January, 1997

Back Pain: What Works;
A Comprehensive Guide to Preventing and Overcoming Back Problems
Kandel Joseph Sudderth, D.B., Prima Publishing 1996.

I would have to give two thumbs up to this recently published manual on back problems. In fact, I found this book so helpful that I now recommend it to essentially all of my patients with low back problems. The book begins with an extremely innovative treatment of the anatomy of the low back. For those who treat low back pain, the importance of this is obvious. It is impossible to explain MRI and other test findings as well as possible surgical procedures or injections to patients who do not have a fundamental grasp of the spinal anatomy. This book provides a very simple pedagogic tool for understanding the spinal anatomy. Furthermore, the authors devote considerable attention on preparation for the initial doctor's visit. Few things are more frustrating than seeing a new patient without records, x-rays, MRI scans, myelograms, etc. The patient who reads this book will meet for the first visit with all the necessary information for the treating physician. Exercises are provided with excellent illustrations and there is extensive coverage of ADL's and medication therapy. There is even a chapter on sex and low back pain which I find invaluable for treating my patients. In short, this is an excellent volume and heartily recommended by this reviewer.

Michael D. Lusk, M.D.
Neuroscience & Spine Associates
670 Goodlette Road
North Naples, Florida 34102
941.649.1662