I had planned a different note, but as my symptoms have worsened over the past few weeks — I need to rant and address the issue of chronic pain (moderate to severe). Please forgive my tone — the pain has been worse for a while and I’m feeling rather down about my declining health in general.

I’m tired of living with pain. I’m fed up with it, disgusted by it, and wondering why pain management is restricted to certain populations, while others are told to just “lose weight and exercise more.” It’s immoral and, in my opinion, unethical.

I experienced a merry-go-round when seeking pain relief this summer. I have a prescription for Tramadol, which the doctor gave me with the caveat that I would only take it if the pain is severe. So living with moderate pain is acceptable? That’s criminal. I broke all the tablets in half and I usually ration them — what if they won’t renew the prescription if I run out?

I’m also a registered medical cannabis patient, have been for a few years. That helps somewhat, but it’s expensive, heavily restricted, and comes with its own problems. And if I go out of state, I have to leave it behind. This leaves me with Tramadol, which is also restricted and no guarantee they would prescribe it again. What remains?

Someone suggested pain management clinics. I researched them, and learned there are lots of non-drug modalities for easing pain. Great, sign me up! The catch is that I have to be an active cancer patient or referred by a hospital’s own specialist to be assessed (waiting lists). Seriously?!?

Not dissing cancer patients at all — my family has been full of them. My argument is why do I/we have to be cancer patients to be treated for chronic pain? This is a quality of life issue that no one should have to live with.

I tell each doctor — I need help with pain management, and I’m following all of your rules. Then I get shuffled off to doctor after doctor, they all give the same advice. OR they tell me that I have these illnesses, and “you know, chronic pain is part of your illness.” They say this with a “just shut up and accept it” look. Sometimes they tell me that I’m “too young” to be living with this. Well, my body didn’t read your case studies or textbooks, so what can I say? The pain is real, I’m real — treat the patient, not your statistics.

I would say that they don’t know — but they DO know. Better pain management options exist. Why don’t we have access to them?

I would love to know if CI warriors have tried to get help with chronic pain. Have you succeeded? Or did you have similar challenges and brush-offs? Drop me a CI note about this topic. I look forward to learning of your experiences.