Doctor, Why Does My Face Still Ache?  is an informative, thorough book. I thought it was great!

Written by 2 dentist, the book offers information and help to patients with ongoing facial pain. Chapters include the biology of the face and neck, reasons for chronic facial pain, and treatment options. It is well written, friendly and easy to understand. Here’s what I especially liked about the book:

1. The authors understand that your brain is involved in chronic pain conditions.

Many things can go wrong in our bodies and cause pain, but chronic pain can also be an illness in the pain system itself. You can have no “underlying” cause, or have an underlying cause that has really healed, and still have pain symptoms. For those with  no underlying cause, your brain can generate pain signals all by itself. If an area has healed, your brain can be sensitized to keep generating pain signals. Recognition of this is crucial, because otherwise more and more time is given to trying to find what’s still wrong, which can expose patients to unneeded procedures.

2. A wide range of treatment options

Although the book is written by dentists, the treatment options include more than just dental-related treatments. The authors look at relaxation training, physical exercises, posture, medications, complimentary treatments including natural supplements, PT, sleep, and more. This provides options for patients. As well, if 1 thing doesn’t work, there are many alternatives.

3. The authors are dedicated and compassionate

A genuine concern and care for patients come through in the authors’ writing. They make an effort to communicate that your pain isn’t minor and that you aren’t imagining pain. They make an effort to get to know their patients and what’s going on in their lives. They recognize that their patients are people first. Understanding their patients’ lives also helps them to provide better care.

Overall, I think the book is excellent. It would be a wonderful resource for any patients with facial pain. As well, it’s a useful book for professionals in any discipline who see patients with facial pain. Great job, Drs. Tanenbaum and Roistacher!