Living with Chronic Pain

While at work supporting my family back in 1990, I sustained a very serious injury to my lumbar and thoracic spines. After 18 years and 6 major surgeries to spine, I still live in severe constant pain. I am totally disabled, dependant on Social Security for income, and can’t find a doctor that is willing to try and help my condition. I live in Mississippi. The worst state in the country when it comes to finding relief from the pain. Problem is, I can’t afford to live anywhere else.

I have multiple areas of injury that clearly show why I have constant pain, but can’t find anyone to help. Frustrating falls well short of how my life is. I’ve already lost my home, vehicles, savings, marriages . . .two times now. And if something doesn’t change soon, I’m going to lose them all again, a third time. All because I can’t get treatment. Every doctor that evaluates me confirms yes, your condition is clear, but I can’t help you. Like I’m a crimminal. From the pharmacy, to the doctors I’m treated as a crimminal. I finally found a doctor to write me perscriptions for Oxycontin, in very controlled amounts. It didn’t totally releive my pain, but put it in a place that I can manage it and be somewhat productive in life.

Unfortunately, the medical licensing board here has suspended my doctors license to practice because he proscribed proper medications for people like me when no one else would treat me. My doctor has practiced medician since 1957! He knows what he’s doing. Now, I again have know one to help. It’s days like this that I wonder why am I still here? I’m not alone, and someday someone has to here our pleas. Sometimes I’d like to bring my pain into they’re lives, deny them access to treatment, and see how they like living in constant unmanageble pain. Let’s see how productive they become in society!