Pain by Patrick Wall
Many scientists, philosophers, and laypeople imagine pain to operate like a rigid, simple signaling system, yet this mechanistic model is woefully lacking in the face of the surprising facts about what people and animals do and experience when their bodies are damaged. The author looks at these questions, interweaving it with historical detail.
In this generally thoughtful text, Wall offers his belief in the benefit of narcotic medications for cancer patients in painPublishers Weekly Wall is a sage neuroscientist who challenges younger pain researchers and the 'new breed of clinicians' to create a contemporary picture of a 'subtle multiplexed reactive system' we call the neurological response to pain. Library Journal Despite his impressive academic qualifications, Wall writes lucidly, using vivid examples, stories from his own life, and a general dose of personal opinions. Readers may find they know more about pain than those who should be experts-such as their doctors Kirkus Reviews You won't meet a finer piece of popularization this year than Patrick Wall's crack at one of medicine's greatest mysteries. And his book commands attention, coming as it does from the world's expert on the subject. -- Roy Porter The Times (London) A first-class, well-written account of what is known about pain and how to relieve it, by one of the world's greatest experts on the subject... We are all frightened of pain, and we all need to know more about it. This short, comprehensible summary could not be bettered. Both those who suffer and those who attempt to relieve suffering will learn a great deal from it. -- Anthony Storr The Sunday Times (London) [Wall] provides a broad, comprehensive overview of the pain experience and offers a very interesting discourse on the complexities involved in understanding pain and its treatment... The chapters are well organized, with an introduction and closing summary, and... they include descriptions of fascinating studies that have led to breakthroughs in the study of pain...The information on central and peripheral mechanisms involved in pain sensation is well woven in with medical history and clinical cases. This book would be useful to upper-division undergraduates and graduate students entering the pain research arena. It would also interest pain researchers, faculty in academic medicine, medical students, and health professionals who treat pain. -- C.S. Weisse, Union College (NY) Choice
The late Patrick Wall was professor of physiology at St. Thomas's Hospital Medical School, London and a fellow of the Royal Society. His books include Defeating Pain, The Challenge of Pain, Natural Pain Relief, and Textbook of Pain.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780231120067 |
| ISBN 10 | 0231120060 |
| Title | Pain |
| Author | Patrick Wall |
| Series | Maps Of The Mind |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Columbia University Press |
| Year published | 2000-07-18 |
| Number of pages | 192 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |