Trying to find out why I dont have any energy, and why I have wide spread chronic pain.

I'm hoping that maybe someone on this site might have some suggestions.  Here is my history, I fractured a vertebre in my neck playing football in high school.  It went undetected until around 4 years later when after having terrible headache and neckpain I was diagnosed with a herniated disc and an old fracture.  In 98 the disc ruptured and I had my first surgery (Disctectomy and fusion with plate).  I was good for a few years and then the pain started creeping back.  I started taking pain meds about 7 years ago for this pain. I was also diagnosed with digenerative disc disease around this time and told I would probably always have pain and need to take this medication.  I hated this idea but took the medicine as needed.  Around 3 years ago I started to just feel run down most of the time.  In the past I could push through the pain but now I could not. I was prescribed more meds and had some improvement but then hit bottom again.  I became a lathargic couch or bed potatoe!  I didn't even seem to have the energy to get out of bed some days.  I also started hurting all over around this time. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and depression even though I didn't agree with the diagnosis I took the Prescribed med and did what the my Docs said to do.  My neck pain steadily eleveted during this time and my activities went in spurts I would push through the pain one or two days and then pay for it for a week.  Eight months ago I had another disc rupture and was diagnosed wth two more bulging discs in my neck.  I had another disctectomy and fusion.  I hoped this surgery would reduce my pain enough that I would get my spark back but I haven't gotten my enrgy back although the surgery did reduce my nerve pain.  This brings us to my current state,  I still have a great deal of neck pain and pain in joints and various other parts.  But this isn't what bothers the most it is my lack of energy and lack of motivation.  I go weeks sometimes months without going out of the house( This is saying something since I have always loved the outdoors).   I have tried vitamins, minerals, natural cures, and countless other treatments and procedures.  I just recently went to another doc and had some more blood work done, it came back with neg Lyme disease, Low on vitamin D, and high ALT-75 & AST-43.  This doc said that my chronic pain has super- sensitized my body to pain and also caused this fibromyalgis-like pain.  He prescrided Nuerontin and vitamin D and I have a follow up in a month.

I don't hold much hope that this will help much since I have tried Nuerontin before.  So I have started trying to branch out to other resources, thats how I ended up here.  

I was talking to my cousin the other day after not seeing for some time and told him about my problems.  He told me that he used to be addicted to the same pain meds I am currently taking and said when he was using and for a while after he quit he felt the way I was desribing!  Although I know that the meds are not causing my pain,could they be cousing my lack of energy, depression, and other pain?  If I quit taking these pin med would I possibly regain my energy and motivation?  Or does anyone have anyother suggestions? Also, this same cousin suggested I try an anabolic steroid to get my energy back and get back in shape.  I have never taken illegal drugs before and probably won't try this either unless I find out it is the cure.

[Audarah]

yes, the pain meds could be causing this. In my family, I have sisters and a father who take pain meds just for the "heck of it". My one sister on living her life on methadone AND pain meds! ( what a lovely woman). I'm not even sure how she is getting away with that. Having said that, pain meds can and will wreak havoc on your body. My father ended up with an infection so severe in his lungs he had to have lung surgery. They told him to put down the drugs and they were crashing his immune system. he didn't. Now he has COPD and is barely living.
My sisters ( both in their late thirties) have an ARRAY of issues due to drug usage, including stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers, recurring infections and yes, even joint pain. ( which just makes the doctors give them new meds lol).

I myself, fought a devastating illness for seven years. It wasn't until I stopped taking the pain meds that I improved ( my stomach is still a mess though).

With your liver readings, your liver is already starting to scream at  you. I would at least try to come off the pain meds and give it time. Your body is going to need to do detox. You can look up natural detox methods on the internet, especially liver detox.

It couldn't hurt to try. You have a real problem though that needs real medical attention with the  neck issues. I believe, long standing drug use can also make you prone to breaking things, fracturing things over and over. I could be wrong, but I believe I am not.

Good luck to you.