cover image Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease

Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease

Richard I. Horowitz, M.D. St. Martin’s, $28.99 (576p) ISBN 978-1-250-01940-0

Horowitz’s circuitous route to becoming a national expert on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases traces a similar path to that of the patients he treats. In over 25 years of specialized practice with the illness, including as cofounder of the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center in Hyde Park, N.Y., he has fought legal and insurance battles, recognized Lyme disease as a chronic illness, identified and defined a multiple systemic infectious disease syndrome (MSIDS), and devised a 16-point differential diagnostic map. In his first book, the author illustrates the diverse clinical presentations of Lyme disease through the stories of his many patients. Case by case, he discusses symptoms, associations, diagnostic strategies, and treatment options, as well as co-existent maladies. In addition to traditional medical treatments, Horowitz also addresses the effects of exercise, massage, and meditation. This synopsis not only provides a treasure trove of information about Lyme disease to patients and health care providers, it also offers a glimmer of hope for anyone suffering from chronic illness. (Oct.)