I have a number of health problems. I have severe arthritis in my right leg and hip. I use a cane or walker most of the time. I'm on oxygen 24x7 for C.O.P.D., and I have been fighting with depression for 20 years. And I'm in so much pain at night that I'm up and down all night. My doctor put me on morphine 12 hour caps.

My chronic pain is severe. I have been going to pain clinics since approximately 2000 and have been taking Gabapentin for that time. Also, I have been given spinal injections about every six months. So far these procedures have worked. I am told that spinal injections tend to "not" work at some point. I hope not because Gabapentin has limitations, causing dizziness that does not go away at higher doses.

My Father is 82 years old and is suffering with chronic arthritis in his hip. He also has a defibrillator pacemaker which I believe prevents him from some of the treatments available. He has had many steroid shots and they have never helped. His doctor said he could not take NAIDS because of his heart. He has taken vicodin but he gets severely constipated. So, his quality of life is terrible. So if anybody knows of any treatment my Dad could use please let me know.

Everything in this article is true and please take it to heart!! It is quite simple; you control the pain or the pain will control you. My regret, not taking more pain medications. Every day I face a choice to be in bed or take the pain pills. I have support from my family and friends every day. They encourage me to take my pain meds because everyone else especially the doctors tell me not to. They are afraid for their license, cost of meds and who knows what else, but not concerned about patient well being. There is more ignorance among doctors in the chronic pain field than anywhere else. The information is there they just want to close their eyes to it!! They would rather have patients suffer in pain than do what is medically appropriate.

I have been on many medicines. The most effective for me was oxycontin. Methadone works well also, but duragesic made me too sick to tolerate even after being on it for 6 months. Dilaudid worked for a time but has a fast tolerance rate. Be careful with this or any strong opioid.

I have had chronic pain for the past 9yrs. I've taken Oxycocets then went to OxyContin 80gms. I have been on them for about 7 years. My doctor told me I would probably be on them rest of my life, but now my doctor got suspended in giving out narcotics.