About the Editor

About the Editor...

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My name is Rick Labuda. Shortly after the birth of my first child, I was diagnosed with Chiari and syringomyelia. In retrospect, I had been ignoring symptoms for years - headaches were sinus problems, constant neck pain was from years of athletics, other symptoms were similarly written off. I finally asked a doctor about my neck pain and an X-ray was ordered. The X-ray found that my top two vertebrae were fused together, so they recommended an MRI. Of course the MRI showed a significant malformation and two syrinxes.

Like most people, I was thrown into a storm of confusion. Since my diagnosis, I've done a lot of research and came to realize that I was extremely lucky. At the time (1998), and still today, the information available was useful for a gaining a general understanding of the conditions, but failed to highlight the most recent thinking on critical topics and address key issues facing patients. I had a thousand questions, and only some answers were available. Later, I realized I didn't even know what half the questions were. By almost pure luck, I found an excellent practicing neurosurgeon for the surgery and started the long road to recovery. I think I fared better than many, but not as well as some; these conditions affect everyone differently.

There are many, many open questions, and there is a wide range of opinions in the medical community regarding every aspect of treatment. At the same time, research is progressing all over the world and advancing our understanding of these conditions. I started Chiari & Syringomyelia News to provide the latest information to the people who can use it. In addition, I hope to bring together the people affected, by letting them see and hear about how other people have been touched, how they cope, and how they live well.

In addition to my direct experience, my qualifications include:

Former member of American Syringomyelia Alliance Project (ASAP) research committee. As such, I was involved in establishing the procedures for awarding grants and was active in reviewing research proposals.
Direct sponsorship of research into the mathematical characterization of the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) system in an attempt to understand the causes of syrinx formation and how a Chiari malformation affects CSF flow.
BS in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Over 15 years of engineering, marketing, and management experience for high-tech companies.

I hope you find the information in this newsletter useful and interesting.

Thank you.

Disclaimer: This publication is intended for informational purposes only and may or may not apply to you. The editor and publisher are not doctors and are not engaged in providing medical advice. Always consult a qualified professional for medical care. This publication does not endorse any doctors, procedures, or products.