Synopses & Reviews
At the age of twenty-four, journalist Paula Kamen's life changed in an instant. While putting in her contact lenses, the left lens set off a chain reaction, igniting a constellation of nerves that radiated backwards from behind the surface of her eye. The pain was more piercing than with any other headache she had experienced. More than a decade later, she still has a headache the exact same headache.
From surgery to a battery of Botox injections to a dousing of Lithuanian holy water, from a mountain of pharmaceutical products to aromatherapy and even a vibrating hat, All in My Head chronicles the sometimes frightening, usually absurd, and always ineffective remedies she and so many like her was willing to try to relieve her pain. Beleaguered and frustrated by doctors who, frustrated themselves, periodically declared her pain psychosomatic, Kamen came to understand the plight of the millions who suffer chronic pain in its many forms. Full of self deprecating humor, and razor sharp reporting, All in My head is the remarkable story of perseverance, acceptance, and patience in the face of terrifying pain.
Review
"A darkly witty account...sharp, entertaining, informative, and blessedly free of poor-me-see-how-I-suffered-ism." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Written with passion and a remarkable sense of humor." New Scientist
Review
"Kamen's personal story, and her quest for relief, is fascinating." MSNBC.com
Review
"Darkly humorous." Boston Globe
Review
"Gripping...Kamen takes us inside the world of chronic pain...a necessary book." Chicago Tribune
Review
"Engaging, informative, and at times humorous." Library Journal
Synopsis
At the age of twenty-four, Paula Kamen's life changed in an instant. While she was putting in her contacts, the left lens disturbed a constellation of nerves behind her eye. The pain was more piercing than that of any other headache she had ever experienced. More than a decade later, she still has a headache-the exact same headache. From surgery to a battery of Botox injections to a dousing of Lithuanian holy water, from a mountain of pharmaceutical products to aromatherapy and even a vibrating hat, All in My Head chronicles the sometimes frightening, usually absurd, and always ineffective remedies Kamen-like so many others-tried in order to relieve the pain. Beleaguered and frustrated by doctors who, frustrated themselves, periodically declared her pain psychosomatic, she came to understand the plight of the millions who suffer chronic pain in its many forms. Full of self-deprecating humor and razorsharp reporting, All in My Head is the remarkable story of patience, acceptance, and perseverance in the face of terrifying pain.
Synopsis
All in My Head is the remarkable story of patience, acceptance, and perseverance in the face of terrifying pain due to a never-ending headache.
About the Author
Paula Kamen is the author of Her Way: Young Women Remake the Sexual Revolution and Feminist Fatale. Her commentaries and satires have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Salon, Ms., and the Chicago Tribune, as well as in many anthologies, including Appeal to Reason: The Best 25 Years of In These Times and Shiny Adidas Tracksuits and the Death of Camp: The Best of Might Magazine. She lives in Chicago.