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Whenever there's a discussion of euthenasia we are told that there's no need for anyone to be in pain and that it can be managed, so why isn't it being managed? No wonder people have to resort to taking illegal substances for pain relief.
In Oregon, the physician assisted suicide has very strict guidelines, and only applies to terminally ill patients (for example with an untreatable terminal cancer diagnosis). And, I assume the doctors assisting with it take it very seriously.
Doctors regularly prescribe high doses of pain meds to terminally ill cancer patients trading off significant mental dysfunction for presumed end of life comfort. And the idea is that the terminally ill can't become "addicted".
You are in a different situation. You make well appreciated contributions to this forum, and perhaps elsewhere.
I am not in your situation, nor am I close to anybody who is, but I don't believe that progressively higher doses of narcotics is the only answer.
Many of my patients with chronic pain have been refused treatment by previous caregivers who apparently believed that their pain was not real. Even after undergoing painful procedures and surgeries that failed to bring relief, some of these patients were labeled as drug-seekers when they continued to ask for help. They had to contend not only with the pain but also with feelings of frustration, isolation, and abandonment by those on whom they had most relied.
You need to find a physician that is willing to work with you with different pain management options. You should only have one primary care physician, but if yours isn't working with you, then talk to others.
I mentioned earlier that my parents had thought that Voltaren was helpful for their arthritis pain. Have you tried it? What about the Voltaren Gel?
Also, start looking for triggers of the pain. For example, I have found that certain situations can lead to very uncomfortable back pain.
Sometimes I feel like a useless human being not being able to work.