I have found it very difficult to decide who to thank first for helping me to write this book.
I would of course be nowhere on my journey without all of my patients of the last 27 years. Without their trust I would have learned nothing and, with their continuing loyalty, I am still learning to adapt what I do in clinical practice. I cherish the many conversations and debates we have had along the way, not all of them easy but most of them happy and uplifting. Everyday, they bring me a new challenge and a desire to move forward in the fight to relieve pain in all its guises.
On a personal note, I must thank my noble, long-suffering wife Bex, who encouraged me to embark on this book and realise a small dream. She has tirelessly supported me in all my moods and the long hours of writing, whilst trying to run a busy practice. She has been my most rigorous critic and my most devoted supporter. Thank you, too, to my two wonderful children whom I adore in equal measure.
I owe much to my family ‘the Potter clan’ and my parents’ enduring love and support.
I am immensely grateful to Catherine Gibbs at Short Books who first persuaded me to write down my thoughts on pain and for handing me over to Aurea Carpenter who has deftly and succinctly managed me through the process of authorship. I remember fondly our first lunch together, at which the Short Books team grilled and roasted me intellectually and sent me packing with nine chapters to write. Thank you all.
Thanks also to Caroline Wood, my agent at Felicity Bryan, who has always been on hand to manage my doubts and beliefs as well as advise me technically.
Lindsay Nicholson has patiently advised me not to make perfection the enemy of the good and has kept me on point throughout. I could not have done it without her.
I want to thank, for many reasons, Alan Howard. He has supported and facilitated many ideas I have had over the past few years and I owe him much. Thank you friend.
Dame Gail Rebuck has always supported me with advice in my practice life and has encouraged me throughout the writing of this book. I am truly grateful.
Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to all of my professional colleagues, who have shared their wisdom and with whom I have worked both here and abroad. They have taught me to be always curious, to ‘kick the tyres’ of what we know and occasionally reach a little beyond our grasp.
Thank you all.