Cross-country bike ride raising awareness of chronic pain travels through Eastern Kentucky
GRAYSON, Ky. (WCHS) — An Arizona man is riding a motorized bicycle across the country to raise awareness for people who suffer from chronic pain. Friday morning his travels took him through Eastern Kentucky.
Joe Jackson calls his trip “Lisa’s Ride.” She is Jackson’s late wife who passed away last year. He is making the trip in her honor, and began the journey in Lake City, Florida
“I am making this trip so other people don’t suffer like my beloved Lisa did,” Jackson told Eyewitness News.
Lisa Jackson died last year of a chronic pain caused by a rare disease comparable to metastatic bone cancer. Jackson believes his wife would still be alive today had her doctor listened to them.
“Lisa had 3 1/2 decades of progression in 3 1/2 years. That’s insane,” Jackson said. “Nobody should have to go through that, nor should anybody be forced to endure that kind of pain, especially when we have FDA-approved medications.”
Jackson said there are doctors who take the time to listen to their patients.
“But the vast majority of them, from my own personal experience and the experience of thousands of others I have met on this trip, it’s the exact opposite,” Jackson said. “We are treated as a number and a way to finance their practice.”
Since beginning his trip, Jackson has made more than 30 stops, listening and documenting stories of chronic pain from the public and advocates.
“About 90% of the people out there advocating are the people like myself, sufferers ourselves,” Jackson said.
Jackson has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. He believes the trip is probably speeding up the disease and he may not be alive this time next year, but he still presses on in honor of his late wife.
“I hope she is proud and happy that I’m doing this,” Jackson added.
Filed under: General Problems
I hope his journey is successful.
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My pain (and stress from this pain) has made my blood pressure go off what the bp cuff can measure. All last night. I had trouble catching my breath despite the catapress, lisonapril. hctz, etc. In am trying to be productive in my house and garden but vericose veins are becoming roadmaps on my whole body. If this kills me, I want andrew kolodney to know what he did.
My doctor cannot find a cause and believes it is my pain levels from my multiple spinal fusions in the past. I believe so to. But pain is pain, andrew.
If anyone communicates with him, let him know that MS and Parkinson’s can be cured. The answer is on http://www.sevenpillarstotalhealth.com.