On June 24th 1999 I was riding a motorcycle when I ran a stop sign I was
motorcycle when I ran a stop sign I was
motorcycle when I ran a stop sign I was hit by a truck I was gonna come up for
hit by a truck I was gonna come up for
hit by a truck I was gonna come up for ten days and when I woke up I learned
ten days and when I woke up I learned
ten days and when I woke up I learned that my arm had been reattached my right
that my arm had been reattached my right
that my arm had been reattached my right arm had been reattached my right leg had
arm had been reattached my right leg had
arm had been reattached my right leg had been rebuilt I was told that I would
been rebuilt I was told that I would
been rebuilt I was told that I would never walk without a cane or a walker
never walk without a cane or a walker
never walk without a cane or a walker and that my right arm would just be an
and that my right arm would just be an
and that my right arm would just be an ornament I stand before you here today
ornament I stand before you here today
ornament I stand before you here today my journey here was unique I live with
my journey here was unique I live with
my journey here was unique I live with pain constantly I’m in pain right now
pain constantly I’m in pain right now
pain constantly I’m in pain right now but I’m not taking opioids and as I
but I’m not taking opioids and as I
but I’m not taking opioids and as I learned this and as I was breaking down
learned this and as I was breaking down
learned this and as I was breaking down how I live without opioids but with
how I live without opioids but with
how I live without opioids but with chronic pain and how I do it by being
chronic pain and how I do it by being
chronic pain and how I do it by being gonzo I had to first decide what does
gonzo I had to first decide what does
gonzo I had to first decide what does gonzo mean so I did some homework and I
gonzo mean so I did some homework and I
gonzo mean so I did some homework and I found out that many of us believe gonzo
found out that many of us believe gonzo
found out that many of us believe gonzo is a muppet purple with the crooked nose
is a muppet purple with the crooked nose
is a muppet purple with the crooked nose chasing chickens all over the place
chasing chickens all over the place
chasing chickens all over the place I also learned that in 2005 a man by the
I also learned that in 2005 a man by the
I also learned that in 2005 a man by the name of dr. Martin Hearst traced the
name of dr. Martin Hearst traced the
name of dr. Martin Hearst traced the origins of the word gonzo to this man
origins of the word gonzo to this man
origins of the word gonzo to this man dr. Hunter s Thompson a doctorate of
dr. Hunter s Thompson a doctorate of
dr. Hunter s Thompson a doctorate of journalism and writer for Rolling Stone
journalism and writer for Rolling Stone
journalism and writer for Rolling Stone magazine he first coined the terms
magazine he first coined the terms
magazine he first coined the terms gonzo in reference to his own journalism
gonzo in reference to his own journalism
gonzo in reference to his own journalism in 1985 Miriam Webster published the
in 1985 Miriam Webster published the
in 1985 Miriam Webster published the first dictionary definition of gonzo as
first dictionary definition of gonzo as
first dictionary definition of gonzo as a reference to his journalism today we
a reference to his journalism today we
a reference to his journalism today we have come to say that the term means
have come to say that the term means
have come to say that the term means extreme unconventional against the norm
extreme unconventional against the norm
extreme unconventional against the norm if you will and I would say that a man
if you will and I would say that a man
if you will and I would say that a man living with chronic pain on a daily
living with chronic pain on a daily
living with chronic pain on a daily basis and not taking opioids is gonzo
basis and not taking opioids is gonzo
basis and not taking opioids is gonzo and I’ll explain a little more to you
and I’ll explain a little more to you
and I’ll explain a little more to you when I started this project there was
when I started this project there was
when I started this project there was four lessons I had learned from gonzo
four lessons I had learned from gonzo
four lessons I had learned from gonzo and Hunter S Thompson
and Hunter S Thompson
and Hunter S Thompson and I’d learn that through a process and
and I’d learn that through a process and
and I’d learn that through a process and through the experiences that I’ve had
through the experiences that I’ve had
through the experiences that I’ve had since my accident
since my accident
since my accident like I said in 1999 I was told I would
like I said in 1999 I was told I would
like I said in 1999 I was told I would never walk without a cane I was told my
never walk without a cane I was told my
never walk without a cane I was told my arm would just be an ornament and then
arm would just be an ornament and then
arm would just be an ornament and then since that time I have become an English
since that time I have become an English
since that time I have become an English professor I’ve been a published
professor I’ve been a published
professor I’ve been a published journalist a speech writer I appear as
journalist a speech writer I appear as
journalist a speech writer I appear as an extra in the Charlize Theron movie
an extra in the Charlize Theron movie
an extra in the Charlize Theron movie monster and I did all of these things
monster and I did all of these things
monster and I did all of these things because I am gonzo I call myself gonzo I
because I am gonzo I call myself gonzo I
because I am gonzo I call myself gonzo I am gonzo but I’m not Hunter s Thompson
am gonzo but I’m not Hunter s Thompson
am gonzo but I’m not Hunter s Thompson Hunter Hayes Thompson killed himself in
Hunter Hayes Thompson killed himself in
Hunter Hayes Thompson killed himself in 2005 because he couldn’t manage his own
2005 because he couldn’t manage his own
2005 because he couldn’t manage his own pain so his wife wrote a novel and it
pain so his wife wrote a novel and it
pain so his wife wrote a novel and it was published in 2009 and my wife gave
was published in 2009 and my wife gave
was published in 2009 and my wife gave me that novel and that novel is called
me that novel and that novel is called
me that novel and that novel is called the gonzo way and there are seven
the gonzo way and there are seven
the gonzo way and there are seven lessons in the gonzo way but there are
lessons in the gonzo way but there are
lessons in the gonzo way but there are two that I think that are very important
two that I think that are very important
two that I think that are very important and that it helped me manage my chronic
and that it helped me manage my chronic
and that it helped me manage my chronic pain the gonzo way the first lesson is
pain the gonzo way the first lesson is
pain the gonzo way the first lesson is number one is never stop learning even
number one is never stop learning even
number one is never stop learning even today this very experience to get to
today this very experience to get to
today this very experience to get to this TED talk I’ve learned like I said I
this TED talk I’ve learned like I said I
this TED talk I’ve learned like I said I came into this experience yesterday
came into this experience yesterday
came into this experience yesterday knowing that I was going to come out
knowing that I was going to come out
knowing that I was going to come out here and give you four lessons in
here and give you four lessons in
here and give you four lessons in managing chronic pain I stand before you
managing chronic pain I stand before you
managing chronic pain I stand before you today giving to never stop learning
today giving to never stop learning
today giving to never stop learning never stop learning about yourself I
never stop learning about yourself I
never stop learning about yourself I learned a lot about myself in this TED
learned a lot about myself in this TED
learned a lot about myself in this TED talk experience never stop learning
talk experience never stop learning
talk experience never stop learning about your pain never stop learning
about your pain never stop learning
about your pain never stop learning about its origins why do you hurt where
about its origins why do you hurt where
about its origins why do you hurt where specifically do you hurt do not accept
specifically do you hurt do not accept
specifically do you hurt do not accept the non describable pain I’m not sure
the non describable pain I’m not sure
the non describable pain I’m not sure where it’s from
where it’s from
where it’s from we’re not sure what is causing your pain
we’re not sure what is causing your pain
we’re not sure what is causing your pain try to find out the origins try to find
try to find out the origins try to find
try to find out the origins try to find out the answers try new things learn new
out the answers try new things learn new
out the answers try new things learn new skills acquire new experiences in the
skills acquire new experiences in the
skills acquire new experiences in the management of your pain and in your
management of your pain and in your
management of your pain and in your daily life I don’t think that everyone
daily life I don’t think that everyone
daily life I don’t think that everyone it can be a college professor a
it can be a college professor a
it can be a college professor a journalist poet amateur cook mountain
journalist poet amateur cook mountain
journalist poet amateur cook mountain biking movie extra but it’s worked
biking movie extra but it’s worked
biking movie extra but it’s worked alright for me
alright for me
alright for me try meeting new people
try meeting new people
try meeting new people first and foremost that’s the most
first and foremost that’s the most
first and foremost that’s the most important thing if you’re doing opioids
important thing if you’re doing opioids
important thing if you’re doing opioids you’re not doing anything else and that
you’re not doing anything else and that
you’re not doing anything else and that was the biggest lesson that I’ve learned
was the biggest lesson that I’ve learned
was the biggest lesson that I’ve learned just recently when we were talking and
just recently when we were talking and
just recently when we were talking and giving our TED talks at though of Marion
giving our TED talks at though of Marion
giving our TED talks at though of Marion County prison the prisoners themselves
County prison the prisoners themselves
County prison the prisoners themselves were coming up to me and saying look I
were coming up to me and saying look I
were coming up to me and saying look I battled with opioids how do you do it
battled with opioids how do you do it
battled with opioids how do you do it how do you not take pills and then I
how do you not take pills and then I
how do you not take pills and then I realized by doing all these things
realized by doing all these things
realized by doing all these things trying new things learning new skills
trying new things learning new skills
trying new things learning new skills acquiring new experiences if you’re
acquiring new experiences if you’re
acquiring new experiences if you’re doing those things you cannot do opioids
doing those things you cannot do opioids
doing those things you cannot do opioids the choices seem relatively easy lesson
the choices seem relatively easy lesson
the choices seem relatively easy lesson number two and this is probably the
number two and this is probably the
number two and this is probably the hardest lesson and something that I had
hardest lesson and something that I had
hardest lesson and something that I had to come to grips with even as I was
to come to grips with even as I was
to come to grips with even as I was preparing this TED talk this morning and
preparing this TED talk this morning and
preparing this TED talk this morning and last night the truth is easier and like
last night the truth is easier and like
last night the truth is easier and like I said when I first started doing this
I said when I first started doing this
I said when I first started doing this TED talk I was first putting this
TED talk I was first putting this
TED talk I was first putting this together I said I got a four point plan
together I said I got a four point plan
together I said I got a four point plan and they’ll help everybody live with
and they’ll help everybody live with
and they’ll help everybody live with their pain and they won’t be on opioids
their pain and they won’t be on opioids
their pain and they won’t be on opioids and yeah that’s just not the truth and
and yeah that’s just not the truth and
and yeah that’s just not the truth and that was something that I had to come to
that was something that I had to come to
that was something that I had to come to I also had to admit or learn how you
I also had to admit or learn how you
I also had to admit or learn how you arrived at Mike or your current
arrived at Mike or your current
arrived at Mike or your current condition I arrived at my current
condition I arrived at my current
condition I arrived at my current condition I’m in pain every day every
condition I’m in pain every day every
condition I’m in pain every day every morning when I wake up because I ran a
morning when I wake up because I ran a
morning when I wake up because I ran a stop sign on a motorcycle it took me a
stop sign on a motorcycle it took me a
stop sign on a motorcycle it took me a little while to come to that conclusion
little while to come to that conclusion
little while to come to that conclusion in that realization but I have and I’ve
in that realization but I have and I’ve
in that realization but I have and I’ve realized that truth not everyone is
realized that truth not everyone is
realized that truth not everyone is responsible for their chronic pain my
responsible for their chronic pain my
responsible for their chronic pain my brother-in-law my sister’s husband has
brother-in-law my sister’s husband has
brother-in-law my sister’s husband has ALS Lou Gehrig’s disease he is dying he
ALS Lou Gehrig’s disease he is dying he
ALS Lou Gehrig’s disease he is dying he is in pain every day and he knows this
is in pain every day and he knows this
is in pain every day and he knows this but I can tell you the guy has been to
but I can tell you the guy has been to
but I can tell you the guy has been to more concerts since his diagnosis than a
more concerts since his diagnosis than a
more concerts since his diagnosis than a high school senior I can also tell you
high school senior I can also tell you
high school senior I can also tell you he gets great seats and he will be going
he gets great seats and he will be going
he gets great seats and he will be going to a Tesla concert in the coming weeks
to a Tesla concert in the coming weeks
to a Tesla concert in the coming weeks so that is gonzo but he knows he has ALS
so that is gonzo but he knows he has ALS
so that is gonzo but he knows he has ALS he knows his condition is not going to
he knows his condition is not going to
he knows his condition is not going to improve but it hasn’t stopped him from
improve but it hasn’t stopped him from
improve but it hasn’t stopped him from meeting new people trying new things and
meeting new people trying new things and
meeting new people trying new things and experiencing new things
experiencing new things
experiencing new things you have to own your pain just like I
you have to own your pain just like I
you have to own your pain just like I own mine
own mine
own mine here we are sweat knee braces got a
here we are sweat knee braces got a
here we are sweat knee braces got a little stool so I can rest if I need to
little stool so I can rest if I need to
little stool so I can rest if I need to I own it
I own it
I own it but most importantly you have to know
but most importantly you have to know
but most importantly you have to know that pain is all in your brain dr.
that pain is all in your brain dr.
that pain is all in your brain dr. adrienne liu doctor of physical therapy
adrienne liu doctor of physical therapy
adrienne liu doctor of physical therapy wrote a really interesting piece in his
wrote a really interesting piece in his
wrote a really interesting piece in his book about pain management where he says
book about pain management where he says
book about pain management where he says pain is all in your brain and the more
pain is all in your brain and the more
pain is all in your brain and the more you know about it the better off you
you know about it the better off you
you know about it the better off you will be they’re doing studies at beth
will be they’re doing studies at beth
will be they’re doing studies at beth israel sinai where they’re using jazz
israel sinai where they’re using jazz
israel sinai where they’re using jazz and classical music for people with
and classical music for people with
and classical music for people with chronic pain to help them management and
chronic pain to help them management and
chronic pain to help them management and it’s working so the solutions are all in
it’s working so the solutions are all in
it’s working so the solutions are all in your brain see lesson one never stop
your brain see lesson one never stop
your brain see lesson one never stop learning
learning
learning I have tried physical therapy
I have tried physical therapy
I have tried physical therapy occupational therapy visualizations tai
occupational therapy visualizations tai
occupational therapy visualizations tai chi yoga th C’s CBDs obviously opioids
chi yoga th C’s CBDs obviously opioids
chi yoga th C’s CBDs obviously opioids some things will work and some things
some things will work and some things
some things will work and some things will not work but I’ve never stopped
will not work but I’ve never stopped
will not work but I’ve never stopped learning I’m doing a TED talk here today
learning I’m doing a TED talk here today
learning I’m doing a TED talk here today to talk to you about these things this
to talk to you about these things this
to talk to you about these things this has been an incredibly educational
has been an incredibly educational
has been an incredibly educational experience but I’ve never stopped
experience but I’ve never stopped
experience but I’ve never stopped learning I came out here today to talk
learning I came out here today to talk
learning I came out here today to talk to you about how I live without opioids
to you about how I live without opioids
to you about how I live without opioids and how you by be making me and being
and how you by be making me and being
and how you by be making me and being gonzo can live without opioids and live
gonzo can live without opioids and live
gonzo can live without opioids and live with chronic pain and uh that’s not my
with chronic pain and uh that’s not my
with chronic pain and uh that’s not my place I am here to tell you that if you
place I am here to tell you that if you
place I am here to tell you that if you are gonzo and you fly in the face of
are gonzo and you fly in the face of
are gonzo and you fly in the face of convention and people are telling you
convention and people are telling you
convention and people are telling you know your pain is going to inhibit you
know your pain is going to inhibit you
know your pain is going to inhibit you your injuries are keeping you from doing
your injuries are keeping you from doing
your injuries are keeping you from doing things you tell them no and you be gonzo
things you tell them no and you be gonzo
things you tell them no and you be gonzo my name is Patrick Rader I lived with
my name is Patrick Rader I lived with
my name is Patrick Rader I lived with chronic pain Mahalo
”
Be First to Comment