Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A must for any coping with this difficult situation
The spine is one fo the most important things in the human body. "Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury" is a health guide for those who have suffered one of these traumatic injuries. Covering how to best deal with the injury to avoid causing greater injury or pain to oneself, and offering a huge lists of tips and advice on improving one's life through minor modifications to one's home and vehicle, daily care, and more, "May Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury" brings down the full force of the Mayo Clinic's medical expertise. "Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury" is a must for any coping with this difficult situation.

A Wonderful Reference
First of all, this is the real deal. These are the folks who do spinal cord work at the Mayo Clinic. The book is aimed at a general audience but as an RN with a number of years of neuro experience I learned a thing or two. If you are running a spinal rehab center and are not using this book you are not doing the job right.
The book is divided into five main sections beginning with an introduction which describes the team that will be dealing with the injury, the normal anatomy of the spinal cord and its function. It then takes a close look at the types of spinal cord injuries. This section and indeed the entire book are copiously illustrated with drawings that I wish I would have had in training.
Section two covers the changes in the body following an injury divided into first the internal organs then the skin, muscle, and bone and finally the circulation and body regulation. This is a hands on review dealing with problems and how they should be prevented and dealt with.
Section three is on sexuality and fertility. This is an area that many textbooks sort of skip over with a few lines. There is a full and straightforward discussion of the sexual aspects of spinal injury. The effects, the problems and the solutions.
Section Four deals with the strategies for overcoming the new boundaries of life with a cord injury. It is a wonderfully comprehensive guide that covers everything from the law to conflict management with your caregiver. There are check list and work sheets and real world tools to solve problems with. I was hugely impressed by this section and the amount of information it conveyed.
Section Five is titled Living Fully with a Spinal Cord Injury and it is a guide to an active life one that is different from the life before injury but not one whit less fulfilling in its potential.
A number of sections round out the book including a section on clinical trials a list of resources and a very good Glossary.
Over all this is best one volume book on spinal cord injury I have seen in over 25 years of nursing. I cannot recommend it enough.
... Read more

Product Description
Compltely updated in a new edition, this unique reference is an in-depth examination of the central role of the physical therapist in rehabilitation following spinal cord injury. This book encompasses all of the elements involved in a successful rehabilitation program. It includes a basic understanding of spinal cord injuries and issues relevant to disability, as well as knowledge of the physical skills involved in functional activities and the therapeutic strategies for acquiring these skills. It also presents an approach to the cord-injured person that promotes self-respect and encourages autonomy. Comprehensive information equips readers with a broad foundation of knowledge including topics relevant to spinal cord injury, its pathological repercussions, and medical and rehabilitative management in preparation for program planning, patient and family education, and effective participation as a member of a rehabilitation team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent SCI Resource
You can't find a better book on spinal cord rehabilitation. Thorough, well written, and full of vital information.

Spinal Cord Injury Functional Rehabilitation
This is an excellent resource that breaksdown functional components of SCI rehabilitation at specific levels. ... Read more

Product Description
A spinal cord injury (SCI) profoundly changes a person s life and can affect nearly all of the body s systems. Practitioners managing persons with SCI must treat the medical complications that arise, and be equipped to help their patients return to a productive integrated life within society. Spinal Cord Injury: Rehabilitation Medicine Quick Reference provides the necessary knowledge to help facilitate this process. Addressing over one hundred varied topics related to spinal cord injury, ranging from Treatment of Vocal Fold Paralysis or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders to Intrathecal Pump Management and Paraplegia, this text is a handy reference for the busy practitioner. Presented in a consistent two-page format for maximum clinical utility, the book is organized into three sections. The first covers the medical and psychological conditions associated with spinal cord injury; the second discusses common interventions; while the last outlines expected functional outcomes.

Features of "Rehabilitation Medicine Quick Reference" series titles include:Comprehensive coverage of all important topics in PM&R; Multi-specialty editorship and authorship; Chapters are organized into succinct facts, presented in a bullet point format; Laid out for easy look up by syndrome, complication and treatment; Focus on clinical management provides readers with hands-on, practical guidance for all types of interventions and therapies; Consistent approach allows readers to know exactly where to find the information they need rapidly; Pitfalls, Red Flags, Complications, and Helpful Hints help guard against unwanted sequelae. ... Read more

Product Description
Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado. Multidisciplinary work exploring the physiological and psychosocial aspects of aging in spinal cord injury survivors, for rehabilitation professionals. 38 Contributors. DNLM: Aging physiology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Invaluable resource
This book was developed from the proceedings of the first major professional symposium of aging with a spinal cord injury (held in Denverin 1991).The content is very comprehensive and focuses on different bodysystems and how normal aging of these systems effects the person with SCI,and how SCI may modify the aging process.While this book was published anumber of years ago, it contains most of the research to date, and is basedon collaborative data from major SCI centers in both the USA and England. While heavily focused on the medical model, it can be a valuable resourcefor both professionals working with people with SCI as well as those withSCI and their families. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
From a hospital admittance to discharge to outpatient rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injuries addresses the wide spectrum of rehabilitation interventions and administrative and clinical issues specific to patients with spinal cord injuries. Comprehensive coverage includes costs, life expectancies, acute care, respiratory care, documentation, goal setting, clinical treatment, complications, and activities of daily living associated with spinal cord patients. In addition to physical therapy interventions and family education components, this resource includes content on incidence, etiology, diagnosis, and clinical features of spinal cord injury.

• Case Studies with clinical application thinking exercises help you apply knowledge from the book to real life situations.
• Thoroughly referenced, evidence-based content provides the best evidence for treatment based on the most current research.
• Tables and boxes throughout each chapter organize and summarize important information for quick reference.
• Clinical Note boxes provide at-a-glance access to helpful tips.
• Over 500 clinical photos, line drawings, radiographs, and more bring important concepts to life.
• Highly respected experts in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, editors Sue Ann Sisto, Erica Druin, and Martha Sliwinski, provide authoritative guidance on the foundations and principles of practice for spinal cord injury.
• Companion DVD includes video clips of the techniques described throughout the book that demonstrate how to apply key concepts to practice.

Product Description

Spinal cord injury, or SCI, is frequently sudden and unexpected—through accident, disease, or violence, patients temporarily lose control of their bodies and, it seems, their lives. With rehabilitation, they can learn to navigate their world once more, retraining muscles and mind to compensate for paralyzed limbs and diminished strength. But as Dr. Michelle Alpert shows here, there is far more to recapturing full, independent lives than regaining movement. Central to long-term success is mending the family unit.

Combining Dr. Alpert’s clinical experience with patients’ own stories, Spinal Cord Injury and the Family is for individuals and their families who must climb back from injury: for the young quad couple, both quadriplegic, who wish to conceive and raise a child; for the paraplegic dad who wants to teach his daughter to drive; for the couple wondering how they can regain the sexual spark in their relationship.

The authors cover the causes of and prognosis for SCI through case studies, review common courses of rehabilitation, and answer the “what now?” questions—from daily routines to larger issues concerning sex, education and employment, childbearing, and parenting with SCI. Rich in clinical information and practical advice, the book shows how real patients and their families are living full lives after spinal cord injury.

Customer Reviews (1)

Spinal Cord Issues
The work provides guidance on coping strategies for
patients and their families faced with chronic
spinal cord issues. The thrust of the volume seeks
to get patients reconnected to life meaningfully.
The book points out that this generation is more
patient and tolerant than previous ones with regard
to spinal injuries.

The challenges to patients are multi-dimensional.
For instance, psychological and emotional issues are
involved. Each case requires its own mix of support
systems. Coping strategies may vary. Patients often
divorce due to the insurmountable difficulties.

The author does a good job of defining spinal cord
injuries and practical coping strategies for the
management of the same. The book is priced reasonably. ... Read more

Product Description
This book opens a broad array of holistic options beyond traditional health care. Alternative therapies for spinal cord injury can not only promote healing, but can actually help restore function.From acupuncture to laser-based therapies, herbal medicine, homeopathy, craniosacral therapy, magnetic healing, and more, the book empowers readers.

* clear, reliable information on alternative choices to traditional health care

* tailored information to meet the specific needs of the approximately 450,000 individuals living with a spinal cord injury

* healing modalities that minimize the risks of overmedication, hospitalization, and infections ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Better than expected
I was not expecting the unbiased, extensive and well researched information this book offers.When I first received it, I put it aside until about a month later and then decided to check it out.I was very surprised.It is a good reference book for everyone who has interest in alternative methods regarding maintaining good health or correcting health problems. I purchased it because a family member deals with paralysis but found that everyone can benefit from the information it offers.

Highly Informative
I am an RN who works in a long term facility. Recently, we have had several young patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries. As a nurse, my job is also to give unbiased information to patients. I purchased this book to become better informed of alternative treatments that I may discuss with these patients. I found it incredibly useful and informative-- especially when the medical community says "there is nothing else you can do". There are many other treatment alternatives. There is no cure, but if I can help steer someone towards relieving some painful symptoms, then I have done my job. Written well enough, that I, in fact, have given it to several patients and their family members to read as well. ... Read more

Product Description
An invaluable resource for anyone touched by spinal cord injury—newly injured patients, longtime survivors, friends and loved ones, and medical professionals—A Complete Plain English Guide to Living with an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury offers a survivor’s perspective on the physical and emotional journey from the time of injury, through the entire recovery process, and on to living a full and happy life.

Customer Reviews (1)

Plain-English
I like this book.As an occupational therapist I found valuable information I could share with families and clients who have experienced spinal cord injuries.Ms. Boyles has a no nonsense approach to activities of daily living, resources, and expectations. This book has given me insight about my role as a therapist in the recovery process. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the world's leading authorities in spinal cord injury, and a participant in the Human Brain Project brings you an evidenced-based guide to the state-of-the-art in spinal cord rehabilitation. She has assembled an expert team of clinicians, each with expertise in the content areas they address. Their work encompasses all of the new scientific knowledge and technological advances practitioners need to know to determine the most effective rehabilitation interventions for each patient and to attain maximum restoration of function in individuals with SCI.

Key Features

* Offers guidance to interpret the ever-changing research literature and to assess clinical trials.
* Discusses how neural circuitry changes as a consequence of SCI, how neural activity may be used to predict prognosis, and what interventions might aid in restoration of appropriate neural organization.
* Identifies individuals who might benefit from implanted systems for electrical stimulation to assist with a wide variety of functions, as well as the limitations of these devices.
* Provide a stepwise guide for assessing motor, sensory, and functional status.
* Describes the skills and techniques that facilitate the use of available motor capacity for maximum function.
* Outlines the role of intensive, task-specific training to improve arm and hand function and techniques to promote locomotor function.
* Offers techniques to improve ventilation for patient with tetraplegia, promote bowel and bladder health, and develop a structured exercise program to enhance physical capacity and reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular complications.
* Addresses tools for assessing pain status and inventions to ameliorate it.
* Reviews the pharmacological interventions that may be used to control spasticity.
* Examines, in depth, pursuits beyond basis function and mobility, including classification and training of wheelchair athletes, adaptive devices and technology for activities of daily living, as well as advanced mobility and sexuality. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Fully updated and revised, the second edition of Spinal Cord Injury is the definitive guide for people with SCI and their families. Combining first-person accounts with up-to-date medical information, the book addresses all aspects of spinal cord injury -- recovery and coping, sex and family matters, transportation and housing, employment and leisure -- and reviews the challenges encountered by people with spinal cord injury throughout their lives.

The authors explain how spinal cord injury affects physical functioning and the impact of physical changes on emotions and social life. They offer a holistic approach to recovery that incorporates all aspects of living and emphasizes achieving optimal health, personal fulfillment, and meaningful family and social relationships.

The new edition of this helpful book includes a completely revised chapter on recovery and regeneration research, stem cell research, and activity-based therapies. New information is offered on medical and rehabilitative care of children and adolescents as well as preventative health measures for people of all ages living with spinal cord injury. The book includes expanded ideas and resources for socializing, travel, sports and recreation.

Amazon.com Review
Fully updated and revised, the second edition of Spinal Cord Injury is the definitive guide for people with SCI and their families. Combining first-person accounts with up-to-date medical information, the book addresses all aspects of spinal cord injury--recovery and coping, sex and family matters, transportation and housing, employment and leisure--and reviews the challenges encountered by people with spinal cord injury throughout their lives.

The authors explain how spinal cord injury affects physical functioning and the impact of physical changes on emotions and social life. They offer a holistic approach to recovery that incorporates all aspects of living and emphasizes achieving optimal health, personal fulfillment, and meaningful family and social relationships. The second edition of this helpful book also includes a completely revised chapter on recovery and regeneration research, stem cell research, and activity-based therapies. New information is offered on medical and rehabilitative care of children and adolescents as well as preventative health measures for people of all ages living with spinal cord injury. The book includes expanded ideas and resources for socializing, travel, sports and recreation.The second edition of Spinal Cord Injury was made possible through a Quality of Life Grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

About the Authors: Sara Palmer, Ph.D., is a psychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Kay Harris Kriegsman, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in Bethesda, Maryland, author of Taking Charge: Teenagers Talk about Life and Physical Disabilities, and a consultant on disability issues. Jeffrey B. Palmer, M.D., is a professor in and director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

---

Amazon.com Exclusive: Read an Interview with the Authors

1. How are families affected when a parent or child has a new spinal cord injury?

When one member of a family has a spinal cord injury, it has an impact on the life of the whole family. When a parent is injured it means that the uninjured parent, besides dealing with his or her emotional reactions, is loaded with many more responsibilities, especially during the initial hospitalization, and then during rehabilitation. So practically, the family may need to trade roles for awhile or manage basic needs differently, such as, meal preparation or house cleaning. If a child or adolescent is injured, parents may feel overwhelmed but still need to reassure and attend to their other children. Families who can share the trauma story, discuss its effects on the family, reveal their feelings, and talk about what the future may hold, seem to become even stronger, and more cohesive.

2. I know a family where a teenager with a spinal cord injury is treated like the prince of the family. He doesn't have to do household chores like the other kids. Do you think that's fair?

Sometimes families, out of a sense of guilt or sadness, put the person with the spinal cord injury on a pedestal. Family members may feel that they cannot ask for their needs to be met when their "poor" sibling or child has had to suffer. But all members of the family deserve their time in the sunlight, and it's important to ensure that everyone's needs are addressed. Also, it's not helpful for the person with spinal cord injury to avoid chores or other family responsibilities. It's better physically and psychologically to continue activities and responsibilities the teenager had before injury, to whatever extent possible. Some families have been known to assign the task of "keeping the family happy" to the teenager. This is an impossible task, as every individual is responsible for his or her own feelings.

3. What did you learn about how people get on with their lives after spinal cord injury? How do they manage to live independently?

We found that each person had his or her own puzzle to put together. Sometimes it took replacing or eliminating a piece to make life work in a satisfying, rewarding way. The various pieces included accessible housing, transportation, recreation, socialization, travel, and all the other elements they wanted in their lives. Some found this a difficult process with lots of trial and error. However, once they knew how to get what they needed, they went about their lives in normal ways--working, raising kids, going to the movies, maybe playing wheelchair basketball or tennis, flying out to see the Grand Canyon. Aside from their physical and sometimes medical needs, our interviewees' lives and aspirations were almost indistinguishable from their neighbors'.

4. Can a person with a spinal cord injury engage in sex and have children?

Yes! Interest in sex and romance continues after injury. A satisfying sex life is possible, but may require some modifications. Physical sensations during sex might be different, and you may need to try different positions due to changes in strength or mobility. A loving, accepting relationship and the ability to communicate and experiment with your partner are the most important ingredients for a good sex life. Men with spinal cord injury sometimes have reduced fertility, but there are medical procedures that can enable men to father biological children. Women remain fertile after spinal cord injury but may need special care during pregnancy and delivery due to increased risk of various medical problems.

5. I've heard a lot about wheelchair basketball. Are there other sports and recreation for people after spinal cord injury?

There are many opportunities to participate in sports and recreation after a spinal cord injury. Some include wheelchair tennis, racing, rugby ("murderball"), dancing, skiing, horseback riding, weightlifting, and sailing. Traveling, camping, fishing, and hunting are also possible. The way in which you participate in these activities will vary depending on the extent of your injury. But even people with severe spinal cord injuries can participate in many recreational activities with assistance. There are organizations that provide sport and recreation activities specifically for people with disabilities, and these include accessible facilities, adaptive equipment, and assistance as necessary.

6. There are a lot of news stories about research to help repair the spinal cord. What are the most exciting current developments?

Many scientists are working on ways to regrow and reconnect nerve cells in the spinal cord, including stem cell transplants, use of nerve growth promoters, and even intense physical exercise regimens which may help "reprogram" activities such as walking. Some are researching medications which can decrease the nerve damage that occurs immediately after injury. There are exciting advances in the use of functional electrical stimulation (FES) to improve health and fitness and prevent medical complications in people with spinal cord injury. Finally, research on assistive technology, such as improved wheelchairs, braces, and computer interfaces, has the potential to improve quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.

Author photos courtesy of James VanRensselaer and Will Kirk, Homewood Photographic Services

---

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Least helpful of all SCI books
This book quickly made it to my discard pile.It is full of speculative information from the outside by able bodied professionals who are clueless about the day to day reality of SCI.I would not recommend this book as a useful reference for anyone affected by SCI.

No book has your answers
Although I appreciate the effort and dedication of the authors, I must warn my disabled brethren thatno book will teach YOU how to live withYOUR disability. Only you can prevent stairs! ;)

Finally, a real life approach!
Since my SCI in May of 1999 we have accumulated a pile of books dealing with various aspects of SCI.At 1/10th the price, this book is many times better than any of the others.Their down to earth approach leads you from the point of injury until the day you make the transition from patient to the new you.Outstanding! ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive guide for dealing with the major challenges those with spinal cord injuries face Medical advances have made it possible for those with spinal cord injuries to live an essentially normal life span, and to lead full, meaningful and productive lives. Inevitably, however, spinal injury superimposes special considerations on the routine activities and passages of life, and activities that might once have been easy can in many cases become increasingly difficult. This book identifies medical and nonmedical problems that individuals with SCI face as they get older, while providing practical advice on how to tackle these challenges. Includes information on

* health

* finances

* social support system

* the effects of aging ... Read more

Product Description
Reference to aid in providing an integrated program of continual care to individuals with spinal cord injury. Gives practitioners the tools and insight for assessing, planning, and addressing long-term care and management needs. Softcover. DNLM: Spinal Cord Injuries--rehabilitation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An Excellent Book About Spinal Cord Injury
We really like this book! The author, Margie Williams, suffered a severe spinal cord injury at the age of 53, just when she was making plans for the rest of her life. She presents a close-up view of what life is like during and after such an incident, including her experience with institutional medicine and insurance companies (for better and for worse), and her determined -- and ultimately successful -- effort to rehabilitate herself and reconstruct her life. Journey To Well is well-written, funny in some parts and heart-rending in others, but completely absorbing throughout. The comprehensive Resource Guide included in the Appendix is itself well worth the price of the book for those dealing with spinal cord injuries as patients or as caregivers.

Everyone's experience with spinal cord injury is different, and this is indeed a subjective view. But the manner in which Margie Williams responded to and grew from her experiences has applications for everyone. We would therefore enthusiastically recommend Journey To Well not only to those who have experienced spinal cord injury, but also to those who have not. The world of those who must live the rest of their lives on wheels is quite different than the "two-legged" world. The more we understand the similarities as well as the differences between the two, the better we will be as individuals and as a caring society.

A Realistic Account
I am an Occupational Therapist who works with persons with spinal cord injuries. I found this book to be very helpful in describing what it's like to have a SCI from the victim's point of view. Her story doesn't put on a glossy finish, and that's good, because it isn't a fun experience.I have given it to students to read to gain a better perspective on the impact of a SCI on an individual and the family. I would recommend this book if you want to read an account of one person's struggle through hospitalization, rehab and life at home.

Journey to Well
Reviewer: robert dorroh (see more about me) from Sonora, CA United States The reader will be distracted by poor writing that includes awkward sentences, punctuation, rash of italics and exclamation points, and an overdose of sentimentality. Williams is a good soul who needs a better editor. Still, she deserves two stars for sincerity and a good effort. ... Read more

Product Description
Duquesne Univ., Pittsburgh, PA. Textbook reflects all the changes in the field since the previous edition, c1992, was published. Draws on clinical and basic research developments and presents interventions consistent with published clinical practice guidelines. Includes strategies for delivering quality rehabilitative services. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent reference
This is a great reference for individuals involved in SCI rehab. There are detailed pictures for instruction of functional skills. The content is appropriate for students as well as experienced clinicians.

Great book!
Helpful illustrations. Certain techniques described have needed clarification or modification by professors in class, but I would still recommend it as a useful resource.

Graduate PT student
This book offers a very descriptive explanation of techniques used with SCI patients.It was very helpful in studying.

Not much difference from older edition
I read both editions
The 2nd edition has 2 Chapters that one need to download tediously from another site
Content wise not much difference
Many major advances throughout recent years on SCI NOT included in this book
I regreted this buy since essentially most info are that of the first edition that I already have

Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation (2nd Edition)
I found this book is very helpful in providing information in a concise manner without too much detail. It is a great reference book for spinal cord injury information at your fingertips as well as a great resource for board exam preparation. For the therapist not working ina spinal cord injury setting but needs information of this nature at hand, perfect book. Also provides up to date information on wheelchair assessments. ... Read more

Product Description
For individuals who have suffered a spinal cord injury, it is a struggle to know how to assess and cope with such a life-changing event. The coping strategies that a person employs can have an enormous impact on their mental well-being and long-term health. Approach focused coping, in which the individual accepts and seeks to understand their condition, results in a sense of mastery, self-efficacy, and post traumatic growth. Conversely, avoidance focused coping can lead to anxiety, depression, self neglect, and substance abuse problems. Approximately 50% will meet the diagnostic criteria for depression at 6 months post injury. Research shows that those with depression will have a poorer outcome and shorter life-span.

Coping effectiveness training (CET) aims to improve skills for assessing stress, teaching a range of coping skills that can be used to tackle stress, and provide an opportunity for interaction with others who have similar experiences of spinal cord injury. CET includes the identification of effective and ineffective responses to stress, especially those that are particularly unhelpful, such as disengagement, general avoidance, long term denial, and the expression of extreme emotion. By encouraging individuals to think critically about their behaviour in response to stressors, CET helps people avoid unproductive ways of coping.

Like all TreatmentsThatWork programs, this treatment is evidence-based. In the author's clinical studies, CET has proven to successfully reduce levels of depression and anxiety in individuals with spinal cord injury, and also resulted in changes in negative self-perception and improved self-efficiacy. The intervention consists of seven, 60-75 minute sessions run two a week in small groups of six to nine people. By working in small groups, participants are able to share experience and build a community, reducing the sense of isolation that often results from sever injury. A corresponding workbook provides monitoring forms, homework exercises, and other user-friendly techniques to continue the work outside of therapy.

TreatmentsThatWorkTM represents the gold standard of behavioral healthcare interventions!



·All programs have been rigorously tested in clinical trials and are backed by years of research


·A prestigious scientific advisory board, led by series Editor-In-Chief David H. Barlow, reviews and evaluates each intervention to ensure that it meets the highest standard of evidence so you can be confident that you are using the most effective treatment available to date


·Our books are reliable and effective and make it easy for you to provide your clients with the best care available


·Our corresponding workbooks contain psychoeducational information, forms and worksheets, and homework assignments to keep clients engaged and motivated


·A companion website (www.oup.com/us/ttw) offers downloadable clinical tools and helpful resources


·Continuing Education (CE) Credits are now available on select titles in collaboration with PsychoEducational Resources, Inc. (PER) ... Read more

Product Description
Anatomy, fertility, sexually transmitted diseases,self-esteem, sexual satisfaction, and parenting are among the manyphysical and emotional issues discussed in this candid andcompassionate guide.Drawing heavily on the experiences of men andwomen living with spinal cord injury (SCI), this handbook relayspractical information while acknowledging different lifestyles,tastes, values, and orientations. The convenient question-and-answerformat allows individuals with SCI to explore their questions inprivate and at their own pace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Important basic resource
This book is an important basic resource for people with SCI and the people who love them.While the material is heavily slanted to male sexuality issues after SCI, some female issues are also addressed.Theformat is designed in questions and answers, which allows the reader toskip around and read whatever topics they are interested in, or ready todeal with.

The book could use more detail in many areas, and suffers froma lack of any diagrams or drawings to show positions, sexual devices, etc.,but is the only book written for people with SCI about this topic for manyyears.It could be seen as an introduction to the topic as well for manyhealthcare professionals, but would need to be follow-up by reading morefrom the professional literature. ... Read more

Product Description
It's amazing how fast things can change. A person can appear the picture of health only to suddenly meet their fate with a fatal heart attack. Through no fault of our own, each one of us could be killed or maimed in an instant by a careless motorist. How about an airplane malfunction at 20,000 feet? Take your pick. The fragility of life, while not very often considered, is very real and can be downright scary.
Unfortunately for me, this was to become evident on the afternoon of June 28, 1984. Much unlike its precedent, the second longest bicycle ride I would ever take did not conclude on a similarly positive note. In fact, it came perilously close to resulting in my complete demise. - Excerpt from Chapter 2.

I am now thirty-five years old and happily married. I have been practicing as a licensed social worker since 1999. Favorite pastimes include reading, traveling to Disney, and rooting for my favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers. My wife and I are attempting to adopt our first child. We are currently theproud parents of four cats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pure Courage
This book is more than just a memoir. Derek Hawkins' utter honesty about his life, his emotions and himself give the reader such a sense of the remarkable person he is that you feel as if he has done more than simply share his triumph over adversity.Although he says that he has always wanted to write about the events of his life and that doing so brings a form of closure, he has clearly given every reader a complex and fulfilling gift of spirit as well.And while we can admire, praise and compliment him for his pure courage, unassuming fortitude and inspiring perseverance, I hope this does not close the door on his writing career, so that in the future he will continue to gift readers with other thoughtful, humorous and rewarding works. ... Read more