Hello @judyringelestein, welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself with the other members of the chronic pain group. Would you mind sharing a bit more about your shoulder and knee pain? What are the causes or diagnoses? I can help find some relevant discussions for you to join.

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The doctors have given me no name for the knee pain but I believe it and the shoulder arthritis. I've had a cortisone shot in one shoulder that did nothing for me. I then went to another doctor who specializes in sport injuries. His shot worked wonderfully. I have an apt for the right arm I reinjured in a fall. That injury hurts mostly at night and is very bad. I'm trying to discover the position to have it in at night. I walk with a walker in the house (one upstairs and another downstairs) and have a walker at each of my children's homes. I have to use a scooter for any out of the house errands or travel. Thank god I have one. I've use it in South America, Mexico, US, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, on cruises, etc. A lot of my pain is just general all over pain.
Judy

I believe perception of pain depends somewhat on your age. As I'v aged (75) I tend to let pain take its course thinking "Oh just another pain." instead of going to the doctor for new pains. My son( 50) gets upset about it and wants me to go to the dr. right away. Because anew pain he experiences gets his attention and he's not used to just accepting it along with other pains.

I am also 75. And I envy you. My pain is so intense some mornings i can barely get out of bed. My mix of spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and degenerate disc disease does a number on me. I have a good pain doctor who is always trying to find some way to help me. I get easily discouraged.

What kind of doctor do you see for your back? I was just diagnosed with some of the same back issues you named. Thanks, christine

I'm not sure if that question was for me but I will attempt to answer. I've had two spinal fusions. One left me with debilitating pain and the other one supposedly saved me from imminent paralysis. I have no residual pain from the second one. So, of course, i saw surgeons at that time. Now I see only a pain doctor for my back. He is encouraging me to see a "back doctor" even though I constantly say that I refuse any and all elective back surgeries. He's a good, decent man and an excellent doctor but he keeps a tight reign on pain meds. As long as there are people on street corners selling, for instance, vicodin at $10.00 a pop, it will get more and more difficult for people like us to get help.