This newsletter includes Don’s review of Dr. Silver’s latest book. We hope you find it informative, as we want to keep you aware of anything that might be useful in living with the late effects of Polio. If you join us at our next meeting, Don will be there to further discuss Dr. Silver’s new book and answer any questions you may have about it and we will have that book there, as well as Dr. Silver’s previous books for your perusal. The meeting will be at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church on Union Road at Maryvale on Wednesday, March 16, at 7:15 p.m. We hope to see you there.

Don’s Book Review

Chronic Pain and the Family, A new guide, by Julie K. Silver, M.D., Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, London, England, 2004

This is a paper back book that I am advised is inexpensively priced at $10.50 at Amazon.com or at local bookstores or through the publisher.  The author is on the medical faculty at Harvard University and the medical director of the International Rehabilitation Center for Polio at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Framingham, MA.  She also wrote two earlier books concerning polio both of which were previously reviewed in previous newsletters.

I had a fair amount of trouble doing this review. The book is written in the friendly chatty prose that distinguished the author’s outstanding Post-Polio Syndrome. A Guide for Polio Survivors and Their Families.  Her knowledge, experience and compassion are evident.  Nevertheless, although I read the book twice, I am still not sure what bothered me about it. It may be that because neither I nor anyone close to me has suffered chronic pain, I’ve been unable to recognize issues that have been resolved by the book. Anyhow, I’ll try to detail what I think bothers me.

The subject matter of the book is chronic pain, which is, by definition, a condition that has persisted for a long time, usually despite the efforts of treatments by a number of medical professionals. As documented by Dr. Silver some of the treating doctors have blundered in their diagnoses and interventions. Most patients are not fortunate enough to have the author or someone like her as their physician, but must do the best they can with the universe of what is left. We all know, or should know, that 50 % of the doctors graduated medical schools in the bottom half of their classes. Some graduated from third world med schools where proper training is unlikely. Still, the author advises that the diagnosis,  treatment, medications, therapies, surgery, referrals, etc. must begin with the patient’s primary M.D. who alone can order necessary diagnostic tests.  She acknowledges the value of chiropractic, acupuncture, meditation, hypnosis, etc., but only on referral from the (PMD). The book warns of the dangers of addictive pain killers and various other interventions, but these too are dispensed through the doctors. I’d like to have seen more about how to deal with finding a doctor who can help...

The book does have fascinating discussions of the effect of chronic pain on the spouse, children, relatives and friends of the pain sufferer, and what they can do to help the patient. Chronic pain can lead to fiscal ruin and family breakup. Dr. Silver also deals frankly about what the patient can do to minimize the burdens imposed on those around him.  On balance, I believe this Silverware should be useful, and well worth the cost

Don O’Connor

Note:: Don’s new email address is  cdonald56@msn.com