I was at the top of my game working as a civil rights attorney at the Justice
civil rights attorney at the Justice
civil rights attorney at the Justice Department when something happened that
Department when something happened that
Department when something happened that changed the course of my life I met my
changed the course of my life I met my
changed the course of my life I met my desk drinking a latte typing away on a
desk drinking a latte typing away on a
desk drinking a latte typing away on a document due to court when my back
document due to court when my back
document due to court when my back starts to burn it feels like acid eating
starts to burn it feels like acid eating
starts to burn it feels like acid eating my spine my muscle seize and throw me
my spine my muscle seize and throw me
my spine my muscle seize and throw me from my chair I curl on the floor my
from my chair I curl on the floor my
from my chair I curl on the floor my body sears with pain over the next few
body sears with pain over the next few
body sears with pain over the next few weeks the pain becomes constant I can
weeks the pain becomes constant I can
weeks the pain becomes constant I can barely stand sitting is impossible
barely stand sitting is impossible
barely stand sitting is impossible so mostly I lie down I commute lying
so mostly I lie down I commute lying
so mostly I lie down I commute lying across the backseat of a car to work
across the backseat of a car to work
across the backseat of a car to work from a futon on the floor of my office
from a futon on the floor of my office
from a futon on the floor of my office and I use a walker to get from place to
and I use a walker to get from place to
and I use a walker to get from place to place for a while that works until one
place for a while that works until one
place for a while that works until one day my rides late I stand too long my
day my rides late I stand too long my
day my rides late I stand too long my legs go and I collapse I will be
legs go and I collapse I will be
legs go and I collapse I will be bedridden and in pain for almost twenty
bedridden and in pain for almost twenty
bedridden and in pain for almost twenty years later I learned the cause was a
years later I learned the cause was a
years later I learned the cause was a surgery when a doctor severed nerves in
surgery when a doctor severed nerves in
surgery when a doctor severed nerves in my spine the pain only appears when the
my spine the pain only appears when the
my spine the pain only appears when the damaged nerves grow back but try as they
damaged nerves grow back but try as they
damaged nerves grow back but try as they might the nerves don’t repair they
might the nerves don’t repair they
might the nerves don’t repair they rewire but malfunctioned so a light
rewire but malfunctioned so a light
rewire but malfunctioned so a light touch is a blowtorch when I shower fiery
touch is a blowtorch when I shower fiery
touch is a blowtorch when I shower fiery hot needles pierce my skin nerve pain
hot needles pierce my skin nerve pain
hot needles pierce my skin nerve pain intensifies it escalates like an alarm
intensifies it escalates like an alarm
intensifies it escalates like an alarm that gets louder and louder the longer
that gets louder and louder the longer
that gets louder and louder the longer it goes on the worse it gets
it goes on the worse it gets
it goes on the worse it gets looking back on it now the thing
looking back on it now the thing
looking back on it now the thing remember the most was the despair in my
remember the most was the despair in my
remember the most was the despair in my then husband’s face this was a man who
then husband’s face this was a man who
then husband’s face this was a man who literally carried me in his arms from
literally carried me in his arms from
literally carried me in his arms from Doctor to doctor and then they told us
Doctor to doctor and then they told us
Doctor to doctor and then they told us there would be no cure that I’d never
there would be no cure that I’d never
there would be no cure that I’d never get better and would only get worse when
get better and would only get worse when
get better and would only get worse when all of this is happening I’m working as
all of this is happening I’m working as
all of this is happening I’m working as a civil rights lawyer I’m arguing for
a civil rights lawyer I’m arguing for
a civil rights lawyer I’m arguing for the rights of people with HIV and AIDS
the rights of people with HIV and AIDS
the rights of people with HIV and AIDS to medical care for the rights of people
to medical care for the rights of people
to medical care for the rights of people who use wheelchairs to have meaningful
who use wheelchairs to have meaningful
who use wheelchairs to have meaningful work I guess the universe decided I
work I guess the universe decided I
work I guess the universe decided I needed some personal experience I became
needed some personal experience I became
needed some personal experience I became a person with a disability working as a
a person with a disability working as a
a person with a disability working as a disability rights lawyer and I loved my
disability rights lawyer and I loved my
disability rights lawyer and I loved my job I still had work to do so despite
job I still had work to do so despite
job I still had work to do so despite what the doctor said I decided to fight
what the doctor said I decided to fight
what the doctor said I decided to fight and that was a good decision I also made
and that was a good decision I also made
and that was a good decision I also made a bad one early on I refused to take
a bad one early on I refused to take
a bad one early on I refused to take opioids for pain I worried about
opioids for pain I worried about
opioids for pain I worried about addiction and stigma when my doctors
addiction and stigma when my doctors
addiction and stigma when my doctors decided to stop treatments aimed at
decided to stop treatments aimed at
decided to stop treatments aimed at numbing and ablating the nerves and
numbing and ablating the nerves and
numbing and ablating the nerves and insisted on opioids I was shattered I
insisted on opioids I was shattered I
insisted on opioids I was shattered I felt like they were giving up that I was
felt like they were giving up that I was
felt like they were giving up that I was being put out to pasture drugged up and
being put out to pasture drugged up and
being put out to pasture drugged up and written off out of options I surrendered
written off out of options I surrendered
written off out of options I surrendered and swallowed the pills and then
and swallowed the pills and then
and swallowed the pills and then something remarkable happened I improved
something remarkable happened I improved
something remarkable happened I improved I felt relief I was a foggy space opened
I felt relief I was a foggy space opened
I felt relief I was a foggy space opened in my mind and I can work again and so I
in my mind and I can work again and so I
in my mind and I can work again and so I worked as a federal prosecutor for more
worked as a federal prosecutor for more
worked as a federal prosecutor for more than 20 years though I couldn’t sit or
than 20 years though I couldn’t sit or
than 20 years though I couldn’t sit or stand or really walk for most of them I
stand or really walk for most of them I
stand or really walk for most of them I negotiated groundbreaking settlements
negotiated groundbreaking settlements
negotiated groundbreaking settlements against the San Francisco 49ers and
against the San Francisco 49ers and
against the San Francisco 49ers and Giants and the Walt Disney Company while
Giants and the Walt Disney Company while
Giants and the Walt Disney Company while reclined on the right dose of pain
reclined on the right dose of pain
reclined on the right dose of pain medicine
medicine
medicine I want important cases in federal court
I want important cases in federal court
I want important cases in federal court arguing from a folding lawn chair once
arguing from a folding lawn chair once
arguing from a folding lawn chair once bedridden I drafted the current
bedridden I drafted the current
bedridden I drafted the current regulations under the Americans with
regulations under the Americans with
regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act coordinated with the
Disabilities Act coordinated with the
Disabilities Act coordinated with the White House and supervised thousands of
White House and supervised thousands of
White House and supervised thousands of cases by hundreds of attorneys across
cases by hundreds of attorneys across
cases by hundreds of attorneys across the country all from my bed and when the
the country all from my bed and when the
the country all from my bed and when the pain finally improved I stopped taking
pain finally improved I stopped taking
pain finally improved I stopped taking opioids
opioids
opioids I wasn’t addicted I did have to taper to
I wasn’t addicted I did have to taper to
I wasn’t addicted I did have to taper to avoid side effects it was a happy
avoid side effects it was a happy
avoid side effects it was a happy anti-climax now many things healed me
anti-climax now many things healed me
anti-climax now many things healed me physical therapy meditation a medical
physical therapy meditation a medical
physical therapy meditation a medical device called a spinal stimulator the
device called a spinal stimulator the
device called a spinal stimulator the hundreds of people who brought groceries
hundreds of people who brought groceries
hundreds of people who brought groceries and dinner and companionship to my
and dinner and companionship to my
and dinner and companionship to my bedside for 20 years
bedside for 20 years
bedside for 20 years art but opioids were essential everyone
art but opioids were essential everyone
art but opioids were essential everyone experiences pain some of you are in pain
experiences pain some of you are in pain
experiences pain some of you are in pain right now and not just because you’re
right now and not just because you’re
right now and not just because you’re anticipating three more hours in
anticipating three more hours in
anticipating three more hours in uncomfortable chairs for most people
uncomfortable chairs for most people
uncomfortable chairs for most people pain is temporary but if it lasts three
pain is temporary but if it lasts three
pain is temporary but if it lasts three months are longer pain becomes chronic
months are longer pain becomes chronic
months are longer pain becomes chronic and it changes from being a symptom to a
and it changes from being a symptom to a
and it changes from being a symptom to a disease according to federal statistics
disease according to federal statistics
disease according to federal statistics 50 million Americans have persistent
50 million Americans have persistent
50 million Americans have persistent everyday or severe pain like mine that’s
everyday or severe pain like mine that’s
everyday or severe pain like mine that’s one in six it’s also significantly more
one in six it’s also significantly more
one in six it’s also significantly more than are affected by cancer heart
than are affected by cancer heart
than are affected by cancer heart disease diabetes or stroke 2.5 million
disease diabetes or stroke 2.5 million
disease diabetes or stroke 2.5 million people abuse opioids
people abuse opioids
people abuse opioids opioid abuse is devastating and in every
opioid abuse is devastating and in every
opioid abuse is devastating and in every news cycle and for the people affected
news cycle and for the people affected
news cycle and for the people affected and their families it’s heartbreaking
and their families it’s heartbreaking
and their families it’s heartbreaking and poorly managed but our response as a
and poorly managed but our response as a
and poorly managed but our response as a society to opioid abuse is hurting the
society to opioid abuse is hurting the
society to opioid abuse is hurting the treatment of pain how a lot of the
treatment of pain how a lot of the
treatment of pain how a lot of the people who abuse opioids are using
people who abuse opioids are using
people who abuse opioids are using medication that wasn’t prescribed for
medication that wasn’t prescribed for
medication that wasn’t prescribed for them they self-medicate with friends
them they self-medicate with friends
them they self-medicate with friends opioids by on the street some pose as
opioids by on the street some pose as
opioids by on the street some pose as pain patients and dr. Hopp so to stop
pain patients and dr. Hopp so to stop
pain patients and dr. Hopp so to stop abuse the law attacks doctors physicians
abuse the law attacks doctors physicians
abuse the law attacks doctors physicians have been sentenced to up to 30 years in
have been sentenced to up to 30 years in
have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison when their patients sold the
prison when their patients sold the
prison when their patients sold the opioids they prescribed there’s a pain
opioids they prescribed there’s a pain
opioids they prescribed there’s a pain doctor right here in Boulder who’s no
doctor right here in Boulder who’s no
doctor right here in Boulder who’s no longer in practice because of a drug
longer in practice because of a drug
longer in practice because of a drug enforcement agent who posed as a pain
enforcement agent who posed as a pain
enforcement agent who posed as a pain patient the perverse result of all of
patient the perverse result of all of
patient the perverse result of all of this is that fearing prosecution doctors
this is that fearing prosecution doctors
this is that fearing prosecution doctors today are reluctant to prescribe opioids
today are reluctant to prescribe opioids
today are reluctant to prescribe opioids even when necessary and appropriate when
even when necessary and appropriate when
even when necessary and appropriate when I first moved to Boulder I couldn’t find
I first moved to Boulder I couldn’t find
I first moved to Boulder I couldn’t find anyone willing to treat me I had to fly
anyone willing to treat me I had to fly
anyone willing to treat me I had to fly back to DC it was expensive and painful
back to DC it was expensive and painful
back to DC it was expensive and painful and a long way to have to go to the
and a long way to have to go to the
and a long way to have to go to the doctor but I could afford it what
doctor but I could afford it what
doctor but I could afford it what happens to people who can’t and what
happens to people who can’t and what
happens to people who can’t and what about the news story we hear about
about the news story we hear about
about the news story we hear about someone in pain who goes to the doctor
someone in pain who goes to the doctor
someone in pain who goes to the doctor is prescribed opioids and becomes
is prescribed opioids and becomes
is prescribed opioids and becomes addicted it happens but it’s relatively
addicted it happens but it’s relatively
addicted it happens but it’s relatively rare and somewhat preventable when
rare and somewhat preventable when
rare and somewhat preventable when people are screened for emotional pain
people are screened for emotional pain
people are screened for emotional pain and addictive patterns and then
and addictive patterns and then
and addictive patterns and then monitored after they receive opioids the
monitored after they receive opioids the
monitored after they receive opioids the risk of addiction comes
risk of addiction comes
risk of addiction comes down significantly but there are too few
down significantly but there are too few
down significantly but there are too few doctors who screen and monitor there are
doctors who screen and monitor there are
doctors who screen and monitor there are only a few thousand pain management
only a few thousand pain management
only a few thousand pain management specialists to treat tens of millions
specialists to treat tens of millions
specialists to treat tens of millions so most people in pain go to the
so most people in pain go to the
so most people in pain go to the emergency room where there’s no
emergency room where there’s no
emergency room where there’s no screening or monitoring none or they see
screening or monitoring none or they see
screening or monitoring none or they see their primary care doctor but there’s a
their primary care doctor but there’s a
their primary care doctor but there’s a problem there too a lot of them weren’t
problem there too a lot of them weren’t
problem there too a lot of them weren’t really trained in how to treat pain
really trained in how to treat pain
really trained in how to treat pain a recent Johns Hopkins study found a
a recent Johns Hopkins study found a
a recent Johns Hopkins study found a glaring discrepancy between the
glaring discrepancy between the
glaring discrepancy between the prevalence of pain and society and time
prevalence of pain and society and time
prevalence of pain and society and time dedicated to pain in medical school only
dedicated to pain in medical school only
dedicated to pain in medical school only for us medical schools had a single
for us medical schools had a single
for us medical schools had a single required course on pain so remarkably
required course on pain so remarkably
required course on pain so remarkably the number one reason people go to the
the number one reason people go to the
the number one reason people go to the doctor pain and the number one cause of
doctor pain and the number one cause of
doctor pain and the number one cause of long-term disability in America chronic
long-term disability in America chronic
long-term disability in America chronic pain are under addressed in medical
pain are under addressed in medical
pain are under addressed in medical education that needs to change and we
education that needs to change and we
education that needs to change and we need to work with doctors not against
need to work with doctors not against
need to work with doctors not against them to expand treatment for both pain
them to expand treatment for both pain
them to expand treatment for both pain and addiction we need to educate
and addiction we need to educate
and addiction we need to educate ourselves about the dangers of sharing
ourselves about the dangers of sharing
ourselves about the dangers of sharing opioids with family and friends
opioids with family and friends
opioids with family and friends it doesn’t help them it puts lives at
it doesn’t help them it puts lives at
it doesn’t help them it puts lives at risk and about proper disposal of unused
risk and about proper disposal of unused
risk and about proper disposal of unused medication we need to develop the next
medication we need to develop the next
medication we need to develop the next generation of pain medicine something
generation of pain medicine something
generation of pain medicine something that can’t be abused but in the meantime
that can’t be abused but in the meantime
that can’t be abused but in the meantime with the heat turned up on the opioid
with the heat turned up on the opioid
with the heat turned up on the opioid epidemic let’s remember that opioids
epidemic let’s remember that opioids
epidemic let’s remember that opioids also heal people they’re the most
also heal people they’re the most
also heal people they’re the most powerful pain medicine we have instead
powerful pain medicine we have instead
powerful pain medicine we have instead of denying suffering people relief a
of denying suffering people relief a
of denying suffering people relief a life
life
life let’s properly medicate pain thank you
”
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