The Truth About Chronic Pain , Arthur Rosenfeld Knox H. Todd, MD, MPH

In this book, Dr. Rosenfeld interviews thirty-six individuals from varying backgrounds --patients, providers, and others -- providing multiple vantage points from which to view the problem of pain. In this process, he condenses experiences that would take us many, many years to attain in one volume. The book contains different things for different readers. For me, the book served to validate the emotions experienced by my patients and this was its most useful function. After all, our patients are our best teachers.

What type of patient would benefit most from this book?
Any patient with chronic pain, but particularly those new to therapy, would benefit from reading the book. Patients seeking to understand their pain through the testimony of fellow patients have the most to gain by reading this book.

How would you recommend a patient use this book to enhance their care?
As a shared experience, reading the book may serve a similar function to that of a support group. For patients who are reluctant to join such a group, this volume could serve as a proxy to this experience, and perhaps as an introduction to such groups.

Are there any features or sections of the book you liked most or least?
Patients should be advised that the book may not contain specific practical information that they will find useful in dealing with their pain. If read with this goal, they will likely be disappointed. Rather, they should be advised to examine the variety of opinions and experiences expressed here and compare them with their own, with the understanding that there is no one right or wrong viewpoint.