What are my options?

[kjoy85]

I'm currently unemployed and uninsured. I have firomyalgia and have been in chronic pain at least since I was two. The leg aches and sensitivity to pain has been compounded by the innumberable injuries to my ankles, knees, and right shoulder over the years. Because I don't have any insurance I don't have a regular doctor (I have to see whoever is available at the community health clinic when I get sick) and I'm not recieving any pain management treatment.

I feel like I'm stuck in a catch-22. It is hard for me to work on a consistent basis because of my health, but I don't have any real way of treating the pain because I don't have insurance and can't afford to pay for meds and stuff out of my own pocket without a job.

Does anybody have any suggestions for what I can do? I feel like I've hit the end of my rope and don't know what else to do.l

[kjoy85]

I went online last week and applied for medicaid through my state. I haven't heard back from them yet. I'll keep everyone up to date about how I'm doing as the process for medicaid progresses.

[kjoy85]

I know that there are no doctors on this forum, but I know that the experience of others can be very helpful.

I haven't tried to get medicaid through my state because until last year I've had insurance. I was diagnosed with fibro about 10 years ago. That was several doctors ago. I don't remember what tests he did to diagnose me, I remember that it was mostly a process of elimination. The doctors at the clinic don't want to prescribe me any meds for my pain because I never seem to see the same one more than once or twice, so there is no relationship and trust built up with them.

The doctor who diagnosed me was one of the first ones to actually listen to me about my pain and I feel like the doctors don't listen to me because I am young (I'm only 25). I hate being discounted because of my age. When I was little the doctors would tell my mom that it was "just growing pains" and that I would grow out of it. Well, I haven't grown out of it and it has gotten worse over the years.

The only person in my life that really has any understanding of what it is like to be me is my mom, she has fibromyalgia too and also back injuries. We both get frustrated with my lack of access to decent medical care. I'll look into getting medicaid.

[namnam46]

HI kjoy,

I ant to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum as this is the first time that you have posted a question. I want you to understand that there are NO Doctors on this Forum. We are ALL CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that help each other through our own expertise and experiences with our own CP Issues.

I'm sorry that you have all of these problems.  You REALLY need to try and get Medicaid through your state. That's about the best way for you to do this.  Have you EVER tried to get it before?  If not then you need to keep going to the Community Health Clinic.  

I wish that yo could work then you WOULD have incurance and be able to get to a Doctor.

Who diagnosed you with the Fibromyalgia? This is important as that Doctor should be the one to send yo to a PM (Pain Management) Doctor. Why does your Doctor at the Clinic NOT want to prescribe you any meds for  your pain? What tests have they preformed on you to be able to give you a diagnosis?

I'll be looking for your answers and updates and maybe we can be of more help to you!!  I wish you the very best and look forward to your updates.....Sherry  :)