you are so right mikee. I tell my doctor I don't know what I'd do without him. He allows me to have a "life". It's the difference between just sitting all day on a chair or in bed, not functioning or being able to do some ADL's, socialize and getting outside (maybe not everyday)... but function and feel "human".
I failed narcotics (do use MSO4) and use fentora buccal prn which is a godsend. If I could tolerate the fentanyl patch and not have the skin breakdown, I would have much better pain control.

I decrease my medications when I feel better and use it as he RX on bad days. WC the last 4 years has been taking me to court due to fentora (because the price keeps increasing). "They" don't look at ppl as an individual. One doctor that did an IME (never saw me and didn't have many of important notes/judges' opinions, i.e ...36 missing pages), stated the reason I can do this or that is b/c the narcotics make my "brain euphoric" that is why I feel better! None of my medicines make me high or euphoric. They just don't believe this. I was getting sick of trying to educate "lawyers" on chronic pain vs acute pain. That doctor even stated I probably even could surf or run a marathon. It was like the Twilight Zone! It is hard enough to ambulate 20 minutes and drive. I don't mean to complain but my goodness! AND I never did either when I was well.

Games. This was 1 1/2 yrs ago. So now they wanted a monetarily settlement (I am under an old ACT--WC if I can't work get it until I die) so they wanted to settle...or I had to be a telemarketer full-time. I could not do that. Each day is uncertain and as you know mickee, with the history you wrote, there are days better or worse than others and of uncertain duration. So I loved the terms...I am signing... (the judge said they had a stack of more jobs to interview), "I am of sound mind "and NOW "my mind is not AT all affected by any medication/s". It wasn't to begin with but, how they would try and push the issue by someone who never saw me.

Most people don't want to rely on medicine to function. I don't. I am so tired of WC, pain, and the "news/TV"...that everyone on an opioid is an addict! I can take decrease morphine on a good day (besides the meds for neuropathy,) and have no withdrawal. I can increase it when my pain is bad. Like I stated, MSO4 doesn't really help the cervical torticollis (neck deviation) and associated fascitis, fentora does (brings it down 2-3 points). The botox has stopped the daily migraines and has been a blessing. "We" just want to try to live a "life", looking for help to improve our quality.
Often ppl like us feel alone because of the physical consequences of the injury. Seeing people our age so active, living in their homes, traveling, etc, isolates us and adding insult is the attack on what helps our pain.

Then like you said about the govt., innocent ones caught in the crosshairs. In my county, it seems to be getting worse. Big cities are 30-45 minutes away but now their drugs are flowing in here. My son-in-law is a State Trooper and daughter an RN like me. The cases not broadcast to the locals are staggering. We are getting hit by drug addicts abusing and stealing them...plus the government making it harder for doctors to dispense them, some are closing their practice. That is the frightening part.

Well God bless you mikee; 17 surgeries wow. It is wonderful you have a supportive wife. My husband is deceased. My friends are wonderful and my daughter and family.
Hope to chat again soon. This is my first time on a "site". It does seem like you have a story of your own to tell and you have been through quite a lot. Maybe you can tell me ways you deal with your pain and what you have learned from the Mayo site. Do take care and thank you for replying. It was very encouraging to me.