While most of North America slept, 100,000 or so people were partying in Indio, California Saturday night. Even more, like me, watched online as Lady Gaga performed her first (of two) Coachella 2017 sets. If you were sleeping and missed it – Lady Gaga debuted a nice song, “The Cure”, last night at Coachella mixed among her iconic hits and tracks of “JOANNE”, her latest release. As a woman living with Lupus, as much as I love Lady Gaga concerts it was against doctor’s orders to dance in the sun all weekend to await Mother Monster/Joanne’s performance at Coachella. (My team of doctors know me and have recommended that I attend as many JOANNE World Tour shows as possible!) Gaga’s set and the new song instantly got my body moving despite the severe chronic pain my ankle and back have been experiencing due to Systemic Lupus and Osteoarthritis. I was “off the mattress dancing” well after midnight, Lady Gaga and her music are powerfully healing and “The Cure” proves it.
Last week, I participated in a clinical trial for Lupus Research that got me thinking about how music should be studied as an effective therapy for coping with acute and chronic pain. As a woman who struggles with the challenges of living with pain, I have found healing with Gaga’s “The Cure”. There must be a way for music therapists and pain management physicians to collaborate.
It is the middle of April and I should be planning awareness activities for “Lupus Awareness Month” in May, but Gaga debuted a new song and, just like that, my passion for activism and advocacy is lit!
Amanda Greene 