Back in 2005, George Clooney injured his back really badly while shooting Syriana. I think everyone knows that part. What I didn't know, but what he told Rolling Stone was that while lying in the hospital suffering through that massive pain he said he contemplated suicide because he knew he would not be able to live with that kind of pain everyday.
"I was at a point where I thought, 'I can’t exist like this. I can’t actually live.'
I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm, unable to move, having these headaches where it feels like you’re having a stroke, and for a short three-week period, I started to think, 'I may have to do something drastic about this.'"
2005 is not that long ago. He said he tried drinking but it did not really help. I think this is why you see so many people who become addicted to pain medicine or need it to survive because pain can be this extreme. I know some people who live in great pain everyday and I am amazed they are able to even function, let alone be cheery everyday.
He also says in the interview he cuts his own hair. Really?
This was Liz's reasoning behind her addiction to pain killer's. Her back pain was so excruciating she could only function while she was on drugs.
ReplyDeleteI read a similar interview with him a few years ago when he talked about the pain. I can't and won't judge, it must have been excruciating.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Matthew Perry addicted to painkillers because he hurt his back in a skiing accident?
ReplyDeleteMy hubby cuts his own hair, too...he has done it for his whole adult life!
ReplyDeleteMy sweetie cuts his own hair also...
ReplyDeleteI love him. That is all.
ReplyDeleteit's not the first time he talks about it
ReplyDeleteOT:how can you recognize an "all RP" actor? he did Rolling Stone! A magazine where every one is smart and cool (even if i like their political papers)
Don't listen to what George says. He's just trying to make me feel sorry for him since I'm taken now and he can't have me. That man will go to any length to do this!
ReplyDeleteHee hee
My dad was in a horrible car accident two years ago and before he had his back surgery he was in so much pain that he said that dying on the table was preferable to the pain he felt everyday.
ReplyDeleteChronic back pain is so awful, that I can believe Clooney felt that way.
Thankfully, my dad's surgery was successful and he is much, much better.
I am beginning to love George because I think he has this snarky sense of humor and he probably realizes his life and celebrity is all a bit ridiculous. But I have nothing but respect for the immense amount of work he does, mostly without fanfare, in Darfur and Sudan. Yes, he can be smug, but so what. He does good stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing about that kind of pain is that so many people don't believe you, unless they've been through something similar themselves. Even the medicak profession is skeptical about so many people who suffer like this, and that's not a good thing. Glad he got it all sorted out.
I am willing to be his full time nurse. It's a sacrifice, but I'm just that kind of giving girl.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I had a spinal tap I was in such excruciating pain that I thought if I had to live with this all the time I would prefer to die. Fortunately it was very fleeting, but since then I think of people living with bad chronic pain in a whole different way. I've got nothing but compassion.
ReplyDeleteBTW most people don't have such pain with spinal taps, so don't be worried if you ever need one!
i have a muscular disease that causes mild pain throughout the day every day and sometimes gets so bad that even the strongest painkillers don't help (think charley horse pain...for 3 days).
ReplyDeleteit is incurable, untreatable and invisible and something I just have to live with.
thankfully, i've learned to manage it through exercise and diet....and a lot of patience and positivity. that being said....when the bad pain comes along.... i can empathize with what he says. thankfully for me, it's usually only about 3 days at a time.
anyway.....i love him too. teehee.
LOL @Nunaurbiz! Guess his new gf is to make you jealous as well:)
ReplyDeleteKudos to George...
ReplyDeleteI have fibromyalgia and pretty much have daily thoughts about "ending it all." Nerve pain is just about the worst kind of pain there is -- think about when you have a toothache...
I thank Washington voters daily for allowing me at least some semblance of comfort (MMJ!) without drugs, and hope that someday something will come along to help me and my fellow sufferers the ability to live pain-free (WHAT a concept!) without pharmaceuticals AND without fear of prosecution.
That said (thank you all for bearing with me), I can TOTALLY see George cutting his own hair -- it's not like he has any great hairstyle or anything... standard "dude cut." I cut my own hair too (NOT always a good thing).
My husband had a spinal fusion when he was younger and in more recent years has started having excruciating back pain from time to time. I don't believe he's ever contemplated suicide, but it's definitely had an effect on his quality of life and made him very depressed from time to time. So I completely see where George is coming from.
ReplyDelete*affect
ReplyDeleteOkay, this is EXACTLY what I needed to see to smack some sense into me today. I was moping about feeling cranky, and here I am in zero pain.
ReplyDeleteGoGo, you and me both about the good state of WA! I've heard LDN is very good for nerve pain, I know a bunch of MS people who take it, and a friend of mine who also has fibro swears by it. And it's CHEAP, Big Pharma hasn't gotten their hands on it yet. Go to Skip's Pharmacy for it if you want to give it a try, they are the best compounder for it.
ReplyDeleteI have pain in my shoulder and neck ever since a pickup truck lost control and plowed into me in 2009. Most days it's "tolerable", and I say that sarcastically because I have no choice, but when it gets really bad, you could tell me a steak knife stuck directly into my neck would help and I would do it.
ReplyDeleteWhat Enty didn't mention is that George though he had a runny nose and it was brain fluid leaking through his sinus cavity.
In March of this year I herniated a disc in my neck. I had it removed and a cervial fusion at the C5-6 level. It was a week between the time that the major pain started (I'd had symptoms for a while but it finally got extremely bad after I did a heavy workout one evening)and the surgery. It was, without a doubt, the worst week of my life.
ReplyDeleteThe pain was so bad I couldn't lay down, couldn't sleep, could barely function. I was gulping down the maximum amount of painkillers every 4 hours and on steroids and nothing helped. Nerve pain is absolutely terrible and relentless.
I was and am still so thankful to live in a place and at a time where the neurosurgeon was able to fix my problem. If I had to live in that kind of pain I'd be having the same thoughts as George!
I completely understand him. I have contemplated ending my life because the pain in my spine, the feeling that you have molten lava running thru your arm. And there is nothing that you can do to mitigate the pain but medication.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to everyone here who has/has had pain issues, and I hope for those still suffering you are able to find relief soon...and for the long term.
ReplyDeleteI'm recovering from spine surgery #5, a 2 level fusion @ C4-C6. Turns out I had 4 herniated discs, 3 of which were pressing right up against my spinal cord. I have had severe pain issues since my first spine surgery in 2005, but the pain leading up to this last one was the worst. I suffered for more than 2 years...and I will admit, I thought about taking my life a few times. In fact, the day they finally did figure out what was going on, I was driving into the doctor's office and for some reason I said out loud "Grandpa, I don't think I can do this much longer." He died 6 years ago and for some reason I just felt his presence with me, and I admitted right there in the car what I could not bring myself to admit to others. But the truth is, the pain killers didn't touch it, I only worked because I had to in order to survive, and beyond that I had no life other than trying to drug myself enough so I could sleep at night & not be awake & in so much pain. I was at the end of my rope. My recovery hasn't been completely smooth, but it's still better than the nightmare I was in prior to August 24. Spine issues are serious and I wish they would be able to do more for those who suffer with spine injuries. It can destroy your body, your mind and your life. I'm so very grateful for my husband, family & friends, and I'm so thankful to CDAN as it's my daily dose of lighheartedness.
Flowbee!
ReplyDeleteNunurbiz, Ms Snarky..You both made me spit my beer out. Just too funny. That being said for some reason I just love George. Ever since I saw him in "Oh Brother..." I have had a tremendous amount of respect for him. He was that funny.
ReplyDeleteAnd my most sincere sympathies for anyone who suffers chronic pain be it back or nerve. I cannot imagine how hard it must be. Even though my knee is a bitch to me it's still nothing compared what some of you here have gone or do go through. Sending you healing vibes.
Isn't it total bullshit that marijuana is outright banned most places when it's a hell of a lot less dangerous that most serious painkillers? Of course, California took it to a ridiculous level - prescriptions for nightmares? Seriously? But you should be able to get it with a prescription the same way you can get any other drug.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I also think it's ridiculous that pot is illegal, while the much more dangerous alcohol is a-ok. (And for the record, I don't smoke pot and probably never would, even if it were legal, so unbiased opinion here.)
I had a tooth infection once, and for about 12 hours, I would've rather died than suffer that pain a minute longer.
Figgy, there's a Buddhist concept called the "untoothache" that is all about appreciating the misery that you're not suffering.
WAY late here, but HELL YES, Mooshki---that is total bull shit!
ReplyDelete@Rita: Yes this one and the last one, that Italian chick. It wasn't working, so you can see the extreme lengths he is going to to try and get my sympathy! Well, you can't blame the guy for trying, right? ;-)
ReplyDeleteActually, the haircut thing is bullshit. His long time haircut guy is his buddy Waldo who has done his hair for DECADES. The only time George cut his hair himself (that I can remember) was when he wanted to give the character of Seth Greko (From Dusk till Dawn) a "crazy," disheveled look.
ReplyDeleteThe REALLY amazing thing about George is that he has managed to have a stellar, post Facts of Life career. Think about it. He was on a sitcom with Tootie and Natalie! And they were the stars! I also recently saw him on an ep of Rosanne and he was wearing a friction' moose costume.,
ReplyDeleteYes, a big, furry moose costume with antlers.
If he can survive FoL and Rosanne, he can survive anything.