Advice on what to do next? Please help!

[BP88]

Hello, I'm a 22-year-old male that has been suffering from chronic pain on the right side of my neck and upper back for over five years.  I went 3 years without any type of medication until I was finally introduced to Vicodin by a good friend of mine.  I was addicted for a couple of years and finally enrolled myself into in outpatient rehab program.  Afterwards I received legitimate pain meds (MSContin) from my pain management doctor.

I have tried many forms of treatment and have undergone medical screenings including acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, stretching exercises, lidocaine injections, home redmedies, OTC medications, MRI's, CT scans, X-rays, etc. and the only thing that truly helps with my pain are the narcotics.

My family makes me feel extremely guilty for taking the medications because they're aware of the addictive qualities they possess thus leading them to believe that I'm seeking out drugs.  I realize that they don't quite understand what it's like to live in my shoes but it's very frustrating when my parents lecture me multiple times a day about the dangers of pills.  I just want to be able to live a life without pills but so far it hasn't been looking good.

My pain doctor told me that my pain would never go away and that my last chance is a radiofrequency ablation which I have scheduled for later this month.  My pain has ruined a lot of things in my life including social relationships, sexual relationships, career paths, motorcycle racing, etc.

Are there any other options if the RFA doesn't help?  Please help me; I don't want to live like this anymore.  I feel like a total deadbeat just lying around the house and only working three nights a week at a local bar.

Thank you so much

[BP88]

Okay, update on my RFA.  The RFA seemed to have helped a little bit but I am still in fairly debilitating pain.  I suppose some relief is better than no relief, though.  I'm going to try physical therapy which should help even more.

[slowmoe1950]

I just wanted to post and let ya know i myself am a ex drug attic and I have chronic pain I recently went to the pain clinic where my family went in with me and told the dr I was a drug attic and not to give me any pain meds but they started me out on freaking hydro's which ***** but i guess i had to start somewhere since the only thing i had a legit script for was tramodol I hope u the best man and i know what its like and no i dont think they understand to be in pain like we are im really pissed about them telling the doc im a drug attic but i cant let them know that anyways good luck man and does anybody see the pain dr moving me up on my meds since that was only my first visit????