The insight which can be gained from the experience of longtime arthritis sufferers is invaluable. The information obtained from patients can be as important as the medical knowledge of experienced physicians. "Arthritis: What Works" is based on the first-ever in-depth survey of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Authors assess what works
The collective experience from 1,051 Arthritis Survey participants has been developed into a resource focused on what is most helpful for coping with and relieving arthritis. The goal of the authors of the book, Dava Sobel and Arthur C. Klein, was to assess what works best for most people, what reduces pain and inflammation, what relieves morning stiffness, what practitioners (both M.D. and non-M.D.) are most helpful, how arthritis is affected by diet and exercise, as well as other aspects of quality arthritis care. Chapters on unconventional treatments and experimental therapies are included.
Book written before newest arthritis drugs available
"Arthritis:What Works" is very easy to read and comprehend. The writing style is smooth and the information can be quickly consumed. One shortcoming which is noteworthy is that the book is dated, published originally in 1989 and in paperback in 1992. The newest arthritis drugs released in 1998 and 1999 such as Celebrex, Vioxx, and Enbrel are therefore not included. Among the strengths of the book is the emphasis on the role of diet and nutrition in the treatment of arthritis, including a thirty-day meal plan and a section with the Twenty-Five Top-Rated Techniques For Fast Pain Relief. Sobel, an award-winning former science reporter for the New York Times, and Klein, a survey designer and market research specialist have packed "Arthritis: What Works" with expert and experienced advice.
