New member introduction and question

Hello all,

I have been a fellow chronic pain sufferer for a long time, since at least 2000. I am 41 today. I had surgery on my back twice - L5 S1 spinal fusion and surgery again for complications a year later. Surgery did not help for the pain at all. My sciatic nerve pain disappeared in 2012, just to be replaced by chronic neck pain. Had to go back on my medication again. No one can tell me where the pain is from. My GP decided it stemmed from abuse in my childhood - which never happened. This was offensive, so I found a new doctor.

I am on Amytriptiline. However, I have also been on Clonazepam since 2000. Doctors have told me over and over again it is not a painkiller, but a medication against anxiety. It matters little to me, as it takes the sharpness of the pain away.

The problem is the new doctor has decided to take me off of it. She added an anti-depressent and asked me to reduce my clonazepam intake, which I did. However, the pain has become unmanageable. It gets me to a point where I have to lay down and not move. I get so exhausted from the pain I often fall asleep on the floor at 6 PM. My wife said I looked "depressed" and I am just "not there" . She is right, I am not there. In that state, noise hurts so I also have little patience and end up screaming at my kids. I feel terrible about that last part.

I had to cut back on working hours just to deal with my pain while on medication. I can't imagine not being on clonazepam at all. It would pretty much prevent me from working altogether when I have kids to support. I am self-medicating with a bunch of clonazepam I did not need at times before, but this will not work forever. My new Dr does not understand what being in pain is like. I can't blame her, it's hard to imagine.


In advance, thank you for your kindness.
Has anyone been in that situation before? Any words of wisdom?

Hello & welcome to Healing Well. Sorry to read about what you are dealing with. Has any of the drs ever done an MRI on your neck. If not push for one.

I see you take Amitriptiline which is an old medication often used to treat nerve pain. Does it give you any relief with your neck? Is this new dr a GP or a pain mgt dr? We are seeing more & more drs change up their rxing practices completely different & some will no longer rx certain medications any more. We can thank the DEA & CDC for sticking their noses in the wrong places.They have the idea that drs over prescribe to patients & have implemented so many guidelines that drs are going along with it to keep from becoming flagged. Considering your situation you may want to think about getting under the care of a pain mgt dr.. Granted they are strict & there is no room for any mess ups, but treating pain is their area of expertise.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.