@sbb4512 I have fibromyalgia, sjogrens, RA, OA, Lupus, CMT with 8 surgeries, degenerative spinal disc disease on and on. I’ve had over 25 surgeries with knee surgery coming up.
I’ve been unable to find a doctor willing to address my chronic pain. With the “Opioid Crisis” being center stage, many chronic pain sufferers are left without treatment. Maybe the state of Oregon has tougher laws but no one will discuss any pain meds with me. There is a highly regarded surgical rheumatologist/professor at our large teaching hospital in Portland, Oregon Health Science University or OHSU which is 1 1/2 hours away from where we live. He is willing to do the surgery to implant the pump but wants me to have a provider nearby to refill the pump and take care of any problems. No one will do that. I have been taking Tramadol for 35 years but I don’t think that helps anymore. I’ve tried epidural injections in my low back and it worked for 2 weeks. It would’ve been better had I not felt so great only to have my back pain come back.
I guess I’m asking what you did to have a doctor listen to you. I’m tired of lying down with my joints and muscles feeling like they are on fire.