Back Talk: How to Diagnose and Cure Low Back Pain and Sciatica (Hardcover)

by Loren Fishman (Author), Carol Ardman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
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.

Product Description
A must for the millions who experience lower back pain. A friendly, practical guide to coping with lower back pain--from pinpointing problems to determining proper treatment. The sometimes crippling, often prolonged back pain that afflicts 2.5 million Americans at one time or another is harder to diagnose than it is to cure. Dr. Loren Fishman, a distinguished clinician and a trailblazer in the treatment of sciatica, believes there's only one road to relief: patients must become partners with their doctors in finding the cause of their pain and in making treatment decisions. Back Talk teaches patients which specialist to see, how to talk to doctors responsibly, what a physical exam should entail, and when to consent to diagnostic testing. It offers clear advice about treatment, surgery, and strategies for pain control.

Based on the latest research and Dr. Fishman's fifteen years of experience in successfully treating patients, Back Talk is filled with pain-saving advice and instructional facts:
* most back pain is curable; less than 10 percent becomes chronic
* more than four days of bed rest can make a back ache worse
* patients who choose chiropractors visit them twice as often as those who choose medical doctors
* more than 25 percent of people who go to orthopedic surgeons have referred themselves
* the initial treatment any doctor is likely to prescribe is aspirin.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 286 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393041298
• ISBN-13: 978-0393041293
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,215,147 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely helpful tool in understanding my back pain........, April 16, 1999

By	Janice {[e-mail]} "sunnyday" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

I was very impressed with how this book expained the reasons for my many different back pains. It was very easy to discover why and where my pain was coming from, and what to tell the doctor. I have suffered with back pain for 8 years, and have discovered this to be a very useful tool in dealing with the doctors. It is written so well that everyone can understand it without having to have a medical degree. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who suffers from back pain, and would like to find a better understanding of their pain and symptoms. This will be my handbook for any future reference, as symptoms do change. I gained confidence in dealing with my doctor by having a better understanding about the origins of my pain and symptoms. A+++

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend this book to back pain suffers., September 13, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

Dr. Fishman is concerned with the "patient" and quality of life. Many doctors view back pain as separate from the person. Dr. Fishman has sincere interest in helping patients and giving sound advice.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for sciatica sufferers, June 22, 1998

By	D. Witherspoon "DaveyBob" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found this book to be an excellent educational tool for someone new to low back pain and sciatica. The authors do a good job of explaining the pysiology of the problem, something many doctors fail to do. Subtle causes of pain are dealt with quite well, which to me suggests that the authors know their stuff. I thought it was written with the knowledge of a skilled doctor, but from the point of view of an inquisitive patient.