As
stated in my blog in September of 2015 The
Painful Truth: A Book, a Documentary, a Meeting with Lynn Webster, MD, Dr.
Webster’s message is irresistible. His dedication to writing the book and producing this documentary (with Craig Worth) is a testament to the
spirit and determination he has for people living with pain. He advocates for
awareness of the seriousness of untreated or undertreated pain, suicide and
addiction. (You can view more information at The Painful Truth Documentary website.)
Over
the weekend, I got an email from Dr. Webster and I am so excited to share it
with you.
Dear
friends,
I'd
like to share some exciting news: "The Painful Truth," the
documentary I co-produced with Craig Wirth, was distributed by NETA on March 1
[2017] to all public television stations in the United States. On March 3, it
aired on KENW (Portales, NM) and on WXXI (Rochester, NY), and later this month
it will air in several other states including Georgia and
Montana. I am hopeful that the documentary will air in as most major
cities, though this is a decision that is at the discretion of each local
station.
When
documentaries like this air on public television, it is common for the host
stations to include a discussion with relevant community members. If your local
public station decides to air this documentary and you would be willing to make
yourself available for a panel discussion, I would encourage you to reach out
to your station to offer your participation. It could be a great opportunity to
discuss how important it is to Transform the Way Pain is Perceived, Judged
and Treated as described in the 2011 IOM report Reliving Pain in
America.
Dr.
Webster is building a list of the stations and air dates/times for
the documentary, which will soon be on the documentary's website,
Learn
more about Celeste’s books at her website or find
links here onCeleste's
blog.
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All
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meant to replace medical advice.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Lynn Webster for a
second time, the first being at the gala and symposium Healing What Hurts: The Politics of Pain, which was also organized by the Center for Practical Bioethics
for their initiative, the PAINS Project. You see, before he talked to a full auditorium of people eager to hear what he
had to say, he visited in private with our local patient/citizens leadership
group, Relieving Pain in Kansas City. He wanted to get to know us on a personal level, because
frankly, that’s how he rolls.
This gathering of providers of all pain care disciplines,
patients, medical students, caregivers, and concerned citizens were going to
hear about the journey of an internationally known pain specialist. We walked not
in front or behind him, but beside him, with him, as we learned about his passion
for healing an America that hurts from the stigma of chronic pain.
All those in attendance got a copy of his new book and as we
were gathering, I noticed people were not merely leafing through their copy, THEY
WERE READING IT! Stay with me and you will find out why.
Dr. Webster’s message is irresistible. He tells us The Painful Truth is not a self-help
book, but it is a helpful book. I am in awe of willingness to share his personal
stories, his motivation for being an advocate, researcher, author, and
physician with a dream to make a difference. He underscores the importance of
heart, listening, and understanding that pain is more than a symptom of
disease. He wants everyone across America to know the benefits and risks of opioid
prescriptions, the cultural attitudes, the role caregivers take in our lives and
most of all—the hope of a fulfilling life despite pain.
The Painful Truth Book Trailer
The Painful Truth:
The Documentary
Dr. Webster teamed up with Craig Worth to produce a
documentary. Together this physician and New York and Los Angeles Emmy Award winner
and former network correspondent documented important and truthful messages
from patients and the many people who touch their lives in some way. The documentary
itself is a testament to the spirit and determination this advocate has for
people living with pain, the seriousness of not only untreated or undertreated
pain and suicide, but also addiction.
Dr. Webster and his wife Holly funded the documentary (of
the same title) because they wanted a raw, unfiltered portrayal of chronic pain,
a guttural reaction that would create change in the perceptions associated with
people living with pain, and those who care for them. Though different in some
ways, the theme is the same as the book…
There is a difference
betweenhealing and curing.
The Painful Truth Documentary Trailer (worth every second)
The message is one of hope for a better America, one with compassion
for fellow human beings, an example the rest of the world can lean on.
Physician – Patient Encounter
Dr. Webster told us the first thing he asked new patients was
“What do you want [from pain care]? The answer was always the same, the same
words he continued to hear while doing the documentary, one that resonates
across this nation...
“Doc, I just want my life back.”
He also shares with us that his patients succumb to a primal
release of emotions when he says these three words, “I believe you.” You see,
he found that no matter our life’s experiences, ethnic background, age, or religious
or cultural beliefs—we all share something—the need to be validated. He knows chronic
pain is a thief that robs us of our self-esteem. Sadly, there is a historical—albeit
irreverent—concept that people in pain are weak. Some of us are stuck in a grieving
process because the healing process begins with feelings of trust and respect;
something Dr. Webster admits doesn’t happen often enough. Dr. Webster is a
leader in his field because of his education and experience, but mostly because
he has heart and he knows how important those three words are.
“I – BELIEVE – YOU”
* The documentary will be released later this year, slightly
behind its original production schedule.
In Conclusion
I wake up every morning to pain. On average, three mornings
of seven begin with what I call my 4 a.m. migraine reveille. I stagger on
swollen feet to where I keep my pain medicine of need. My arthritic hands fumble
with the lid as I coax them into action using loving words like, come on you
can do it, and sometimes—though I don’t like admitting it—expletives about the
packaging. Some days that is the only trip I make to that area of my world,
other days, I visit more often than I wish. But I am always grateful for the
many tools that help me function. I am grateful to have a doctor willing to
work with me without making me jump through a hundred hoops. He understands the
unpredictability of the many pain sources I face. He understands that I have no
control over the cause of my pain, but I do have control over knowing what works
best for me. Many are not as fortunate as I am.
I suppose pain defines who I am, but in different ways.
Because of pain, I live a life interrupted. But, I am determined to live a full
life, a grateful life that respects my capabilities. I have learned not to take
things for granted; I appreciate the opportunity to meet the many advocates and
heroes in my life. I am inspired by each, and every, person who is touched in
some way by chronic pain.
So you ask, “What does this have to do with The Painful Truth?” It has everything to
do with it. Reading The Painful Truth
reminds me that I am not on this journey alone. I now begin each day by reading
this book because it provides me with the other medicine I need, inspiration—a
feeding of my mind, my spirit, and my soul—a reminder of the many encounters I
have had with champions, because I live with chronic pain. This is MY painful
truth.
Those of you who follow me on social media know that for
many years my signature has been, “In healing and hope, Celeste”. The Painful Truth reminds me of the
powerful message my signature line was intended to send. Healing is not the
same as curing, and when we hold these words in our hands, in our mind, and in
our hearts, we begin to live a satisfied life.
If you are struggling to find your place, if you are still
working through your grieving process (been there), read this book. Every one
of us needs to hear those words, “I believe you.” Begin the healing process; it
will color your world with hope. The landscape of your existence with pain will
begin anew.
“Chronic pain affects 1 in 3 Americans and exerts more than
a $600-billion drain on the economy annually. It is the largest invisible
epidemic in the land. Having treated thousands of patients with chronic
pain-often when they were at their most vulnerable-Lynn R. Webster, M.D.,
continues to believe there is hope. Ultimately, a cure for pain will require
more research, better therapies, and improved policies. But healing can begin
today with a broad-based approach to treatment, including compassionate support
from those closest to the ones who are hurting. The Painful Truth is an
intimate collection of stories about people living with disabling pain, their
attempts to heal, and the challenges that we collectively face in helping them
live meaningful lives. As a physician who has treated people with chronic pain
for more than thirty years, Dr. Webster reveals the difficulties that patients
face in dealing with chronic pain in a society that is often shamefully
prejudiced against those who are most in need of our empathy. He shares how
such biases also affect medical professionals who treat patients with chronic
pain.” Find The Painful Truth on Amazon
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