@pegsj3
About opioids for pain; by "max out" maybe you mean they would stop helping? Because I know there is such a thing as tolerance, the same dose that helped, after time stops working. I go to a pain management clinic where I'm followed every month. The medications are just a small part of what I can do for pain. But this helps me cope. I wonder if you could find a doctor at a clinic like this. They are experienced in helping with long term care.
In my experience there is a stigma and I am private about taking a small dose of hydrocodone. Also, the original Rx I received is the same amount I take after several years. So I've been fortunate without tolerance, and also fortunate that I found a doctor who sees me for who I am. Not as a sick person.