Karen’s Vision - A Professional Recruiter With Glaucoma

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Karen Lustman's story of courage and faith in the plant led her to become healed as well as an exclusive Cannabis Industry recruiter:

Karen Lustman literally fell into the Cannabis Industry after a very long journey. Glaucoma was only the beginning, what many don’t consider are the injuries that are sustained by patients with it due to vision disruption. After she recovered from serious injury due to Glaucoma and more, Karen researched and discovered that a career in recruiting would allow her to become successful in her own work by helping others reach their own personal goals. This was the perfect job for her. Since then, she has consistently worked her way through the industry and has been an award-winning recruiter, sales professional, and manager. Our paths crossed in professional networking recently where she shared her story and how she as a patient entered the Industry. My biggest question was why she decided to move her skill set exclusively into the world of Cannabis. Her story is so intense that I believe all should read it. Among other aspects is pain management which is one of the biggest issues around the world today. Karen not only has a gripping recovery story – but she’s also willing to pair you up with an awesome job as the Cannabis Industry growth remains non-stop and filled with opportunities. Here’s her story…

“Why do I exclusively recruit for the cannabis industry? Simple. Cannabis has helped me survive. I owe it. So I do what I do best – recruit the most passionate and highly-qualified candidates for the cannabis industry. In 2010 I joined friends for a weekend hiking trip in Yosemite. Although I had never hiked before, they were very encouraging I managed to reach the top of Vernon Falls. It was beautiful. I felt totally euphoric! I couldn’t wait to do it again, only next time I was going to climb Half Dome.

Once home, I started feeling like I had something in my eye. It felt like a needle from a tree and I assumed that fell into my eye during the hike. I used eyewash, rubbed it, washed it again, and still, it wouldn’t budge. I went to my MD to see if he could get the spec out of my eye. He looked within and told me there was nothing in my eye but he wanted me to see an ophthalmologist as he thought I might have glaucoma. I had to go home and look it up! I had no idea what it was. Once I got to the ophthalmologist, I was told I needed immediate laser surgery or I would lose my sight. I had no idea what was going on…or why? I ended up having 16 laser surgeries within the first week just to get my pressure down. Normal eye pressure runs 12-22mm I was at 60mm!”

“I was taking 100 drops a day from five medicines. It was so intense that I had a spreadsheet to tell me when to take what drops! It was a full-time job! I was then referred to a glaucoma specialist.

I was diagnosed with Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma, a condition that makes the pressure in your eye go up suddenly. It can rise within a matter of hours and can cause immediate blindness. My kid’s first question was ”When do we get the wacky weed”.

Instead, I was put on more drops and thought all was well. A few weeks later, while driving my eyes started aching and I got a horrible sick headache. My vision was blurry. Fortunately, I had someone in the car to drive because I could not. I was totally debilitated. I called my ophthalmologist and was told I needed immediate surgery. I had to have a stent implanted that would increase the outflow of intraocular fluid. In April 2011 I was in Scottsdale for President’s Club. The resort was beautiful. We immediately got settled and headed to the pool. Unfortunately, the entrance to the pool had a 2” step right beyond the gate. I didn’t see it and fell, first hitting my head, then my elbows, falling to the concrete my knees hit hardest with the full weight of my body then my ankles and feet. I was stunned. I couldn’t move. I thought I was paralyzed. I was picked up and put in a cabana and the paramedics were called. I was taken to the hospital for x-rays but nothing was broken. I was given crutches and a wheelchair to use. The next day we were leaving. I was in horrible pain. I could not walk at all and my knees have swollen the size of cantaloupes. This lasted for weeks. The pain never went away.”

Months later I was diagnosed with Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. The pain stayed steady in my knees but would also move around. Although always in my knees, it could also be in my feet, my ankles, my legs, or my elbows. The sensations I had were never-ending as well. A hammer pounding on the outside of my right knee.

Worms over my knee caps. Hot flashes in my legs. Ice cold blue knees. Pain in my feet was so bad it was nearly impossible to walk. Craps in my legs so bad I screamed. Buzzing like electrical shocks up and down my legs. Tree trunk legs, legs so heavy I had to drag them along behind me. A touch of my knees by a skirt, sheet, or person, would send shock waves throughout my body! I tried pain management, acupuncture, physical therapy, epidurals, and even a spinal cord stimulation test. Nothing helped. I tried pain pills including opiates. Fortunately for me, most of them had immediate side effects so I refused to take them. I ended up living on the pharmaceutical Gabapentin. Some days up to 800mg six times a day! I admit my go-to for pain relief was a glass of wine, a couple of pills, a blanket, and a fireplace! Only then could I escape the constant banging, aching, cramping, and wrenching of my legs. The pain was there, but my mind could go elsewhere.”

“For seven years I continued to see doctor after doctor, always asking the same question…is there anything new for CRPS. Unfortunately, nothing changed until 2017. For seven years I skipped activities that I knew would be too taxing for me.

Running, or even walking was out of the question. My husband is a musician and I love to dance. That was over. But the biggest loss for me was the inability to spend quality time with my daughters. They loved to shop. But I couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes. They went alone to pick out my middle daughter’s wedding dress. Around this time I had started reading about CBD. I had never smoked pot as a teen and had quite antiquated opinions about it. But I was curious.

On a particularly bad day for me, we happened to be at our daughter’s house. Her husband was a passionate believer in both medicinal and recreational marijuana and I asked him if he could introduce me to something that would relieve the pain. He helped me turn the corner. And, finally, get a good night’s sleep.

My first trip to a dispensary was an epic experience. It is my guess that the budtenders are still laughing! However, this young man spent over an hour with me and my husband explaining in detail every single option and how to use it, and what to expect. I had never had any medical professional spend that much time with me in any situation! I was hooked!

In 2018, eight years after my CRPS diagnosis, I went in to see my doctor for my annual checkup. Although she was out, I still asked the substitute if there was anything new for CRPS. She advised me to contact UCI Pain Management. I did. My first visit was daunting. According to the doctor, there were no physical signs of CRPS and my gait was Parkinsonian. I was totally thrown off. Am I imagining all of this pain, the falls, the vision issues? Do I have Parkinson’s Disease? What is wrong with me? Although I didn’t have a diagnosis she understood the pain and knew it was real. She set up an epidural shot and referred me to a neurologist.”

“I met with the neurologist, Dr. David Gerhardt in Newport Beach. My first reaction was that he reminded me of Mike Meyers playing a mad scientist. His computer set up had to equal anything ever seen at NASA and he was intense! Each visit I took either my husband or a daughter as I was totally intimidated by him and the entire setup. I couldn’t answer questions and I couldn’t remember what he had told me to do. He was a scientist. I was clumsy, had vision problems and pain.

However, six MRIs later, he solved the mystery of my life. I was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Syndrome. It affects my ability to walk, maintain balance, vision, and communication.

I struggle with words. Shadows, patterns, uneven pavement, and steps require me to use a cane. (I rock it!) My pain is a variation of CRPS. Although I had always been clumsy, I had convinced myself and others that I was not paying attention to my surroundings. The fall I took in Scottsdale, and many others I had endured were a symptom of the ataxia within my cerebellar.

My vision problems are also systemic. This is an orphan disease with no cure. Mirapex (a form of dopamine) is used to treat the ataxia. However, Cannabis is MY medicine for pain and anxiety. Cannabis has allowed me to manage my condition; keeping my pain at bay and my dignity intact! I attend workshops, study products, follow physicians and companies to constantly keep myself informed as to the best of class products on the market. My doctors are well aware of and support my decision to use cannabis.

I hope someday, I will be able to go to my GP and get the exact prescription for the perfect product to use for all that ails me. Until then, I spend more time with the bud tenders than the pharmacist. And readily try any new product that looks promising for my condition. One thing I know for sure. I will never be harmed by cannabis, nor will I be robbed as I have by the charlatans running big pharma. I am an advocate, I am a passionate user of cannabis, I am a believer in the products, the growth of the industry, the future of medicine as legalization fuels more studies. Cannabis is part of my life and my work. I chose to recruit in the industry because of my desire to participate in helping these companies grow. My offering is to search and find candidates like you and me. Those candidates who have a passion and a purpose to drive sales, marketing, cultivation, to help you reach the goals your company has set. Goals that only the believers with in the industry understand. If you need someone who truly “gets it,” to find top talent for your cannabis company…let’s talk. I’d love to learn more about your journey.

Sincerely, Karen.” Please make contact with Karen Lustman on LinkedIn

It's amazing what this plant can do and for so many people.

Karen’s courageous journey went down so many different lanes as her symptoms seemed to be treated but not so much the disease or injuries that stemmed from falls from it. What’s not so new about her story is the fact she had to research and see several different doctors – persistence paid off which gave her the diagnosis necessary in order to treat the underlying causes. Many times we know that there are no pharmaceutical treatments that will cure us, but what we do know is that the plant can heal us without the side effects of synthetically made drugs. Karen’s story is truly inspiring. If you’re not on LinkedIn she’s also available by email at KLustman@lucasgroup.com if you’re looking for a job in the world of Cannabis. Make contact as she’s a very motivated person that sincerely wants to help people.