My name is Carla, I am 66 years old. I have osteoarthritis of a 90-year-old woman, I also have spondylarthritis mid-back. In 2010, I was tboned at a stop sign! This was a miracle I wasn’t killed but resulted in giving me whiplash and a herniated disc in my neck. This is setting on my spinal nerve, causing stenosis. I was told I have fibromyalgia a few years back, but I feel like old injuries from an abusive ex are contributing to chronic pain and fatigue. So I have never been a complainer and it’s difficult to describe my pain experiences . My quality of life is very poor since the drs are not prescribing pain meds nowadays! Sometimes I am unable to function and just lay down most of the day. I was an environmental scientist prior to the wreck and specialized in ecosystem management. Perhaps in the support group, I’ll be able to help others navigate the many options available to help us live with our chronic pain. I have never joined the Support group before and look forward to the discussions. I have found that deep tissue massage helped me immensely, but of course the insurance does not pay for that, and now I am disabled and cannot afford them… Lol. I have tried acupuncture, chiropracty , and massages. In the past, I was able to get enough pain relief with massages , and opiates. My blood pressure remained normal but when I am in pain, I have running blood pressure and it spikes extremely high. I do not understand why doctors feel that extremely high blood pressure and limited activity is acceptable as opposed to taking pain pills and being able To function each day with normal blood pressure levels. Prior to the accident, I was never a pill taker – after the accident I had to resign myself to the fact that I would probably need pain medication for the rest of my life. I would rather take a few pain pills and be able to cook meals enjoy fishing,playing with the grandkids , doing yard work, etc.