Spinal Cord Injury: A Guide for Living, Second Edition

373 Pages·2008·2.48 MB·English

by  Sara Palmer PhD, Kay Harris Kriegsman PhD, Jeffrey B. Palmer MD

Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal
A Guide
Cord
for
Living injury
SeCond edition
Sara palmer, ph.d.
Kay Harris Kriegsman, ph.d.
jeffrey B. palmer, M.d.
with contributions by
john W. Mcdonald, M.d., ph.d.
and Cristina l. Sadowsky, M.d.
the johns hopkins university press
A J O H N S H O P K I N S P R E S S H E A LT H B O O K Baltimore
Spinal
A Guide
Cord
for
Living injury
SeCond edition
Sara palmer, ph.d.
Kay Harris Kriegsman, ph.d.
jeffrey B. palmer, M.d.
with contributions by
john W. Mcdonald, M.d., ph.d.
and Cristina l. Sadowsky, M.d.
the johns hopkins university press
A J O H N S H O P K I N S P R E S S H E A LT H B O O K Baltimore
Note to the Reader. this book is not meant to substitute for medical care of people with
spinal cord injury, and treatment should not be based solely on its contents. instead,
treatment must be developed in a dialogue between the individual and his or her
physician. our book has been written to help with that dialogue.
© 2008 Sara palmer, Kay Harris Kriegsman, and jeffrey B. palmer
all rights reserved. published 2008
printed in the united States of america on acid-free paper
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
the johns Hopkins university press
2715 north Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
library of Congress Cataloging-in-publication data
palmer, Sara.
Spinal cord injury : a guide for living / Sara palmer, Kay Harris Kriegsman, jeffrey B.
palmer ; with contributions by john W. Mcdonald and Cristina l. Sadowsky. — 2nd ed.
p. ; cm. — (johns Hopkins press health book)
includes bibliographical references and index.
iSBn-13: 978-0-8018-8777-2 (hardover : alk. paper)
iSBn-10: 0-8018-8777-1 (hardcover : alk. paper)
iSBn-13: 978-0-8018-8778-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)
iSBn-10: 0-8018-8778-X (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Spinal cord—Wounds and injuries—popular works. 2. Spinal cord—Wounds and
injuries—psychological aspects. 3. paraplegia—psychological aspects. 4. Quadriplegia—
psychological aspects. i. Kriegsman, Kay Harris. ii. palmer, jeffrey B. iii. title.
iV. Series.
[dnlM: 1. Spinal Cord injuries—rehabilitation. 2. adaptation, physiological.
3. a daptation, psychological. Wl 400 p176s 2008]
rC400.p35 2008
617.482044—dc22 2007035741
a catalog record for this book is available from the British library.
illustrations on pages 12 and 13 are by jacqueline Schaffer. illustrations on pages 4, 38,
68, 98, 124, 168, 200, 236, 282, and 308 are by else lennox. illustration on page 244
by edmond alexander.
Special discounts are available for bulk purchases of this book. For more information, please
contact Special Sales at 410-516-6936 or
This book is dedicated to those who,
living life with spinal cord injury or loving someone who does,
shared their stories with us in the hopes of offering creative
solutions, dispelling myths, and opening horizons
for fellow travelers. We thank . . .
Art . . . Bailey . . . Bella . . . Billy . . . Bob
Cecily . . . Chelsea . . . David . . . Don
Elliott . . . Flip . . . Franklin . . . Gwen . . . Hannah
Jack . . . Jane . . . Jeff . . . Jim . . . Joan
Lamar . . . Lark . . . Laura . . . Lee
Melinda . . . Michaela . . . Mike
Noah . . . Nora . . . Patty . . . Pauline . . . Peter
Randy . . . Richard . . . Robert . . . Sally
Scott . . . Sonia . . . Steve . . . Susanna . . . Sylvia
Ted . . . Tom . . . Tricia . . . Vanessa*
* all names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
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I believe our son made a very deliberate choice.
That choice is the choice to be free.
He’s chosen not to hide out in self-pity.
He’s chosen not to hide out behind the label “disabled.”
He’s chosen not to hide out in the guise of “poor little victim.”
He’s chosen to be a member of his community.
He is taking scary risks and those risks will help him grow
From the inside out.
The point is not: not being scared.
The point is being scared and going through the fear.
Doing what you have to do anyway.
To me, that’s freedom.
—Jane’s tribute to her son (see Chapter 7)
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Contents
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xix
part i. t rauMa, HoSpitalization,
and reHaBilitation 1
1. I nto the Wilderness: Trauma, Hospitalization, and
Acute Care 5
with contributions by Cristina l. Sadowsky
2. L ost and Searching: Rehabilitation 39
3. R eading the Map: Pathways to Adjustment 69
part ii. tHe CHallengeS of readjuStMent 95
4. Going Home: Old Territory in a New Light 99
5. Focus on the Family 125
6. Lovers’ Lane: Dating, Coupling, and Sexuality 169
7. Life Goes On: Independent Living 201