An Anatomy of Pain: How the Body and the Mind Experience and Endure Physical Suffering

In the beginning, interesting and illuminating, but 'brief history' chapter got me skimming and looking for (nonexistent!) notes or references. We'll see; I may dnf.
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Skimming from p. 45 or so. The takeaway seems to be that doctors need to get a better picture of what is causing the patient distress & dysfunction (the pain itself is only symptom, after all), and recommend other things than drugs, needles, and knives... and that patients need to ask all the questions, like for instance how long before this intervention will take effect, how well-proven is this to work, how much will it help, how dangerous is it? Go to a pain management team sooner than later if you can.
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Also, if the pain is chronic and has no cause, learning to show more function despite it is much preferable to living in fear of it. After all, if you're afraid to move, you'll get weaker, and then you'll actually be vulnerable to injury, which will def. cause pain. Lose weight, stop smoking, exercise, keep your appointments, take drugs as prescribed but don't expect miracles... take charge of your own self-care, don't be a victim.

Platitudes that are hard to hear, much less to obey. I know. I honestly do know. But important.

(neuropathic pain is different and has its own chapter)

Not particularly recommended. I was misled by the cover to think it would be richer, whereas it really could've been a long article. July 2021 show less

More Memoir Than Hard Science. This was a memoir-based look at the field a man has made his career in, what the science he uses is, his thoughts on his field and his practice, and ultimately a bit of a guide on the general issues of the topic at hand. For what it is, it is very well written and easily readable. But those looking for a more "hard science", heavily referenced examination of the topic... won't find that here. But from a perspective of "I've been in this field for decades, and here is what the field is, what I've done in it, and where I think it should go"... yep, this book is exactly that, and a very good general overview of the field from that perspective. Very much recommended.

Loved the science behind pain and how the brain interprets it, but the latter half seems more like an ad for his clinic and their services.

Crucial topic, terrible prose