The Back Book (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) [Paperback]

Ziya L. Gokaslan (Author), Lee Hunter Riley III MD (Author), Ian Suk (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book | Publication Date: December 22, 2008

Eighty percent of Americans experience back pain in varying degrees at some point in their lives. In fact, back pain is second only to the common cold as a reason why people visit a doctor.

In The Back Book, Johns Hopkins surgeons Ziya L. Gokaslan and Lee Hunter Riley explain the causes and complexities of back pain and the various paths to diagnosis and treatment. Stressing the importance of individualized treatment, they discuss the process of establishing a treatment plan that is acceptable to the person with pain as well as to the attending physician. They also:

? lay out reasonable expectations for surgical and nonsurgical treatment? illuminate the possibilities, risks, and limitations of back surgery? describe how to select a surgeon and the importance of choosing the right one

Informative and reassuring, The Back Book provides readers with the knowledge they need to understand their back pain and get started on the route to relief.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Neurosurgeon Gokaslan and orthopedist Riley... frequently reassure readers that back pain is usually self-limited, without major treatments or surgery, and they offer recommendations for finding authoritative information, including web sites from national spine organizations. Diagnostic and imaging tests are described, as are pain relief and nonsurgical treatments; physical therapy is strongly promoted both as treatment and as prevention. Gokaslan and Riley give a general overview of back surgeries, placing particular emphasis on matching patient and physician expectations of realistic outcomes. A large amount of information is packed into this slim volume. Although the reading level is high, it should be a popular addition to consumer health collections.

(Library Journal 2008)

A complete and comprehensive guide to the back, it provides an excellently researched manual... A must for any who are facing back pain and are evaluating their options fully.

(Midwest Book Review 2009)

The authors do a good job of describing the full range of treatments from physical therapy to surgery. Also included are a useful index and an interesting section describing how to choose an appropriate and helpful Web site. Another section on how to talk to a physician should be helpful for anyone who has encountered difficulties.

(Choice 2009)

From the Back Cover

The authoritative one-stop resource for understanding back pain and treatment, including:

• An overview of the anatomy of the back: bones and joints, muscles and ligaments, the spinal cord and nerves• An explanation of the most common causes of back pain and how to avoid or minimize them• A tour of the diagnostic process, including x-rays, MRIs, and other tests and studies• A comprehensive guide to nonsurgical pain management, including a chapter devoted to physical therapy• Advice about how to decide whether surgery is right for you and which surgical option is most appropriate • An explanation of what back surgery involves and recommendations to help with a healthy recovery• Tips on how to keep your back strong and healthy throughout your life

From causes to diagnosis to treatment, The Back Book is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide for people with back pain.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1 edition (December 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801890438
• ISBN-13: 978-0801890437
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Back Pain

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for any who are facing back pain and are evaluating their options fully, April 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Back Book (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) (Paperback)

If the back hurts, you hurt. "The Back Book" is the work of two experts on the human spine and how to properly care for it in a number of situations. A complete and comprehensive guide to the back, it provides an excellently researched manual derived from years of experiments, explaining the many parts of the back, what causes it pain, diagnosis, dealing with the pain with and without surgery, and how back therapy is key to restoring a damaged spine. "The Back Book" is a must for any who are facing back pain and are evaluating their options fully.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great definitions, April 7, 2009

By 

Jean Marrapodi "Jean Marrapodi" (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Back Book (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) (Paperback)

A good overview of terms. This is helpful to understand the workings of the spine and the treatment options available. Helpful for demystifying the medical jargon and allows the patient to take a step back and see the forest from the trees.