Intractable pain (Major problems in anaesthesia)

No other problem in medicine has proved so elusive of complete solution for so long as the relief of pain. Pain is by far the commonest and the most distressing of the effects of disease, and all doctors regard its relief as one of their main duties. Whether by drugs, nerve injection, surgery or other means, every patient wants desperately to be relieved of pain. Fortunately, in the great majority of cases the cause is clear and can be treated effectively. The pain disappears. In a substantial and important minority the cause of the pain either cannot be found or is of a nature that cannot be effectively removed. Happily, even in these circumstances, the underlying disease is not always of a serious nature. In others, however, it proves to be malignant, and the pain is compounded by the long shadow this casts over the patient and his relatives. It is to all these problems that Dr Mehta has directed his efforts.

The alleviation of intractable pain requires devotion, sympathy, skill and time. For these and other reasons this field of therapy has tended to be neglected by most specialists. Perhaps because nerve blocks form such an important part of the treatment it has fortunately attracted the interest of anaesthetists, although they would be the first to point to the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to these problems....Dr Mehta is well equipped to write this book for he has that inestimable qualification--long practical experience of this work. His book is specially directed to the practical doctor who faces the problem of intractable pain in his daily work. He will find herein clear advice which he can follow with confidence, since it is based on personal experience and careful observation.

If as a result of this book more anaesthetists and indeed other specialists too, develop an interest in intractable pain and its treatment, they will earn the gratitude of their patients and give Dr Mehta the satisfaction of achieving his objective.