After living an active, pain-free life for 79 years, I find myseld in excruciating pain due to falling while skiing 8 years ago. I have had about 4.5 years of decent pain relief using a cocktail of meds and a spinal cord stimulator, Then about three years ago, I must have turned my back just the wrong way because the old pain came flooding back all of a sudden. Have consulted with more pain docs than I can remember. Spinal fusion, injections, nerve ablations, chiropractic, and, finally, a pain pump implanted. The pump was supposed to be the ultimate help. But, I only had a couple of days of decent relief almost a year ago. I have had the pump output upped many times with little effect. Pain is definitely your friend.