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    An Anatomy of Pain: How the Body and the Mind Experience and Endure Physical Suffering
    An Anatomy of Pain: How the Body and the Mind Experience and Endure Physical Suffering
    An Anatomy of Pain: How the Body and the Mind Experience and Endure Physical Suffering
    Audiobook9 hours

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

    Written by Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen

    Narrated by Russell Bentley

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    An illuminating, authoritative, and in-depth examination of the fascinating science behind pain that “combines a career’s worth of expertise with a long history of pain treatment” (GQ)—from one of the internationally leading doctors in pain management.

    Pain is a universal human experience, but we understand very little about the mechanisms behind it. We hurt ourselves, we feel pain, we seek help from a professional or learn to avoid certain behaviors 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. Throughout history we’ve tried to prevent and mediate the effects of pain—which has only resulted in a highly medicated population and a booming opiates industry.

    Written by a medical expert trained as an anesthesiologist, An Anatomy of Pain is the first book to clearly explain the current issues and complexities surrounding the treatment of pain and how society deals with those in pain, as well as how our bodies relate to pain. 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 c-section reports dramatically less pain than a patient who has had kidney stones removed in a similarly invasive operation. The soldier who drags himself or herself 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.

    Filled with case studies and medical history, this enlightening book offers a crash course in all aspects of pain, from chronic to acute, and walks us through 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 splendid book—informative, empathic, and wise—about a universal experience will surely promote healing” (Booklist, starred review).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateFeb 2, 2021
    ISBN9781797120768
    Author

    Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen

    Dr. Abdul-Ghaaliq Lalkhen has been working in pain-related areas—from anesthesiology to pain management—for over two decades. He is a member of the Faculty of Pain Medicine affiliated to the Royal College of Anesthetists and a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. He lives in Manchester, England.

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    Reviews for An Anatomy of Pain

    4.5/5

    27 ratings4 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I liked the book! It was factual, introduced the reader in a clear (simplified, of course) way to the neurology of pain, but it also dealt with the psychological part of chronic pain. Lalkhen described his contacts with patients and the challenges he met in his practice as a doctor, both in the UK, and in South Africa. Downside: the ending is a bit vague.
    • 2/5
      A lot more preaching than I'd like, especially because the book was very all over the place. Read more like several disjoint articles of varying quality. The last third of the book is about the author's pain clinic and how it functions, which is interesting but heavily biased to the author's diagnoses. Many passages that read like "Other doctors just want patients to stop complaining so they just prescribe opioids and move on. I, on the other hand, am magnanimous and have a groundbreaking strategy of listening to my patient." Not that this doesn't happen, but the author goes to great lengths to make their strategies seem perfect despite having a relatively low success rate.
    • 5/5
      Should be mandatory reading for politicians. Excellent book. Well read.
    • 5/5
      This is a well-written, thoughtful book that delves not only into the former and current views of pain science, but also the authors personal and professional journey.