and its connection to emotion. All sorts of treatments are reviewed, including a multitude of medicines, biofeedback, epidural steroid injections, acupuncture, marijuana, physical therapy, Botox, chiropractic manipulation, surgery, and even transplantation of fetal nerve cells. But it is exercise that tops the list. Opioids (narcotic drugs) receive plenty of attention: the good (they work); the bad (a possibility of fatal overdose); and the ugly (the potential for abuse and addiction). Foreman focuses on dueling dilemmas: people who truly require powerful prescription pain medications may find it difficult to obtain them, yet those who abuse these drugs access them much too easily. Finally, a scientific and empathetic book that sensibly sorts out the problems and possibilities of adequately controlling pain. What a relief!--Miksanek, Tony Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The shadow pain casts and the toll it takes on individuals and society are revealed in this remarkable book by nationally syndicated health columnist Foreman, who chronicles the genetics of pain, types of pain receptors, and the effect of hormones and gender on pain and pain relief. Beginning this journey from personal experience with chronic pain, she discusses how pain can be "catastrophized" (leading to an obsessive focus on the pain) or cause depression. Foreman also describes the difficulties in assessing the pain of others and how this, combined with longstanding prejudices from the house of medicine in particular and society in general, influence the administration-or lack of administration-of pain medications. Foreman effectively juxtaposes her portrayal of a society in pain and a national attempt to limit access to adequate pain therapy. As she notes: "people with chronic pain (often older people with no history of substance abuse) can't get the opioids they need and could probably use responsibly, while street abusers, often young people, get them all too easily." Whether or not readers agree that the failure to treat pain is "torture by omission," this work is thoughtful and thought-provoking reading for the medical community, policymakers, and patients, especially in light of the F.D.A's recent call for tightening regulations in the administering of pain medications. Agent: Jim Levine, Levine Greenberg. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Encyclopedic in scope, this book on chronic pain also tells the personal story of the author, a Boston-based, nationally syndicated health columnist. When she developed chronic neck pain, Foreman's savvy medical background and reporter's skills were little help. She suffered the same stigmatizing it's-all-in-your-head reaction that many chronic pain patients (especially women) experience. Finally, an MRI scan showed the arthritis, bone spurs and sliding vertebrae of her cervical spine that caused her agony. Foreman spent five years interviewing experts, reviewing the literature and talking to patients to summarize what America is doing about pain. The answer? Not much--despite a 2011 report by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science revealing that 100 million Americans live in chronic pain. Foreman cites the report, noting also that medical schools barely touch the subject of pain. She then lays out the anatomy and physiology of pain perception. She debunks myths about women's greater tolerance of pain and infants' lack of feelings of pain. She provides an especially solid chapter on mind-body interactions, discussing the placebo effect, the relationship between pain and depression, and alleviation techniques like meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy. Then it's on to treatments. Government, health provider and cultural dictates that inhibit the use of opioids or, in the case of government, even allow research on marijuana, get the drubbings they deserve. (It's important to note, however, that opioids provide limited relief for chronic pain.) As for other approaches (drug and nondrug), Foreman discusses benefits and risks and cites multiple clinical trials, some pro, some con, for each treatment. She also extols the benefits of exercise: There's good evidence that it helps for low back pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Foreman's text underscores the fact that pain really is an extraordinarily complex phenomenon that requires more research. If we continue head-in-the-sand policies, we will remain a nation in pain.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
