Back Talk: How to Diagnose and Cure Low Back Pain and Sciatica
Fishman, a clinician specializing in the treatment of sciatica, and coauthor Ardman have designed this guide to serve two important functions: to describe the causes and available treatments of low back pain and to empower patients to learn all they can about their specific condition and how best to work with healthcare providers. Fishman feels that patients who understand the history and quality of their back problems recover most successfully, in part because they are able to help their physicians find the true cause of their pain. The book explains how to track the history of the problem, how to present information to the physician, and what to expect during exams and routine tests. Other chapters review specific kinds of back problems, such as musculoskeletal pain, numbness, paresthesia, and weakness. A valuable chapter, "24 Tricks To Ease Backache," provides some commonsense?and some not so obvious?methods for reducing or eliminating discomfort. Though there is no shortage of books on back problems for general readers, this one belongs in most collections owing to its clear explanations and emphasis on patient empowerment.?Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., Va.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.