@lyssia

I'm with you totally.

Jim

yes, i agree with you and thank you

I have to start writing the Governor and legislators against the latest bills they want to impose in PA further, restrictions regarding the usage of opioids and benzodiazepines. I have a wonderful pain/rehab doctor who is one of the latest to close up practise. Since 1999 I have gone to him and not many are around as knowledgeable as he.
Another great site I found today regarding pain, focused more on fibromyalgia (which many of us do get due to the causes of our chronic pain) is http://www.osher.ucsf.edu. I watched Dr Andrew Gross, Director of the mini Medical School discuss thoroughly fibromyalgia (causes of pain, the pathway, receptors and location of them, the types of drugs that target different receptors and why they technically should work). Anyone can understand this compassionate doctor and even more about pain. The recommendations are for anyone with pain and I appreciated the way he didn't talk "down" and make people feel it is all in their heads. He explained why medications wouldn't work. On YouTube I watched him and he even gave his email! He stated Flexeril (a muscle relaxant) is not used as such for fibromyalgia but acts more like elavil, impedes norepinephrine to decrease pain. Also, the use of the pain medicine Tramadol (synthetic opioid agonist he really doesn't care for with fibro) acts like a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor i.e Cymbalta even though it isn't.
I need to constantly review new science journals and research to find what is out there. This video is 2011 but still the content is valuable.
Also, Mayo has an online site I read concerning medication you take and genetically they can scientifically study why/why not it would work for you. Very interesting. Believe your doctor must apply and submit the forms.

Dear jlfisher---thanks for the vital information you posted. I gathered info about the OSHER Center, which I was happy to find located one block from my medical plan---Kaiser. I couldn't find info on Dr Andrew Gross. PLEASE POST CONTACT INFO for my follow-up endeavors.
I've been with Mayo "Chat" just a few months and learned so many remedies to try with Fibromyalgia. I'm astounded and bewildered that my Kaiser doctor has offered no concrete recommendations for treatment, care, or alleviation of my discomfort and pain. Several years ago during my "annual" visit, I told him I was barely coping with it all. He just looked at me and said nothing ---(my 40 minutes must have been up)............So, I guess I'm on my own to heal myself, my $1000/monthly membership fee notwithstanding.

Jeanne

Thanks for the information about this site I will look into it .Where in Pa.? I lived in the Pittsburgh area ,now in Calif.

Jeanne,Lioness here for the past 30 yrs I've been fighting this ,mines pretty well under control now but Dr.,s,think this is in our heads ,it's been just recently some Dr,s,believe us now Rheumatologist Dr,s do.

ADDENDUM TO MY (jeans') POST ABOUT THE OSHER CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE/SAN FRANCISCO, CA:

I want to add information about a repeat PBS program (CD & BooK) called "Forever Painless, End Chronic Pain and Reclaim Your Life In 30 Minutes A Day" by Miranda Esmonde-White. This is NOT just another excercise program. The philosophy she presents is comprehensive and common sense and based upon the latest research into chronic musculoskeletal pain. Yes, I'm a believer after watching the program and hearing what several participants had to say about their experience with the regimen. Please look into this program and see what you think.

Jeanne

I just finished listening to Dr. Gross interesting ,he brought some information I wasn't aware of Thanks I enjoyed his talk and now understand one more symptom I have is related, boy, this is a fun? Disease lol I'm goi fing to see if I can find what Jean said about the PBS program now .

Thanks for this info.I will see if I can find it.

JenniE found Dr. Gross on You Tube just under search type his name There are 3tales I listened to one so far.Linda