Written by three professionals in rehabilitation medicine and psychology, Spinal Cord Injury is an easy to understand, comprehensive resource for everyone with SCI, containing essential information for people who are newly injured and for those who have longer experience in coping with injury. The book thoroughly reviews the challenges that may be encountered by people with SCI throughout their lives, addressing all aspects of spinal cord injury, from psychological, sexual, and social matters to transportation, housing, and employment. But they remind readers that, as with any major life crisis, spinal cord injury can be a catalyst for positive change. A spinal cord injury challenges a person to find creative channels for self-expression, personal strength, and new ways of being in the world. One of the book's most important messages is that a meaningful life is possible after spinal cord injury and that psychosocial adjustment is not necessarily linked to one's degree of physical function or disability.
Later chapters describe rehabilitation, returning home, and learning to live independently.
Concluding Thoughts Life after spinal cord injury is a progression through medical recovery, emotional adjustment, social integration, and fulfillment of personal goals. People with SCI must find the courage and persistence to redefine personal and professional relationships as well as their own relationship with a changed self. 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, and is a consultant on disability issues. Jeffrey B. Palmer, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.