Disclosure: I was given free access to watch “Pain Warriors” in exchange for this review. Even though I was gifted the opportunity to see the film, all opinions in this review are my own and were not in any way influenced by anyone associated with the film. This post may contain affiliate links.
When I mentioned I planned to review the “Pain Warriors” documentary here on FedUpwithFatigue.com, a couple of my chronic pain friends warned me the film was hard to watch.
They were right! It is heart-wrenching – mainly because I resonated so much with the chronic pain patients featured in the film. Their stories are also my story.
If you’ve followed news of the so-called opioid epidemic for the past few years, then you know the media’s narrative has not been helpful to people living in pain. Those of us with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia have largely been ignored amid the many tear-inducing interviews of family members who have lost loved ones to opioid overdoses.
I would never discount the pain of losing a loved one to drug addition, but there is another side to the opioid epidemic … the side of chronic pain patients who have lost access to the medications that enabled them to function day-to-day with some semblance of normalcy … the side of the physicians who have lost their medical licenses and been forced to close their practices because they dared to show compassion by treating patients in pain … the side of patients who lost all hope and decided the only way to stop the pain was to take their own lives.
“Pain Warriors” tells all of these stories.
The film “examines the invisible crisis of chronic pain in North America and its devastating toll on society. … ‘Pain Warriors’ tackles the other side of the opioid crisis – that of under treated pain patients and the slow death of compassion that surrounds them,” reads the “Pain Warriors” website.
Knowing I would likely become emotional, I decided to watch “Pain Warriors” on an evening when I was home alone. I’m glad I did because I lost count of the number of times I cried while watching it.
When I agreed to review the film, I had no idea one of the featured patients was a woman named Karen who committed suicide after developing chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
Her story hit me hard because I was bedbound for much of 2018 due to my own CSF leak. After months of imaging tests and going from doctor-to-doctor-to doctor to get diagnosed, my leak was finally repaired in early 2019, but I am still living with daily debilitating headaches, neck pain, nausea, dizziness and other symptoms as a result of how long it took to find and repair my leak.
When I developed my leak, I was already living with chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, Lyme disease and a bulged disc in my back, so you can imagine what it’s been like to add additional chronic pain conditions on top of what I was already trying to manage.
I understand exactly why Karen took her own life. At my worst, I, too, have thought about suicide. After all, it’s hard to stay hopeful when you know more about your medical condition than most doctors, and you’re quickly running out of the few available treatment options.
After her death, Karen’s husband published a book of her journal entries detailing her life with chronic pain. As he read certain passages aloud during “Pain Warriors,” I recognized her hopelessness, her sadness, her frustration at a life unfairly stripped from her.
Her words were my words, and I wept … for her and her suffering … for her husband who lost his life partner … for me who is still dealing with daily pain … for all of us who live with these miserable, life-sucking conditions that steal our goals and dreams and our ability to function.
In addition to Karen, the documentary features the journey of Hunter, a boy who developed chronic pain following cancer treatment; Yanekah, a young mother who lives with chronic pain following a motor vehicle crash; and Sherri, a middle-aged woman with fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel disease who took her own life due to untreated pain.
“Pain Warriors” also features several healthcare providers who are working tirelessly to help those living with chronic pain – even when it means possibly losing their licenses and ultimately, their livelihood.
My friends were right. “Pain Warriors” is tough to watch but we can’t and shouldn’t look away. We all need to do our parts to raise awareness of the other side of the opioid epidemic. It’s the only way we’ll ever be heard.
Want to watch “Pain Warriors”?
I recommend sharing “Pain Warriors” with family, friends, doctors and anyone else who struggles to understand the daily challenges of living with chronic pain.
The film is available for streaming on the following platforms:
Amazon also carries the film on DVD and blu-ray.
Now it’s your turn: Have you watched “Pain Warriors”? If so, what did you think of it? Share in the comments below!
I’m Donna, a longtime newspaper reporter, health writer and chronic illness thriver! Fed Up with Fatigue provides weekly news, research, treatments and more to help you live better with fibromyalgia and/or Lyme.
I hadn’t understood that you, too, had a CSF leak and that even after the repair you have continuing headaches, etc. from it. It was so difficult watching Karen’s story. Her husband continues to make others aware. I’ve had a bit of interaction with him and his pain is very raw still. This is a movie that the CDC needs to watch. They recently asked for comments on their Opioid policy. I sure hope they listen. Also, I hope that chronic pain gets more attention and research. I thank you for all you have done for many of us. You have helped me personally so much.
Today, I got a new diagnosis. I’m a bit scared but trying to stay reasonable. After my CT of my head w/contrast last week(due to the pulsatile tinnitus that I’ve had for 10+ years), my GP called to say I had a concerning result. I did not expect anything. With Fibromyalgia, I have had one test after another to tell me that I have no “damaging issues”. He said that I have FMD (Fibromuscular dysplasia) in my carotid artery. He’s contacted a neurologist (I’ve not been to one before) and a vascular surgeon. He says that since I’ve had the tinnitus for so long, that it’s probably something that is okay and just needs to be monitored. Reading the symptoms: headaches, dizzy, hand/feet swelling & cold, pain after eating, pain in my neck, etc….all fits. But much also fits in FMS symptoms.
I’m so sorry to hear about your new diagnosis but at the same time I’m glad they found it so that you can get treatment now and maybe, just maybe, feel a little bit better. It’s going to be interesting to see how your symptoms go once the FMD is treated. Like you, I’m wondering how much of what you’ve been dealing w/ is fibro vs. the FMD. I did a quick google search and there’s quite a bit of overlap, isn’t there? Keep me posted on how things are going for you. I guess this is the month for new diagnoses b/c I added two of my own: migraine (yay, fun times!!!) and chiari malformation. The chiari is likely what’s been causing the headaches and other symptoms I’ve been dealing w/ for the past 18+ months since my leak was repaired. Like you, I’m in the process of being referred to a specialist. Let’s hope these new diagnoses are going to get us closer to healing, not set us back.
This is Karen’s husband Bob. Thank you for the review.
Karen’s journal may be read for free here:
http://mystory.kpaddock.com
100% of the roalities from the sale of the physical book listed above,
go to the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation.
Oh my goodness, Bob, I’m so glad to hear from you! I resonated so much w/ your wife’s story in “Pain Warriors” as I, too, have dealt w/ CSF leak. I’m fortunate that it *only* took 6 months to get mine diagnosed and patched, but unfortunately I’ve been dealing w/ the opposite problem – intracranial hypertension (IH) – since my third and final patch in January 2019. I’ve had maybe a dozen headache free days in more than 2 years now between the leak and then the complication of IH. The first thing I did after I finished “Pain Warriors” was to jump on Amazon and buy Karen’s book. It’s so hard to find anyone who understands what it’s like to live with these sorts of conditions, and I don’t know … I just felt called to buy the book b/c I wanted to read the words of someone who understands what I’m going through. I’m so sorry for your loss … for the suffering you and Karen had to endure. I will keep you in my thoughts. Thank you so much for telling Karen’s story and putting a face to CSF leaks and chronic pain in general. Much love, Donna
Thank you.
As you will see in Karen’s Journal it was an up and down struggle with going between lows and highs.
We desperately need better methodology and imaging.
Yes, we do. The only way I got diagnosed was b/c I did my own research and demanded that my doctors take my theory seriously. If I had been less assertive, I’d still be stuck in bed with “tension headaches” or “migraines.”
Thank you Donna. Your newsletters are always so informative. I’m going to rent this movie. So sad that we have to suffer like we do. Hopefully someday soon science will come up with a pain reliever without the addictive effect.
Patricia
Wouldn’t it be great if they could create a chronic pain treatment that works w/o bad side effects and w/o the potential for addiction? That would be the most amazing thing ever!
HI Donna, I also watched the Pain Warrior movie, when it came out on Amazon Prime. I also cried. Each story broke my heart.
As a person who has suffered 25 years with life in Chronic Spine related Pain issues as well as CRPS as well as Systemic Lupus I could relate to many pieces of their stories. The young boy truly broke my heart to see a child suffer like that!
Their stories gave me great insight to how much people are still suffering so badly!
I have been using opioid medicine for 15 years and when the witch hunt hit 5-6 yrs ago I was forced into withdrawal several times until I found a doctor who cared to continue to treat me properly, again. Those years were very traumatic both physically and emotionally. Regardless, I am no longer treated as WELL as I was in the past and therefore I suffer more so.
I remember when you had your CSF leak issues (as you still do!) and empathizing with you and sending you a note because I’ve had a post op CSF leak that no one listened to me until I had suffered long enough and finally had it patched.
We are strong strong people!! I still can’t understand the Opioid issue but I sure hope it takes a more positive turn for people like those in the movie. God bless them and their families and all others so wrongfully suffering. Hang in there Warrior!! And as always, thank you for being there for us. Hugs!!
It hurt my soul to watch that little boy dealing w/ chronic pain. As bad as things have been for me over the years, I can’t even imagine what that experience must be like for a child so young. And worst still, will he have to endure that for the rest of his life? It’s just unbelievably heart breaking.
After taking a statin for 6 weeks I could not climb stairs at school. I had no idea what was wrong. A coworker figured it out. Off statins immediately. 4 years later primary prescribes another statin AND CoQ10. Turns out statins deplete CoQ10 causing pain and muscle issues.
Hi Donna, I am new to your site and been diagnosed with fibro for less than 12 months. You are truly amazing Lady. I tried to watch Pain Warriors, I live in Australia and the film is not available here…as yet so they say…we will see!!. Took a long time for me to accept Fibromyalgia, because of pain I thought I was dying from some other disease. So I am working with my friend Fibro, doing lots of mind work, thats getting me throigh. Oils,acupuncture, massages. O.k. days,crappy days,days from Hell. I know its happened for a reason, a huge Block Up. I really just would like to Thank You as your site is the first ,and I feel I have been guided to you. Lovr and Happy Days from Down Yonder.xx
Thank you, Gillian. It always means so much to me when you guys say I’ve helped in some small way. I’m curious … what kind of mind work have you been finding helpful? I’ve beenn exploring that area and am always interested in what others are using. I’m also curious about how you’ve been using essential oils b/c that’s also something I’ve been playing around w/ recently. If you don’t want to share publicly here in the comments, you’re welcome to email me at donna@fedupwithfatigue.com.
Is there any evidence regarding people with fibromyalgia have less tolerance to taking statins? I have tried two and developed severe pain everywhere.
I’m not aware of any studies showing that, but anecdotally I have heard from multiple people w/ fibro over the years that taking statins increases their pain. I took statins a few years ago, and they definitely increased my pain levels – especially in my legs. There are drug alternatives to statins now. I would maybe ask your doctor about those since my understanding is they are less likely to cause the muscle aches associated w/ statins. You might also research red yeast rice and/or niacin … both of those are natural alternatives to statins.
I took statins too and they really increased my pain. My doctor switched me to Gemfibrozil and seem too have less pain from it!
Hi Susan, Marcie’s comment on this post just jogged my memory on something. She is right … I have read that statins can deplete your body’s supply of CoQ10, causing muscle pain, so you might want to research and talk to your doctor about CoQ10 to see if it might help if you aren’t ready to try a statin alternative.