3 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever gone to the physician's office and come out even more perplexed than you had been before going in? You are given a diagnosis and treatment. However, you have no idea what the Latin term given to you as a diagnosis means. What is actually happening in your body? Which parts are affected and what went wrong? That is where The Way I See It: A Head-To-Toe Guide to Common Orthopaedic Conditions comes in.
The book is a reference guide written in layman's terms by Thomas J. Neviaser, MD. He has used his years of experience as an orthopaedic surgeon to write this guide which outlines different orthopaedic conditions. The author does this by introducing us to the different parts of our bodies, explaining how they work together, and what can potentially go wrong. He goes a step further by discussing available treatments for each diagnosis. His aim is to help people to make sense of the diagnosis they are given. It is also to prepare them before going in to see their orthopedist. Phonetic spellings of each of the medical terms are given. Thus, he enables patients to have a meaningful discussion with their physician about their condition.
The title is fitting as the book is organized into different body members starting from the head to the toes. The author has a logical approach to expound his knowledge. He uses diagrams and analogies as aides to break down these complicated bodily processes in a manner which the rest of us can understand. For example, he creates a vivid mind picture of what happens when an intervertebral disc "slips" by comparing it to an old golf ball. This analogy is still fresh in my mind, and if need be, I could easily explain what a slipped disc is to someone else.
In the introduction, the author admits that readers may still be confused by his attempts at explaining the underlaying causes of certain conditions because those processes are complex. Overall, he did a pretty good job. There were only a few times when I had to reread his explanation in order to understand the idea or process he was trying to convey. I will admit, it does require a certain degree of concentration. I advise taking notes as you read this book. Take time to study the diagrams, and if you don't understand any of the medical terms, look them up in the glossary at the back of the book. This will facilitate a smoother reading experience.
My only real annoyance was having to scroll up or down a few pages to find diagrams that were referred. I understand, however, that certain diagrams were used repeatedly for separate conditions involving the same areas. Therefore, those diagrams could not be placed on the same page as all the different conditions.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I have a clearer understanding of orthopaedic conditions, their causes, symptoms, and treatments. However, this was not the only benefit. I now know how my bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles function, which is priceless. The author includes a few preventative measures, thus widening the audience. You don't have to be someone who is dealing with a particular orthopaedic problem to read this book. I recommend it to all those who would like to learn more about their bodies and how to care for it.
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THE WAY I SEE IT: A Head-to-Toe Guide to Common Orthopedic Conditions
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