Sue, before and after surgery I was sent to pain centers where I received injections with no luck. Then was sent to another Pain management office. 2 weeks later he closed his office after Florida passed the medical marijuana law. I even went and got my card and tried it but didn’t like the effect of it and haven’t used it since. My Pvt MD can only write RXs for Flexeril. I won’t take anything stronger. Mar 10th is the 4 year anniversary of my father’s death who was hit head on by a mid 20 year old OxyContin addict driving a full sized GMC 4 x4 at 90 mph and my Dad in his Chevy GEO who was doing 30 mph. So no I won’t go down that road. I was tolerating the pain until early January when the old pain increased and new symptoms began. A new CT showed severe degeneration of the atlantoaxial joint so now waiting to see how they’re going to treat this problem. But no, I won’t let this get me down . I enjoy talking with other members here as they understand this journey as well. My wife of almost 45 years is my priority and I’ll never become a burden to her. I was 18, she was 17 when we got married and have never been apart. I started this discussion to see how many of us have had to jump through hoops just to see a MD. My wife is to young to retire, I was medically retired at 56 and still a couple of years away from 65. The cost of medi gap plans are unaffordable until you hit 65. I’m under my wife’s insurance and dealing with her insurance company will have you taking blood pressure meds lol. …David