Thread by @LelenaPeacock

I'd like to explain why #PainPatients & the #disability community is having a VERY difficult time w/this suite of articles about #ChronicPain.
I did find a more balanced view in some of the articles, & that's a good start for journos covering #ChronicPain. Sadly, it isn't enough.

For the past 7 years, #PainPatients have endured the draconian shift in #healthcare & attitudes toward pain & disability.

Countless patients lost their meds.
Many patients lost their doctors.
Some patients lost their jobs, their spouses, even their children.

Some of us died.🥺

In 2016, the #CDC unleashed their #Guidelines for prescribing #opioids for #ChronicPain.

The guidelines were adopted as a mandate in Rxing & the #StandardOfCare across the board.

Overnight, #PainPatients became a glaring liability for all doctors, & the consequences are harsh.

We saw our doctors raided by an overzealous DOJ & DEA, & watched in horror as every penny they made was seized & they were locked away.

Good faith prescribing disappeared thanks to the medical opinions of the #DEA. They have terrorized #PainPatients & their doctors.

Even worse

#PainAdvocacy all but disappeared in recent years, declared tainted by #BigPharma.

Our voices were effectively silenced.

We didn't matter & we knew it. Our lives fell apart & most of us are bedridden if we have managed to survive this long. Add in the #LitigationNarrative, &

that pretty well sealed the fate of patients like me. We became despised by most Americans for perpetuating the #OverdoseCrisis.

We're DONE being acceptable collateral damage. It's our turn to speak. When journos turn pain treatment into a #ZeroSumGame where the GOOD patients

never touch meds, (especially #opioids or #benzos) we become understandably angry. The reality of the situation is LOST.

It was the RARE journalist that spoke up for us through the post-guideline, #PROP fueled stigma years. Mainstream media remained largely silent as we died

& sank further into despair, agony & disability.

When articles come out touting the INCOMPLETE & simplistic theories of the likes of #DrJohnSarno as a CURE, it's something of an INSULT to those of us still standing. How the hell do you think #PainPatients survived this so far?🧐

THAT'S RIGHT, we became #ZenMasters of calm despite pain & mounting stresses in our lives.

Until you're willing to tell the ENTIRE STORY of patients living with disability & pain, don't expect us to cheer when you come out w/articles that never include average #PainPatients. 🤷‍♀️

I'm tired of watching people I love die to satisfy the various #AntiPatient agendas afoot of late. I'm just DONE.

Excluding @alanasaltz's was a huge miss on the @nytimes part. Why did you kill the REAL story?

We've begged to be heard. It's time people finally LISTEN. Thank you.

*IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER*

Despite what #PROP & the likes of #AndrewKolodny would have you believe, I haven't received ONE DIME for any of the advocacy I've done over the years.

This is truly a labor of love for me & countless other #advocates.

We do this because we understand.