Hi, my name is Dee-Dee, I’m 71 and I’ve suffered from chronic pain ever since I had an XLIF spinal fusion 8 yrs. ago. I had ongoing pain in my legs due to some nerve damage. In 2019 I began having terrible pain in my knees. I went to several drs. in my suburban town, but no one could help. I finally went to a knee specialist at Cedars Sinai who immediately diagnosed me with bilateral stage IV osteonecrosis, which explains the excruciating pain. I had a total knee replacement in 2020 but due to Covid it took a whole year to get the other total knee replacement. The second one required more stabilizing further down my tibia. I was referred to a pain management doctor at my UCLA annex due to ongoing pain from my hips down to my feet as well as some newer pain my one arm, and after a lot of testing he diagnosed Fibromyalgia and Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome. I have taken Tramadol and Gabapentin since the back surgery, and now am on low dose Savella for the Fibro which has helped. I have done years of physical therapy, swim in my pool every day during good weather, and done some cognitive behavioral therapy, which has taught me so much about the body/brain connection with pain. Also have some digestive problems. My life has changed a lot since 2016 because I am now limited to a lot less walking. But I still work a bit as an interior designer, volunteer in my daughter-in-law’s first grade class, spend time with my 9 grandchildren, and try to live life as fully as I can while relying on my faith in God. I am grateful to have a very supportive husband who does all the grocery shopping and meal prep and looks after me. Thank you for this forum- it helps so much to see that others struggle too.