I have chronic back pain and it is from my neck on down to the end of my spine. I have it everywhere and it is so hard to explain to my doctors what hurts as they only want to help with one area at a time and it takes years to take care of me. I have had problems with Rotor cuff tears in my shoulders for years and now am afraid I will find myself with frozen shoulders but have no help and the doctors are ignoring me. All pain eventually lands in your mind of course, something has to tell you that there is something wrong with your body, but medicine is so specialized that with a situation like this it is nearly impossible to find someone that isn't afraid to try to help you when you are very complicated. I keep explaining to them that I have heredity issues and if you could find someone to help me. I have a chronic pain site and it is wonderful to see someone really out there pitching. Thankyou so much. Sincerely, Billie

i developed rsd/crps after a work-related elbow injury eight years ago. it was 4 years before i was diagnosed. i do not have words to describe the horrible and insidious nature of this illness.
to top it off, there are people in the medical profession, doctors in particilar, who treat patients as if they're common criminals. one doctor at a renown seattle pain managment clinic told me to "stop faking because there is there no money for you to get", implying that i was faking for workman's comp benefits. little did he know that i would give up all my workman's comp benefits for one day without rsd/crps.
i'm so thankful that nbc and mr bazell are shedding some light on this terrible illness and its sufferers.
thank you.

Hello,I woke up with a stiff neck in October of 1992 with no trauma. It may have been a repetative injury that caused it 13 years ago. I still have the stiff (right back) neck after alot of treatments that included, massage, chiropractic, steroid and botox injections, rhizotomies, all the muscle relaxers etc. Medically no one has been able to help me. I have been on narcotic pain killers for about 4 years now. I took the same amount of Vicodin for 3 years and it only helped me deal with the neck pain. I tried the Duragesic patches but did not like. After 3 years the vicodin still helps, but it is not effective as it was in the beginning. I told my doctor about it, now he wants me to receive treatment for drug dependance. That's great! What about the pain in my neck that still will be there after I'm off the Vicodin? I have been on the same dose for 3 years which definatly shows that I am not an addict but physically dependant. Does anyone have any ideas on any next steps I can take. I am thinking about seeing my doctor about this again to let him know how upset I am at him about this.

Thanks, Bob

Not everyone's chronic pain is from RSD or from illnesses that cannot be seen, as your report stated. I have Interstitial Cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder lining, and it can be seen, but there is no successful treatment. It causes medium to high levels of pain, including right now when I am writing this. I wish you had reported more on the difficulties of those of us who suffer daily in getting the pain medications to treat us so we can live normal lives again. My doctor is always telling me that "the goal is to get you off your pain medication" which she is always reluctant to prescribe. Even though she knows the pain is real and very difficult to live with! Even then, doctors are reluctant to treat us even though valid research shows and the guidelines themselves state that people with pain who take pain medications are extremely unlikely to become drug addicts. I wish more physicians would make themselves aware of how to treat their chronic pain patients. Too many of us suffer when we don't need to be. We need help!

Thanks you for the program. I too have severe chronic pain that physicians used to treat but now do not even allow me to enter their door. My case is different from most: While I was translating the Dead Sea Scrolls during my doctorate at Hebrew Union College my migraines got out of control. The meds the migraine docs gave me caused restless leg syndrome and other pain issues. My pain grew worst than kidney stone pain and it was worse since my pain never subsided. MRI's confirmed these problems but when my insurance company (Humanna) basically lost my records for several months, I could not get my preventative medicines. When Christmas Eve 2000 arrived I had been suffering for 10 days without relief and my blood pressue was over 230/? at the emergency room which was too full to take me. I considered killing myself. Unable to believe I needed so much pain medicine, the physicians eventually thought I was an addict and forced me into an addiction clinic for one and a half years which cost me a half a million dollars since I lost my job and still have not returned to work. My pain is still out of control, but what is a sin is this: physicians will not treat me where I live (Cincinnati) although they treated me in Nashville. The reason for this non-treatment is that since the DEA put some physicians in prison and another one on the neurology staff at the U of Cincinnati Medical School for not treating me, no one will help me now. They just don't want anything to do with me. Since this is not malpractice I have nothing to say about it. Such is the nuclear fallout due to our "war on drugs." My churches have cleaned cities of drugs and restored welfare people to a clean and productive life by helping people in whatever they needed to turn their lives around. The city of Memphis awarded me all kinds of awards. Such irony: I helped clean up the country, physicians' treatments (maklractice) made my pain worse by pills they prescribed, but docs labeled me as an addict which stopped my work among the poor, and now I am the poor. Could anything be more unfairand unproductive?

Dear Mr. Bazell and NBC,

Tbank you for your series on Chronic Pain. I had surgery to correct a deviated septum in 2000. I woke up with unbearal bilateral facial pain. We gave it a couple of months (with medications) to see if it would go away. Then we started to search for help. At first we expected to find a cure. After every medication, nervre blocks, additional surgerys etc. we just prayed for some improvement. At only 39 years old, I could no longer work, drive, be around people, sleep more than an hour at a time. The part of your life that the pain doesn't take control of, will be swallowed up by searching for a solution.

I ended up having brain stem surgery (DREZ) to block pain signals to those areas of my face. It actually took 3 surgeries. It sounds radical, but it was my last chance. My right side pain is GONE. On the left side I do have constant mild to moderate pain. I can function fairy well. The pain does at times become severe. Then I have to take narcotics and go to bed. It is as much improvement as I could get without further injury to the brain stem causing side effects such as poor balance, double vision, and one paralyzed vocal cord. Yes, the surgery and side effects were worth it. When you get to the point that you do not want to live anymore, you will try anything.

I beleive that chronic pain wears you done so much that it will usually lead to other health problems . Some problems are from the medications and some are from the deteriation of your body and mind. As long as I have this pain, I will continue to search for help.

Dear Mr. Bazell,
As a chronic pain sufferer for over ten years I can identify with the people interviewed of finding a
diagnosis and appropriate medical care when dealing with pain. Chronic pain sufferers share a common bond – pain and its devastating effect on
our lives
There are fifty to seventy-five million Americans who suffer from chronic pain and most are not receiving the treatment they need. Many fall between the cracks between private health insurance, workman’s compensation and disability benefits. Others are helpless because of a lack of insurance.
There exists a severe lack of services to specifically address the unique needs of chronic pain sufferers.
Chronic pain is an invisible injury, sufferers are frequently not taken seriously, especially when the cause cannot be ascertained or when they fail to respond to treatment. The medical community must be educated to understand that chronic pain affects every aspect of a person’s life: personality, career, family, social and spiritual.
In order to empower chronic pain sufferers, they have to be acknowledged for the severity of their pain and provided with medical resources to
enable them to make the difficult choices regarding their treatment.
Psychosocial treatment is essential in helping chronic pain sufferers cope with their disease by redefining what is normal, teaching new responses to
pain, grieving for their lost selves, and reinventing themselves.
Pain Connection- Chronic Pain Outreach Center, Inc. is a non profit organization which provides support groups in Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard
and Anne Arundel Counties, Washington DC and a Speakers Series in Silver Spring, community outreach and education and has a national website to
help sufferers, their families and the community.
Our support groups are there to help people explore their options and learn coping skills. We can be reached at: 301-309-2444 and www.pain-connection.org.
Thank you for your series and spreading awareness about this invisible injury.

Gwenn Herman, LCSW-C,DCSW
Director
Pain Connection-Chronic Pain Outreach Center, Inc.
12251 Saint James Road
Potomac, MD 20854
www.pain-connection.org
gwenn@pain-connection.org
301-309-2444 Fax 301-309-2336

DEAR MR. BAZELL
THANK YOU NOT ONLY FOR YOUR REPORT BUT FOR THE COMMENTS YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO INCLUDE ON YOU SITE. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOISED WITH FIRBROMYALGIA AND AS A 57 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH A HEALTH BACKGROUND I HAVE DONE A FAIR AMOUNT OF REASEARCH. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY "GOLDEN YEARS" AND AS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE I HAVE QUESTIONS OF AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER. IF FYBROMYALGIA IS ON THE LIST OF ITEMS SOCIAL SECURITY INSURANCE OR DISABILITY ACCEPT AND THE FACT THAT IT AFFECTS MANY WHY DOES SOCIAL SECURITY TURN DOWN SO MANY WHO HAVE PAID WITH THEIR OWN PAYCHECKS INTO THESE FUNDS AND WHO'S PHYSICIANS FILL IN THE REQUIRED PAPERS (TO WIT I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY BUSY PHYSICIANS CHANGE ALMOST DAILY)THIS IS NOT A PENTION FUND I AM LOOKING FOR I FEEL IT IS WHAT WAS PROMISED TO ME AS AN AMERICAN IN THE POLITICAL LANGUAGE OF AMERICA. IF CONGRESS FELT THE PHYSICAL PAIN WE WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS FEEL I AM SURE SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A SYNDROME THAT HAS BEEN AROUND UNDER VARIOUS NAMES FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I READ SOMEWHERE THAT SO MANY ARE AFFLICTED THAT THE DISABLILITY PROGRAM MIGHT GO BROKE. IT IS A "HIDDEN" SYNDROME NOT OFTEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY THE MEDIA. PERHAPS YOU WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO BRING IT TO THE FOREFRONT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

Read John Sarno: it worked for me. Chronic pain successfully diverts peoples' attention from social/psychological issues that are too painful to face. It takes over people's lives. The cure is to recognize this and think about issues that may be bothering you---the pain will eventually go away as pain no longer works in providing a diversion. The key is opening up and really assessing your life/issues. Everyone has issues and will continue to have them----they just need to be confronted---don't allow the pain to divert you from thinking about them.

Thank you so much for doing this story. Chronic pain is a hidden handicap. If only others could see our pain. You can't understand how it feels to have to covince your family, friends, co-workers, and sometimes even your doctor,of how much pain you are in. Thank you for telling "our" story.

I have had ibs,rashs,migranes,numbness and then major backpain followed by chronic pain. I ,too ,was lucky enough to have an enlightened friend direct me to the work of Dr. John Sarno. This information in his books and lectures has given me the power over my mind and the ability to control my symptoms. The pains are just the minds way of distracting us from what's really bothering us. For those of you reading this blog, please check out the work of John Sarno. It will really change your life.

For the past five years, as a health care professional, I also suffer from RSD/CRPS as a result of a bunionectomy. The best way to describe the disease is an injury that does not follow the normal healing process. RSD/CRPS does not depend on the size of the injury. The residual pain outweighs the injury in magnitude and time.
With the assistance of the media, hopefully it will bring an awareness to chronic pain and educate the general public and other health care professionals.This awareness will help to further eliminate the barrriers toward an invisible disease.Everyone is entitled to the best and most appropriate health care available to treat their condition without prejudice. Being in chronic pain is exhausting.Fighting for proper treatment is equally exhausting.

Dear Mr. Bazell,
I, too, deal with the chronic pain of spinal stenosis and fibromyalgia. The spinal stenosis started in my mid-40's (I'm 50 now), and it has been even more of a pain to get the medical profession to tell me something other than "learn to live with it." I have finally learned to deal with it through chiropractic treatment, massage, and exercise. One of the frustrating things about this condition is that walking is extremely painful--the pain radiates from my lower back down my legs. I used to walk an hour a day for exercise, and now that's nearly impossible. I have, as a result of limited exercise, gained weight, and all I get from the medical profession is "lose it." I appreciate your series--taking pain seriously is the beginning of dealing with it. My experience with the medical profession is that if they can't give a pill for it or cut it out, you are on your own. I'm looking forward to a better understanding of how pain affects the body and better ways of coping with it.

I too am a chronic pain sufferer. I have Fibromyalgia and RSD/CRPS. My RSD/CRPS was triggered when an orthopedic surgeon crushed the saphenous nerve in my left ankle while repairing a spiral fracture of my left tibia.The bone healed well, but as time went on, I kept telling this Dr that I was in more pain. He didn't seem at all sympathetic or curious as to the source of the pain . I finally decided to go to another Dr. I was referred to a pain management specialist, who diagnosed the RSD/CRPS. After countless procedures, being dubbed the "Human Pin Cushion" and still no relief, I went to an orthopedic surgeon in Baltimore, whose specialty is nerve damage to the foot and ankle.This Dr operated and discovered the crushed saphenous nerve,(caused when the origional orthopedic surgeon placed the screws into the rod that repaired the broken tibia) and removed it. It was believed that if the source of the RSD/CRPS was no longer there, then the pain would no longer be there. Unfortunately, the pain continues,and escalates.
I am very fortunate, my family and friends have been very supportive. Last summer, when my twin boys turned 8, instead of birthday presents, they requested that donations be made to an RSD organization. We're all looking for ways to increase awareness and research so that pain sufferers and their families and friends will soon get relief. Thanks for helping!

Dear Mr. Bazell,
A doctor who has had remarkable success with Chronic Pain is Dr. John E. Sarno of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Medical Center and Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Medical School. He believes that 90% of chronic back, neck, and limb pain, as well as fibromyalgia are Tension Myositis Syndrome, or TMS, and he has healed tens of thousands of these sufferers over the last thirty years of his practise at a rate of 90% or better. He urges patients to "think psychological, not physical," for he believes that the pain exists to distract one from painful repressed emotions which are trying to come to the surface, thus as an aid to repression. Once this strategy of the unconsious is discovered and exposed, the pain goes away. His bestseller books, Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, and The Mindbody Prescription, teach this very successful treatment, and many are cured by just reading the books and putting the principles into action. These include John Stossel of 20/20 who was healed after 20 years of back pain, Howard Stern, Ann Bancroft, and many others.
Dr Sarno is still seeing patients at 82 since he has such success with healing them quickly so that their pain disappears completely.

Please everyone with chronic pain read this. I had chronic back pain for 7 years. I went to two orthopedics, Physical therapist,chiropractors and even had acupuncture. My back pain did not go away and I tried my best to live with it. But when you end up flat on your back, it's pretty much impossible. On November 23, 2004 I bought the book that would literally save my life. "Healing Back Pain" by Dr. John Sarno. If you have any kind of chronic pain please rush out to buy this book. By Valentine's Day 2005, I was PAIN FREE! It felt so good! Dr. Sarno says this same concept works for fibromyalgia, joint pain, migraines and much more. You don't have to take pills, or exercise or physical therapy or anything like that. Sarno says it all has to do with the mind-body connection. Please get the book...he can explain it better. The way I found this book is by reading Dr. Andrew Weils book..."Spontaneous Healing". You will not regret it. thanks

Dear Mr. Bazell

I enjoyed your series on chronic pain and would like to tell you about an important advance in the treatment of chronic neck pain, which afflicts so many and costs so much. This has been published in the premier medical journal for orthopedic surgeons. And most interestingly, two articles were simultaneously published that complement each other and validate the concept, which is charmingly as simple as it is effective. However, without corporate sponsorship and without a commercial product, it is likely that this will take way too long to become mainstream. There is a very interesting story here, which I am about describe in a Grand Rounds lecture in two weeks at a major teaching institution in Manhattan. If you are interested in a “new pain in the neck” please contact me.

In February and March 2000, I received two Anthrax vaccinations as I was preparing to go over seas with my national guard unit. Anthrax destroyed my life. I was then as I am now, a single mother of two. My body started attacking itself and I was left with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, Peripheral neuropathy and small fiber poly-neuropathy...and a form of Tourettes syndrome where I can't get the appropriate words out to convey myself. It also caused IBS, colitis and too many other ailments to list. The pain I feel in my legs I describe to doctors is that my legs are always on fire. Besides being a Domestic Abuse Survivor, this pain haunts me....it is hard for family and friends to understand though I am grateful to my children for doing their own research to help me. My military doctors, civilian doctors do not understand and some doctors are downright derogatory. Morphine, vicodin, and a plethora of 32 other meds have caused weight gain (126 lbs. to 184 lbs.). My anger comes from having to fight for my life, having to explain over and over, the pain is real, and even though my medical discharge was (100% disability) I have been left to fend for myself. I exercise and try to make my body work so I can sit for 2hours and watch my daughters basketball games............forget traveling, I have to have two days just to catch up energy after flying to an appointment, ie., Mayo clinic in Scottsdale, Brigham Womens Hospital in Boston, a specialist in Portland, Maine, Madigan Army Hospital in Washington, Wilford Hall Hospital in San Antonio, Tx. I survive for my children, but we do not have any quality of life.............I called my VA nurse today to order another month of narcotics.......I appreciate being able to sound off.

Dear Mr. Bazell,
I want to thank you for this very important series about chronic pain. I have had chronic nerve pain
since April 05'. I have been to a Chiropractor, a
Accupunturist, 3 Neurologist and even have had 3
massages during this time. Each Neurologist say that
the nerve is the radial nerve, giving me numbness on
the top of my right hand, most of the thumb, and in the lower forearm up to my elbow. The frustrating part is that the Doctors can identify the problem,
but cannot find a solution. The pain has caused me to
go into depression, which I am treating now,become irritable,my moods change often,physically and more
important, emotionally challenging with everyday life. The two most emotional heartaches from this
ordeal was a relationship that ended and the inability in the last year to play golf. I started playing golf when I was 9 years old and I am now 43.
Chronic pain makes you become another person that I
am not. You are not yourself for many reasons.I want to get back to golfing and a steady relationship, a
normal life again. Thanks for this important series.

Thank you so much for the story dealing with CHRONIC PAIN. My family and have dealt with RSD/CRPS for 7 1/2 years now when I was diagnosed. The mental and physical pain causes a family is so cruel. Then to deal with everyone else and the doubters....Makes us even more depressed... EVERYONE needs to know that its not in our heads.... I am almost 42 years old...before this I worked full time my husband and I have 3 wonderful children we camped-hiked-fished, etc... now we can not do these things. I would love to go back in
time....

I injured my Brachial Plexus in an auto accident in '02 which has resulted in full body RSD/CRPS. I cannot tell you how much physical and mental pain this has caused not only me but my husband as well. Chronic pain destroys more than the eye can see. What is most disturbing is the lack of knowledge that the medical community has of RSD/CRPS and the way we are treated when we seek help.
Many of us are treated as drug addicts looking for our next "fix", when we try to explain the pain we in we are told there is "no way you can have so much pain from such a small injury".
They have no idea how to handle the ever changing symptoms that can appear at a moments notice, from excessive skin sensitivity, to tremors,to feeling hot then freezing, the unending muscle spasms. EMT's and ER personnel MUST be trained in this disease and how each of us are different, how we have to have pediatric needles, some can't have blood pressure cuffs used on their arms, we can't be bumped and many, many other health issues that right now many people have no idea about.
You could do a GREAT service by bringing this disease to the forefront of the community- We need you help.
I really appreciate what you are doing for chronic pain in general but I ask if you could please profile RSD/CRPS. Thank you.

Dear Mr. Bazell,

I just watched your second segment on pain, which appeared on Thursday night 1/5/06. Since 1992 when I suffered a horrible, almost fatal ski accident, I have suffered from chronic pain. I just had my 13th operation and have undergone every treatment in the book. So I'm following your series with great interest. I have 2 questions regarding tonight's show:

1) How does Dr. Mackay's treatment differ from other sorts of biofeedback? I have had "biofeedback treatments," in which electrodes were attached to my upper right back -- the area of my pain. The electrodes were hooked up to a computer. I sat in front of the computer and watched images of how high my "pain levels" would go in my normal state. Then I was directed to think peaceful, relaxing thoughts. I was supposed to see, on the computer, a direct reduction in my level of pain. This new treatment seems to be fundamentally the same thing -- or not? If not, how does it differ?

2) I don't understand the point of the high technology if all that is going to happen is that the patient will be directed to think relaxing thoughts. Anyone can do that anywhere. Is the point that one will see a different "picture" if one thinks the "correct" kind of relaxing thoughts, and thus be convinced of the efficacy of the treatment?

Thinking good thoughts, with or without fancy visuals, is of course relaxing. But it doesn't go far in combatting hard-core pain. Do the people you're talking to have anything else up their sleeves, or is there something about Dr. Mackay's treatment that I'm not understanding? Pardon my cynicism, but pain treatment is a rapidly growing speciality in which everyone seems to be hanging out a shingle. Chronic pain patients are highly vulnerable to anyone who offers even a shred of hope. I know. I'm been to everyone who offers to take the knife out of my back. Something about how this treatment is new or special doesn't yet compute. The bottom line is: Does it work? Probably as much as a hot bath (according to my experience with biofeedback). So what is the difference between Dr. Mackay's treatment and a bubble bath? I must be missing something.

I injured my Brachial Plexus in an auto accident in '02 which has resulted in full body RSD/CRPS. I cannot tell you how much physical and mental pain this has caused not only me but my husband as well. Chronic pain destroys more than the eye can see. What is most disturbing is the lack of knowledge that the medical community has of RSD/CRPS and the way we are treated when we seek help.
Many of us are treated as drug addicts looking for our next "fix", when we try to explain the pain we in we are told there is "no way you can have so much pain from such a small injury".
They have no idea how to handle the ever changing symptoms that can appear at a moments notice, from excessive skin sensitivity, to tremors,to feeling hot then freezing, the unending muscle spasms. EMT's and ER personnel MUST be trained in this disease and how each of us are different, how we have to have pediatric needles, some can't have blood pressure cuffs used on their arms, we can't be bumped and many, many other health issues that right now many people have no idea about.
You could do a GREAT service by bringing this disease to the forefront of the community- We need you help.
I really appreciate what you are doing for chronic pain in general but I ask if you could please profile RSD/CRPS. Thank you.

Dear Mr. Bazell,

Hi...my name is Sheryl, I'm 39, married with three children (12, 14 and 16)...living the American dream until April 18, 2005. Following a common place surgery on my right foot I was given a referral to the physical therapy department which had 4 little letters written on it. CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)....what did those letters mean? How could something so innocuous sounding completely change my life? Since April 18 of this year my days have become filled with P.T. appointments, water therapy, nerve blocks (injections in my spine with a drug called Marcaine), monthly drug checks, weekly pyschologist appointments.. I was forced to leave a career of 6 years that I was very proud of....instead of lunch with the girls it is now lunch in the hospital cafeteria between appointments.
My loving husband and children have had to learn how live with my disease as much as I have....no longer can we go canoeing, hiking or even just to the mall to walk around. Now in order for me to even get around for any length of time I must use a wheelchair and when not using that I have a walker that I must use. It's not just me with chronic pain it effects my whole family it's as if we all have it. CRPS comprises of so many changes...physical changes, emotional changes...when will it end? Unfortunately in my case it doesn't look like remission will be happening any time soon...instead we all live with the knowledge that at any time the monster can rear its ugly head and spread...We all live in fear of the day when I am filled with this unseen and certainly unwanted pain system wide. My only hope is getting out the story of CRPS/RSD so sometime soon a cure will come about. I'm pleading that you do revisit this subject and revisit often...too many people are living in the shadows of their old lives while coping with chronic pain.

Sincerely,
Sheryl

I am also one who suffers from the chronic severe pain brought on by the invisable syndrome of Fibromyalgia. I as well as many others, continually fight against the medical field to see our pain as real. Many times I see and have personally expierenced (insert your choice - health care workers/friends/employers/family members), who look and treat us as nothing more than drug seekers.

Awareness needs to be brought about that there is a difference between abuse and dependence. Many of us depend on narcotic pain relievers to get through a day even if that means only getting out of bed to move to the couch. Yes, at times there comes a point where our tolerance levels require a higher dosage. Or the medication becomes ineffective and another medication may be warranted. Too many times we are denied adequate pain control due to this misconception.

We do not seek out pain medications for the euphoric "high" that some may provide but the "high" that, "Wow, my pain is gone (or tolerable)and I can do (insert choice - the dishes, spend some quality time with my child/family/spouse/friends)."

We seek that high that we obtain when the depression that pain brings on lifts. We seek the high to be "functional". We seek the high that living feels like, for many of us have forgotten.

Chronic pain in itself causes many other health related issues besides depression. Ask just about any chronic pain sufferer what their blood pressures are now compared to prior pain. Or their BGs, stress levels, diet, physical fitness. The list goes on.

After all isnt Pain the 5th vital sign?

While the focus in the news and talk shows seems to be on the better known pain causing diseases and injuries. I believe that society needs to also know about some of the lesser known and invisable pain causing conditions also. Those of us affected with the latter dont have celebrities fighting for our cause. Our causes are not put out in the spotlight. All too often when asked, the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia brings about blank stares. Or, "I have the same pain there too and look at me." I just say to myself, "Be thankful you dont."

I thank you for doing this series. One that is long overdue. One that does not focus on the abuse of pain medications but the possible causes and treatment. The invisability of pain and the disabling effect.