Description:
No one who has undergone surgery can downplay the part played in the ordeal by anesthesia. Whether a godsend or a necessary evil to be endured, both kinds of experiences would have benefited the information contained in Going Under. From the outset, the coauthors offer this levelheaded perspective: "More than 23 million surgical procedures are performed in the United States annually. That averages to more than 63 thousand a day; or about 42 every minute. Surgical personnel in America are among the world's finest, but, obviously, they are also among the world's busiest.... your own input into the equation is crucial." This helpful guide converts the mystery surrounding anesthesia into information that can lead to good choices. Looking at pain control from many angles, Going Under gives brief histories and easy-to-read descriptions of local, general, and spinal anesthetics. A highly informative and fascinating book for the general reader, it proves invaluable for anyone facing post-op pain and recovery. Thirty chapters offer information on alternative systems of medicine, pain as a learned phenomena, anesthesia in childbirth, and healing, plus much more. It also offers a welcome look at the medical field's bias against narcotics that forces some patients to "tough it out" instead of finding appropriate relief. In short, Going Under teaches everything you need to know about managing your postsurgical pain and helping you set realistic goals for your recovery.
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