Hi Jerri - welcome to the support group -
Wow! you have a lot going on with your body let alone having so many back surgeries. Am sorry you are having so many pain issues.
I noted it takes you a long time to drive to your specialists.I was just wondering which specialists you see?
As you already know seeing the right specialist is vital to our lifestyles, if you can call it that!!
I understand that you, like the members here, would like to stop hurting. Most of us women understand the part you said about being older and won't be able to play with children/grandchildren. there are a lot of us that are in the same boat. me with my grandkids (all of our kids are grown). I have 2 Autistic grandsons and they don't understand why they can't jump on grandma or play rough. I wish I had better suggestions.
Where you live at is there a University Teaching Hospital? Think I know the answer as you are driving a long distance but was curious to ask.
Have you discussed having either a Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant or Pain Pump Implant done? the Spinal Cord Stimulator (once trial is done) will send false signals to the brain saying there is no pain. It has proven to reduce many chronic pains and reduce the amount of pain meds taken orally. The same is with the Pain Pump Implant where the leads containing the meds are directed in the exact area of the pain site reducing greatly the amount of pain meds taken orally and also the amount going thru the kidneys.
I would hope that your pain specialist and/or spine specialist would have discussed this with you.
If you could let us know a little more of what treatments etc you've had we might be able to suggest more things. Hope you feel better~~
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Take care ~~ God Bless ~~
~~ Joy ~~