Why We Hurt: The Natural History of Pain, Library Edition

by Frank T. Vertosick Jr. (Narrator), Tom Parks (narrator)

A top neurosurgeon and acclaimed author's unique and highly readable study of the paradox of pain, with fascinating anecdotes on childbirth, migraines, cancer, and more.

Medical science has made brilliant discoveries over the last century but as any cancer patient can attest, it has yet to conquer, or even fully comprehend, pain. Beginning with his own battle against severe migraines, and citing numerous case studies of his patients, in Why We Hurt Dr. Frank Vertosick explains how pain evolved, and by highlighting the critical functions it serves, he helps us to understand its value. Well written, expertly researched, and movingly told, each chapter offers an amalgam of medicine, history, anthropology, drama, inspiration, and practical advice on a myriad of pain syndromes, from back pain to angina, arthritis to carpal tunnel syndrome. A skilled writer and compassionate physician, Vertosick believes knowledge is often the first, and best, analgesic, and in Why We Hurt, "he offers fascinating insight into the greatest mystery of all: what it means to be human" (The Seattle Times).

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Medicine, Medical, Audiobook, Health, History

Audio CD

First published June 3, 2000

About the author

Frank T. Vertosick, Jr. is a neurosurgeon and is the author of three books: Why We Hurt, When the Air Hits Your Brain and Mind: A Unified Theory of Life and Intelligence which was previously published as: The Genius Within: Discovering the Intelligence of Every Living Thing.

Reviews

[Brie Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. He was straight-forward, easily understood and I really liked his descriptions of pain- he never patronized or belittled his patients or their maladies. Great information.

[Ioannis Savvas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Βρήκα σε ένα παζάρι βιβλίου το Γιατί πονάμε. Είχα εντοπίσει παλιότερα την αμερικανική έκδοση, αλλά αφού το βρήκα μεταφρασμένο, γιατί όχι;... Ένα βιβλίο για τον πόνο είναι πάντα χρήσιμο. Από τότε που -εδώ και κάποια χρόνια- ασχολούμαι ερευνητικά και εκπαιδευτικά, αλλά και στην καθημερινή κλινική πράξη με τον πόνο, κάθε σχετικό βιβλίο μού τραβάει την προσοχή.

Θα ξεκινήσω με τον πρόλογο του Μανώλη Αναστασίου, που όπως λέει η έκδοση είναι πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Εταιρείας Αλγολογίας. Οκτώ σελίδες με τεχνικές πληροφορίες, στατιστικά και στυγνή παράθεση ορολογίας, σε μια ξύλινη γλώσσα. Ένα φρικτό κείμενο, γραμμένο στο πόδι, μάλλον με τη μέθοδο της αντιγραφής-επικόλλησης.

Το κυρίως βιβλίο ξεκινάει ομαλά, με μια παθολογική κατάσταση που έχει βιώσει και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας: τις ημικρανίες. Μια βασανιστική και εξουθενωτική περίπτωση πόνου. Οι σελίδες κυλούν ευχάριστα -όσο ευχάριστα μπορούν να είναι τα σύνδρομα πόνου που λέει ότι έχει αντιμετωπίσει ο συγγραφέας ως νευροχειρουργός. Οι αναφορές σε περίεργα περιστατικά, στην ιστορία της ιατρικής και των φαρμάκων, αλλά και σε θέματα ψυχολογικά και φιλοσοφικά, κρατούν ψηλά το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη.

Δεν θα αναφερθώ στις αστοχίες της μεταφράστριας, καθώς κάποιοι αδόκιμοι ή και λανθασμένοι όροι είναι απλά πταίσματα μπροστά σε αυτό που αντίκρισα λίγο αργότερα με έκπληξη...

Έτσι λοιπόν, καμιά δεκαριά κεφάλαια παρακάτω, πέφτω πάνω στην ιστορία της αναισθησιολογίας. Το κεφάλαιο ξεκινάει με ένα περιστατικό του συγγραφέα από τα χρόνια της ειδικότητάς του, στη μονάδα εντατικής θεραπείας. Ένας ασθενής, 2-3 ημέρες ύστερα από επέμβαση bypass, εμφανίζει σοβαρή ενδοθωρακική αιμορραγία και καρδιακό επιπωματισμό. Ο θωρακοχειρουργός επεμβαίνει άμεσα, του ανοίγει το θώρακα, βρίσκει την αιμορραγία και πιέζει προσωρινά το αγγείο που αιμορραγεί με το δάχτυλο, ενώ ταυτόχρονα καλεί τον αναισθησιολόγο. Όλη αυτή την ώρα ο ασθενής παρακολουθεί το ανοιχτό στήθος του και τους δύο γιατρούς βουτηγμένους στο αίμα, ενώ ουρλιάζει από τον πόνο. Ο αναισθησιολόγος καταφθάνει και στωικά χορηγεί στον ασθενή λοραζεπάμη και κεταμίνη λέγοντας "Μη φοβάστε, όταν ξυπνήσει δεν θα θυμάται τίποτα!".

Ακόμα κι ένας φοιτητής κτηνιατρικής δεν θα μπορούσε να πιστέψει μια τέτοια ιστορία. Και σίγουρα δεν υπάρχει περίπτωση να περάσει το μάθημα της Αναισθησιολογίας αν μου αναφέρει κάτι ανάλογο. Όλο το σκηνικό είναι σουρεαλιστικό και μόνο σε ταινία του Tarantino θα μπορούσε να βρεθεί. Όταν λοιπόν βρίσκεις μια τόσο εξωφρενική ιστορία σε ένα τέτοιο βιβλίο, πώς να μην σκεφτείς ότι μπορεί να υπάρχουν και άλλα τέτοια εξωφρενικά, σε άλλα σημεία, τα οποία δεν μπορείς να αξιολογήσεις, καθώς δεν είναι της ειδικότητάς σου; (Όταν υπάρχει ένα λάθος, γιατί να μην υπάρχει και δεύτερο και τρίτο...) Έτσι, όλο το βιβλίο ακυρώνεται και η αξιοπιστία του καταρρέει.

Αν δεν έβρισκα αυτό το τραγικό σημείο, θα μπορούσα να χαρακτηρίσω το βιβλίο αρκετά καλό, με πινελιές τρυφερότητας, σοβαρότητας και δέους, όπως ακριβώς πρέπει να αντιμετωπίζει κάποιος τον πόνο και την ταλαιπωρία που αυτός προκαλεί. Τώρα όμως, το χαρακτηρίζω απλά ως ένα ακόμα μέτριο "βιβλιαράκι" ενός γιατρού που νομίζει ότι μπορεί να είναι και συγγραφέας. Κρίμα...

[seryal olcay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Türkçesndeni, Tübitak yayını olarak okudum.Çok akıcı ve sürükleyici. Bazı bolumlerinde siz de acıyı hissediyorsunuz. Evrimimizi henüz tamamlamamış olduğumuzu anlattığı bolumleri oldukça etkileyiciydi; neden omurgamız aşınıyor, neden doğum sancısı çekiyoruz.Anestezinin doğuşu ve patent savaşları, vs. Bir de acıya müdahale olanaklarında büyük gelişmelere rağmen, gene de gidilecek çok yol var

[Burcu Dolunay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would probably rate 5 if i have not already read when the air hits your brain. Last two chapters were very interesting and thought provoking but the rest was sometimes too scientific for me-a layman.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot. Explained a lot -- and in terms that we lay people can understand.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers several conditions with which pain is the main impact factor: Tic doloreux/Trigeminal Neuralgia, Carpal Tunnel, Phantom pain, Fibromyalgia, Pregnancy, Chronic pain, etc...
Does a great job of exploring why we were evolved to feel pain and how pain keeps us alive. He also discusses how the lack of pain is not necessarily a good thing and ways that pharmacology and various other surgical procedures have evolved to help patient alleviate their pain/gain independence in their life back.

[Jennifer Paradise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book uncovered some information I have been seeking, or grown to wonder about, for years:
•Some uncommon ways to cope with migraine, and the fact that a highly intelligent and successful medical professional made a career with the condition.
•The differences between humans and other animals and how our pain is managed, is courageously discussed.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Frank’s book “When Air Hits the Brain” which I found to be incredibly fascinating so I decided to give this one a try as well. I find his quality of writing to be quite impressive. It’s compassionate, scientifically credible and even humorous. I especially enjoyed the segment about migraines being as I suffer from them and found it to be really helpful and informative.

[Murat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ağrıları sevdiren kitap :)

[Jackie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything this author writes! This did not disappoint. Explains so many things. His stories are detailed and entertaining. Makes complicated topics easily digestible. Loved this book.

[Isabelle Danen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very decent and unique take on the " micro" history. Losing a star for how sick some parts of it made me feel.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, super interesting. Some of it went over my head because I don't have a medical degree, but overall I found it pretty accessible to the layman.

[Akshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scintillating,informative and entertaining......Frank Vertosick Jr.'s another excellent book!

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book. I read the Greek version of it and I know you always lose something from the translation but overall it’s an amazing book, it delivers with a very plain language scientific concepts. The examples are very helpful and the human stories are very informative too. AS all western trained doctors of course he sees no link between nutrition and welfare, that’s why sometimes I can sense his inability to help his patients especially when he was describing a terminal case of cancer he had to deal with it. Ignorance kills, cancer can be completely cures with a well balanced plant based diet. Anyway very good book, really informs you on a biological level why we are in pain and also why do we need pain. Highly recommended.

[Leyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was about emotional pain, not physical pain. I read it just the same, and I found a great nonfiction book instead!

The author takes you on a journey of the most, if not all, common pains with real-life examples and scientific explanations for the why's and how's. Even the chapters are arranged in such a way that this book is never a dull moment.

I simply loved it and I am pleased. One of the best nonfiction books I have read in my life. A must read if you are into medicine and science.

[sezolin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabı lise yıllarında kız kardeşimle Neden Canımız Yanar isimli kitabı alırken, Bilim Teknik Dergisini 19682'den beri takip eden bir diş uzamanı Tavsiye etmişti sonları almıştım ama bitiremeden kaybolmuştu. Tekrar alıp okudum ama terimleri bayağı barındırıyor ona rağmen acı, tiksinti hisselerini bireyde uyandırıyor.

[HsynBuendia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hatrı sayılır sayıda popüler bilim kitabı okumaya çalışıyorum. benim tüm zamanlar favori popüler bilim kitabım budur. Son derece güzel bir anlatımla, bedenimize ilişkin çok değerli bilgiler öğreniyoruz.

[Deby Depreta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and filled with pathos. A fast and easy read.