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Pain is part of human existence but we understand very little of the mechanics of it. We damage ourselves, we feel pain, we seek help from a professional or learn to not do that bad thing again. The story of what goes on in our body is not this simple. Even medical practitioners themselves often fail to grasp the complexities of our minds and bodies and how they interact when dealing with pain stimulus. Throughout history we've tried to prevent it and mediate its affects, resulting in the current situation we find ourselves; highly medicated with a booming opiates industry.
Common conception still equates pain with tissue damage but that is only a very small part of the story. A woman who has just undergone a caesarean reports dramatically less pain and recovers quicker than a patient who has had kidney stones removed in a similarly damaging operation. The soldier who drags themselves to safety after being shot deals with pain in a remarkably different way to someone suffering a similar injury on a street. The truth is that pain is a complex mix of nerve endings, psychological state, social preconceptions and situational awareness.
Pain is the first book to explain the current issues and complexities surrounding the treatment of pain and how society deals with those in pain, to explain how our bodies relate to pain as well as explaining how we've come to our current relationship with pain (and why that is problematic) and what the future holds.
About the author
Dr Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen has been working in pain management for more than ten years. He is a member of the Faculty of Pain Medicine affiliated to the Royal College of Anaesthetists and a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. He lives in Manchester.
Summary
'Combines a career's worth of expertise with a long history of pain treatment. For anyone concerned with pain treatment, or anyone who has struggled to manage pain of any kind, it's an important read.' GQ
Pain is a universal human experience, but we understand very little about the mechanics behind it. We hurt ourselves, we feel pain, we seek help from a professional or learn to avoid certain behaviours that cause pain. But the story of what goes on in our body is far from simple. Even medical practitioners themselves often fail to grasp the complexities between our minds and bodies and how they interact when dealing with pain stimulus.
Common conception still equates pain with tissue damage but that is only a very small part of the story - the organ which produces pain is the brain. Case studies show that a woman who has undergone a caesarean reports dramatically less pain than a patient who has had a comparably invasive operation. The soldier who drags themselves to safety after being shot deals with pain in a remarkably different way from someone suffering a similar injury on a street. The truth is that pain is a complex mix of nerve endings, psychological state, social preconceptions and situational awareness.
Using case studies and medical history, Dr Lalkhen guides us through all aspects of pain, from chronic to acute, and the
current landscape of pain treatments - from medication (including opioids) to electrical nerve stimulation. Whether it's a mild ache or severe discomfort, we all encounter pain in our lives and this important and illuminating book enables us to understand and cope with an experience that for so many can become all-consuming.
Foreword
Told through case studies and medical history, this is an enlightening, in-depth book on the fascinating science behind pain and the complexities of its treatment, by one of the leading doctors in this area.
