Getting Your Brain and Body Back

On Memorial Day 2009--at the peak of his career as a physician, medical researcher, and medical center CEO--Dr. Brad Berk took a bike ride that would change his life forever. To avoid an oncoming car, he swerved, fell, and broke his neck, sustaining a spinal cord injury that would leave him permanently paralyzed. Hospitalized for 129 days, he was told that the first 12 months would reveal the limits of his recovery, the "this is as good as it's gonna get for you" scenario. But that prediction proved to be untrue. Dr. Berk's recovery continues to this day, and now, he has a new mission: to help others who have experienced an acute neurological injury (stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury). In Back to Life , he shows them, and their families, how to achieve the best possible continuous recovery. He offers hope, compassion, and understanding from a guy who's been there, plus the most up-to-date information on recovery therapies from his work as a pioneering medical researcher. This is the definitive guide to recovery, required reading for the millions of people who suffer from neurological injury every year. Each chapter gives readers accessible information on specific topics in bite-size pieces. They learn cutting-edge ways to prevent and treat the most common medical problems; how to find, get, and pay for today's life-changing rehabilitation therapies; how to harness the power of the mind; how to build a better lifestyle; how to return to work; how to deal with anxiety and depression; how to be sexually intimate; and much more. With examples spanning Eastern and Western Medicine, and the most up-to-date information on drugs and devices for restoring function, Back to Life helps readers play a more active role in their treatment. By sharing what he's learned as a patient and as a physician (along with what the brightest minds in the field have to say)--Dr. Berk helps others get back to life.

“"Riveting and compelling. At last, a book of hope for those who have been offered little in the past. Dr Berk's inspiring personal story combined with his empowering and evidence-based advice make this a must-read for those who have suffered catastrophic neurological injury." --Gary Gibbons, M.D., PhD, Director, NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute "Dr. Berk is living proof that focused and purposeful mental effort can result in remarkable function, life satisfaction and contribution to the world. His book provides expert and inspiring guidance for the many people who seek to overcome catastrophic injuries and get back to life." --Robert Califf , M.D. , Former Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "In his engaging and informative book, Dr. Berk puts the focus on patients and families, giving them the tools they need for successful rehabilitation." --Steven Kirshblum, M.D. , Senior Medical Officer at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation; Chief Medical Officer at Kessler Foundation; Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School "In this important book, drawing both from his personal experience and the latest research, Dr. Berk shows us how to use the mind to restore the body. After thirty-six years of living with a spinal cord injury, finally words of wisdom that can be put into practice." --Rob Tortorella, B.A. , (C6-7 paraplegic), Executive Chairman, Corrosion Products & Equipment, Inc.”

"Berk brings his unique blend of personal and professional experience to this all-encompassing neurological recovery guide."--New Mobility

"Riveting and compelling. At last, a book of hope for those who have been offered little in the past. Dr Berk's inspiring personal story combined with his empowering and evidence-based advice make this a must-read for those who have suffered catastrophic neurological injury."--Gary Gibbons, M.D., PhD, Director, NIH National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

"Dr. Berk is living proof that focused and purposeful mental effort can result in remarkable function, life satisfaction and contribution to the world. His book provides expert and inspiring guidance for the many people who seek to overcome catastrophic injuries and get back to life."--Robert Califf, M.D., Former Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

"In his engaging and informative book, Dr. Berk puts the focus on patients and families, giving them the tools they need for successful rehabilitation."--Steven Kirshblum, M.D., Senior Medical Officer at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation; Chief Medical Officer at Kessler Foundation; Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

"In this important book, drawing both from his personal experience and the latest research, Dr. Berk shows us how to use the mind to restore the body. After thirty-six years of living with a spinal cord injury, finally words of wisdom that can be put into practice."--Rob Tortorella, B.A., (C6-7 paraplegic), Executive Chairman, Corrosion Products Equipment, Inc.

Bradford C. Berk, MD, PhD, is a board-certified cardiologist and a Distinguished University Professor in Medicine, Neurology, Pathology, Pharmacology & Physiology, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He is the founder and Director of the University of Rochester Neurorestoration Institute. He was formerly Chief of the Cardiology Division at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and then Chairman of Medicine, before being named CEO of University of Rochester Medical Center and Senior Vice President of Health Sciences at the University of Rochester. He lives in Pittsford, New York. Martha W. Murphy's first book was published in 1991, and since then she has written or co-written scores of magazine articles and books. Since 2007, she has served on the faculty for the annual Harvard Medical School-sponsored CME course, "Writing, Publishing, and Social Media for Healthcare Professionals." She is a writing instructor at the University of Rhode Island's Harrington School of Communication and Media and has taught in the continuing education program at Brown University. She is the executive editor for four healthcare newsletters, and an award-winning healthcare communications and marketing professional. She lives in southern New England. Eric Topol, MD, is the director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and co-founder and vice-chairman of the West Wireless Health Institute in La Jolla, California. He is a practicing cardiologist at the Scripps Clinic and a professor of genomics at The Scripps Research Institute. One of the top ten most cited researchers in medicine, Topol was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and has led many of the trials that have shaped contemporary treatment for heart disease. He lives in La Jolla, California.

On Memorial Day 2009 - at the peak of his career as a physician, medical researcher, and medical center CEO - Dr Brad Berk took a bike ride that would change his life forever. To avoid an oncoming car, he swerved, fell, and broke his neck, sustaining a spinal cord injury that would leave him permanently paralysed. Hospitalised for 129 days, he was told that the first twelve months would reveal the limits of his recovery, the 'this is as good as it's gonna get for you' scenario. But that prediction proved to be untrue. Dr Berk's recovery continues to this day, and now, he has a new mission: to help others who have experienced an acute neurological injury (stroke, spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury). In Getting Your Brain and Body Back, he shows them, and their families, how to achieve the best possible continuous recovery. He offers hope, compassion, and understanding from a guy who's been there, plus the most up-to-date information on recovery therapies from his work as a pioneering medical researcher.This is the definitive guide to recovery, required reading for the millions of people who suffer from neurological injury every year. Each chapter gives readers accessible information on specific topics in bite-size pieces. They learn cutting-edge ways to prevent and treat the most common medical problems; how to find, get, and pay for today's life-changing rehabilitation therapies; how to harness the power of the mind; how to build a better lifestyle; how to return to work; how to deal with anxiety and depression; how to be sexually intimate; and much more. With examples spanning Eastern and Western medicine, and the most up-to-date information on drugs and devices for restoring physical and mental function, Getting Your Brain and Body Back helps readers play a more active role in their treatment. By sharing what he's learned as a patient and as a physician (along with what the brightest minds in the field have to say), Dr Berk helps others get back to life.

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