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Dr. Akhtar Purvez offers readers insight into the complex relationship between pain and the brain. Readers will come to understand the vital processes guiding how physiological, anatomical, and emotional aspects of pain interact to both cause and cure pain.
List of contents
CHAPTER ONE: MYSTERY
A look at how humans have studied and tried to ward off the mysterious and universal phenomenon
of pain over the centuries, from the ancient Egyptians and Greek scholars through the beginnings of
Arabic medicine, the philosophy of Rene Descartes, and modern explorers such as Ronald Melzack.
CHAPTER TWO: THE BODY'S CEO
This chapter examines some of the many things the brain can do (and how science has regarded it),
focusing on the brain-pain connection.
CHAPTER THREE: PAIN IN OUR CULTURE
How pain has infiltrated not only our bodies, but our cultural attitudes toward it.
CHAPTER FOUR: ALL THE HURTFUL THINGS
What hurts us the most? An examination of some of the pain's many manifestations and vehicles.
CHAPTER FIVE: CHASING RELIEF
The history of pain relief, from ancient remedies to modern innovations.
CHAPTER SIX: HOW CHRONIC PAIN CHANGED THE GAME.
Examines ways in which medical science has been forced to battle a different (and often baffling)
subset of pain.
CHAPTER SEVEN: BEWARE THE EVIL TWIN
Delves into the modern scourge of addiction to painkillers.
CHAPTER EIGHT: ANOMALIES
Describes two curious off-shoots of human pain, masochism and congenital insensitivity to pain.
CHAPTER NINE: WITH PAIN IN MIND
The mental health aspects of pain and how research in that direction ay change the face of
treatment.
CHAPTER TEN: THE ROAD AHEAD
A survey of some of the more promising treatment options in the fight against pain.
About the author
Akhtar Purvez, MD, is a researcher, interventional pain physician, author and pain advocate. He is
certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine, the American Board of Anesthesiology in Pain
Medicine, and the American Board of Disability Analysts. He has been in pain practice since 2002.
He is a member of Spine Intervention Society (SIS), American Society of Regional Anesthesia and
Pain medicine (ASRA), and American Medical Association. Purvez has been involved in training
physician assistants, medical students, residents, fellows and other physicians. He was Adjunct
Clinical Professor at Lincoln Memorial University, TN and writes, lectures, and speaks on radio and
TV about pain related issues.
