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The Pain Chronicles: Cures, Myths, Mysteries, Prayers, Diaries, Brain Scans, Healing, and the Science of Suffering Audiobook
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(3.08) - 373 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Each of us will know physical pain in our lives, but none of us knows when it will come or how long it will stay. Today as much as 10 percent of the population of the United States suffers from chronic pain. It is more widespread, misdiagnosed, and undertreated than any major disease. While recent research has shown that pain produces pathological changes to the brain and spinal cord, many doctors and patients still labor under misguided cultural notions and outdated scientific dogmas that prevent proper treatment, to devastating effect.
In The Pain Chronicles, a singular and deeply humane work, Melanie Thernstrom traces conceptions of pain throughout the ages—from ancient Babylonian pain-banishing spells to modern brain imaging—to reveal the elusive, mysterious nature of pain itself. Interweaving first-person reflections on her own battle with chronic pain, incisive reportage from leading-edge pain clinics and medical research, and insights from a wide range of disciplines—science, history, religion, philosophy, anthropology, literature, and art—Thernstrom shows that when dealing with pain we are neither as advanced as we imagine nor as helpless as we may fear.
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"Very good book explaining one women's battle with pain, multiple doctors, prescriptions that worked, or didn't, or had even more serious long term affects than the pain itself. Doctors would thought of you as just another appointment, society that is not determined to research root cause, drug companies that prefer the status quo because money can be made on addicive pain meds. A book that gave me insight to what my daughter has been through, and very proud of how she came through it all, yet continues to struggle with long term side affects."
— Kay (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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Rarely has a single book so intelligently illuminated a universal human experience.
— Jerome Groopman, author of the New York Times bestseller How Doctors Think
The Pain Chronicles Listener Reviews
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" For all its inadequacies, The Pain Chronicles remains fascinating and engaging. The best section of the book--about 2/3rds through--deals with pain perception across races, genders, etc. As a patient with a chronic illness, I found this book so helpful and clear about how pain shapes us and how we shape pain. "
— Celeste, 2/11/2014 -
" This is one of those books I think I SHOULD read because I will learn something important. I am struggling to get through it though and almost ready to give myself permission to put it away undone! "
— Carol, 2/10/2014 -
" I'm loving this book. "
— Jan, 2/3/2014 -
" Probably could've used some judicious editing, but extremely informative and comprehensive. Well-written, except for the profusion of exclamation marks. "
— Margery, 2/2/2014 -
" A compelling investigation into the experience and interpretation of physical pain and the way western medical doctors confront it (or don't). Thernstrom's style is a bit precious but sometimes I like that and here it seemed to fit the topic. "
— Robin, 1/13/2014 -
" A great book for those who don't and do live with pain. "
— Lena, 1/10/2014 -
" I am recommending this to all my PT friends. A great book that helps with understanding those in chronic pain. "
— K.D., 1/4/2014 -
" While not a happy subject, I found this book extremely interesting. I definitely think it's worthwhile read for anyone who suffers from chronic pain or who loves someone living with chronic pain. The short chapters and the author's bits of her personal experience with pain made it very easy to read. "
— Karen, 12/31/2013 -
" It took me forever to finish this book. I enjoyed the history of pain relief, etc., but I didn't connect with her personal story at all. It dragged for me. "
— Beth, 12/21/2013 -
" Loved this so much. So many interesting things and thinky things. I need to buy my own copy, like, right now. "
— K, 12/4/2013 -
" comprehensive, approachable "
— Ann, 11/28/2013 -
" This book is not to be read for entertainment. Research based. Enlightening. I'm glad I read it. "
— Nancy, 3/20/2013 -
" A sophisticated study of the history and treatment of chronic pain, as well as the story of the authors own struggles with chronic pain. A fascinating read. "
— Leigh, 12/10/2012 -
" While not suffering from chronic pain, I find brain science to be interesting. This book didn't let me down - plenty of interesting info is given on treatments, placebos and nocebos. I already want to read a follow-up on many of the studies cited. "
— Robyn, 10/8/2012 -
" Treat pain early and aggressively. Do your physical therapy exercises. All physicians should read this book, as well as anybody who has pain, or knows someone with chronic pain. "
— Karolinaantonia, 8/28/2012 -
" Amazing mix of the science, history, religion, fact and fiction of pain as well as a memoir of living with chronic pain. Definitely something to own. "
— Aliza, 8/22/2012 -
" This is any interesting historical overview of pain and its perceptions. It is very interesting, and the author is a sufferer of chronic shoulder pain who was given an assignment to write about pain for a magazine. I felt empathy for the author in what she went through trying to get a diagnosis. "
— Krys, 7/23/2012 -
" Comprehensive & profound. If the reader does not have chronic pain, the book might not be as insightful or interesting. But for those who have experience with this beast, The Pain Chronicles are certain to open up a great door to understanding of this difficult & confounding phenomenon. "
— Ericagoodkind, 5/10/2012 -
" Helpful and informative but had to skip through some boring parts on the history of pain. I liked the author's story and the chapters that explained the disease of chronic pain as well as the perception of pain and how one can conquer pain. "
— Justinewest, 11/25/2011 -
" this is a well writtn review and memoir of the litersture, art, philosophy and science of pain, done in a non-whiny, kiterary style that pulls together many genre's of pain writings over the years of pain work. Well synthesized and clearly expressed without being self-indulgent. "
— Lucinda, 9/26/2011 -
" A sophisticated study of the history and treatment of chronic pain, as well as the story of the authors own struggles with chronic pain. A fascinating read. "
— Leigh, 4/20/2011 -
" Probably could've used some judicious editing, but extremely informative and comprehensive. Well-written, except for the profusion of exclamation marks. "
— Margery, 4/1/2011 -
" I was looking for a book yo ejxplain and validate my own experiences with chronic, debilitating pain. Instead I found a book that was boring and painnful to work my way through. There was no rrason to work my way through so I simply gave up rather than work my way through and continue the pain. "
— Nanci, 3/4/2011 -
" A compelling investigation into the experience and interpretation of physical pain and the way western medical doctors confront it (or don't). Thernstrom's style is a bit precious but sometimes I like that and here it seemed to fit the topic. "
— Robin, 1/16/2011 -
" Well-written first-person account of chronic pain experience. Already knew about all the treatments described and research being done, so did not really learn anything new. "
— Ccdempsey, 1/10/2011 -
" Fabulous! If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic pain, this book is worth reading. The way pain has been viewed through the ages by doctors and by people going through it, is fascinating. As is, the current research and findings on pain. Amazing read. "
— Caran-marie, 1/5/2011 -
" LOVED this book. So many parts that I had to reread because they had so much meaning to me. "
— Nicole, 12/9/2010 -
" Treat pain early and aggressively. Do your physical therapy exercises. All physicians should read this book, as well as anybody who has pain, or knows someone with chronic pain. "
— Karolinaantonia, 12/9/2010 -
" I am recommending this to all my PT friends. A great book that helps with understanding those in chronic pain. "
— K.D., 11/14/2010
About Melanie Thernstrom
Melanie Thernstrom is the author of the bestselling memoir The Dead Girl and Halfway Heaven: Diary of a Harvard Murder. She is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and has also written for the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications. She lives near Portland, Oregon.
About Laural Merlington
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.