Slowly and painfully, Jim Connors lowers himself to the floor of his home late on the morning of Tuesday, April 10, in Santa Barbara, Calif. Connors rarely sleeps in his bed because he cannot find a comfortable position, even with his potent opioid regime for chronic back and leg pain. Just about every day and often many nights, Connors finds some respite from his pain by placing his back flat on the carpet with his knees bent and feet flat on the floor. It takes him a long time to get down on the floor and an even longer time to get up, which presents a challenge unless there is some object nearby that will support him as he grabs and holds, grabs and holds a few times until ever so slowly, he pulls himself to his feet. (©Stan Roden)