Follow Dr. Webster on Substack

Going forward, all my new articles will appear on Substack. This will give us a cleaner, more reliable way to stay connected with thoughtful, evidence-based commentary on pain, addiction, health policy, and the science that matters most to patients, and people interested in the health-related topics I write about.

Why Is Chronic Lyme Disease Controversial?

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / February 24, 2018 /

Novelist Amy Tan’s Experience With Lyme Disease On her web site, bestselling novelist Amy Tan shares her belief that she has late-stage neuroborreliosis, or Lyme disease. She suspected she might have Lyme disease because of her mysterious symptoms that included migrating aches and neuropathy, a racing heart, hallucinations, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty talking,…

Body Pains That May Be an Early Sign of HIV

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / February 17, 2018 /

This is an article by Cara Smith. I offer it with the author’s permission for informational purposes. The author and I have no financial involvement. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE HER OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT MY VIEW OR MEDICAL ADVICE.   Photo by Kat Love on Unsplash HIV is a disease that scratches out the…

Marcus Welby, M.D. Is the Wrong Doctor for These Times

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / February 10, 2018 /

The Marcus Welby Fantasy Lives in the Past Many people fantasize about having a folksy doctor like Marcus Welby, M.D. An idealized physician, Dr. Welby didn’t have to worry about malpractice insurance, co-payments, political agendas, interference by government agencies, or bureaucratic matters of any kind. He could be fully present for his patients. Dr. Welby…

Soulmate

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / February 3, 2018 /

Soulmates Unselfishly Connect What is a soulmate? Recently, a United States representative was accused of sexually harassing one of his female staffers after sending her a letter stating he believed they were “soulmates.” Apparently, she did not agree. Many of us understand that soulmates are individuals with a deep connection toward each other. Words alone…

Will Tom Petty’s Death Move Funding for Research Forward?

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / January 27, 2018 /

Free Fall Into Opioid Use “And I’m free, free fallin’ (Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’) Yeah I’m free, free fallin’ (Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)” When Tom Petty’s song, “Free Fallin’,” was released in 1989, he probably didn’t expect that his death would occur in October 2017 at age 66 as the result of an…

Is Your Psoas Causing Your Lower Back Pain?

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / January 20, 2018 /

This is an article by Anne Keiley. I offer it with the author’s permission for informational purposes. The author and I have no financial involvement. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE HER OWN AND DO NOT REPRESENT MY VIEW OR MEDICAL ADVICE. Photo by Sam Burriss on Unsplash Is Your Psoas Causing Your Lower Back Pain? A…

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz’s Mea Culpa on the War on Drugs

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / January 13, 2018 /

A Unique Perspective of the War on Drugs George Shultz has fought the war on drugs. He worked as the Secretary of State during the Reagan Administration when First Lady Nancy Reagan failed to significantly decrease drug abuse with her well-intended, yet overly simplistic, “Just Say No” campaign. He has a unique perspective on the…

Medical Illiteracy Contributes to the Opioid Crisis

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / January 6, 2018 /

Medical Illiteracy Contributes to the Opioid Crisis was first published in The Hill on December 20, 2016. It was designated by The Hill staff as one of the top 5 health stories of 2016. I’ve had the privilege of regularly contributing to The Hill since November 20, 2016. My opinions do not necessarily represent those of…

Gaslighting the Public

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / December 30, 2017 /

To Push a Political Agenda It’s troubling to think that our thought leaders and government officials could intentionally mislead the public. But I was reminded this week after watching “The Post,” a film about the massive coverup that spanned three decades of secrets and lies about the Vietnam conflict, that our government has indeed intentionally…

Unintended Consequences of Limiting Prescribed Opioids

By Lynn Webster, M.D. / December 23, 2017 /

Arbitrarily Reducing Opioids Payers, legislators, and healthcare systems are implementing limits on how many pills may be dispensed to people with pain in an effort to curb the opioid crisis. CVS announced this past September they would limit the number of pills new patients with acute pain can obtain to a seven-day supply. Last July,…

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