Spinal Cord Disease: Basic Science, Diagnosis and Management

Spinal Cord Injuryor disease can happen to anyone at any time and the effectscan be devastating. Ifound this outpersonallywhen Iwas thrown from the back ofa pick up truck at age 15 was left paralyzed from the waistdown. It was during my recuperation as a young teenager that I first gained insight into the importance ofrehabilitation. My family, doctors, nurses, fellow patients and researchers who were dedicated to helping me over­ come my personal tragedy helped me pull through. Today, rehabilita­ tion medicine is taking great strides and empowering the person with the injury to take control oftheir future, overcome their setbacks and, through collaborativesupport, reach their personal goals and potential. Since 1987 the Legacy raised by my Man in Motion World Tour (24901 miles wheeled around the world March 1985-May 1987) has pro­ vided over $13 million dollars to research and rehabilitation in the areas of spinal cord injury. I hope that in some small way this funding has contributed to the development ofthe vital programmes that supported me andmanyothers. The effects ofspinal cord injury are traumatic and life-shattering and require a skilled interdisciplinary approach. I congratulate those who have contributed to this book and challenge each one ofyou to never give up on yourdreams to find the answers to the optimum treatment of spinal cord injuryand disease.