Reply #48: I, too, suffer from constant pain. [View All]

[chasitynola]

I have spondylolisthesis and as I get older, the pain grows. Just sitting here in my computer chair reading DU for the past hour makes me feel as though I cannot stand back up! Thankfully, I found a great orthopaedic clinic and a wonderful doctor who treats me with respect. He is an older gentleman and I fear for when he retires. It is not easy to find someone that will make your life comfortable. I went through chiropractic care, massage therapy, physical therapy, etc. The pain meds and gentle daily exercise are the only things that make my pain bearable. I do not want to stop my life because my back locks up! I have a three year old and I refuse to be inactive.

I went to the ER about two years ago with a very nasty gallbladder attack. When the admitting nurse asked me if I was on any medication, I made them aware of my hydrocodone dosage (7.5 mgs) and my soma muscle relaxers. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I was treated from then on like a complete crackhead and they looked down their noses at me for the rest of my stay. It was humiliating. I never want to feel that way again. If I hadn't told them about my maintenance meds, they could have given me improper dosages of the meds they did prescribe! What to do?? Lie?

I will never let another hospital treat me that way again.