I have never joined a community, but I am at my wit's end. Most people have back pain of sorts, but mine is considerable and only getting worse. This all began almost 2 years ago...it began in one shoulder and is now in both, also in my neck and radiates down my arms. I have 6 kids, I am a full-time bookkeeper, and a full-time college student. The pain barely allows to me to function, much less be able to do what I need to do each day. Long ago, I thought it was just a typical sore muscle from working at my desk so often (and of course I already have a messed up back from pregnancies, which included twins). After about 5 months of it not going away and worsening nearly every day, I sought out a doctor. I had just recently moved and did not have a doctor, so I went off the referral of a co-worker. At that office, I was treated like I was looking for pills without the doctor even doing an exam. Confused as can be, I went to another doctor. She was a little more helpful, but by the time I saw her the 2nd time, she wanted nothing to do with me. After this, I started to research and that is when I learned of the drug epidemic. We all know the story, so I won't bother sharing all I have learned. As time went on and the pain spread, I did wind up finding a doctor who helped me a little. We tried nerve medicine, tylenol, ibuprofen, muscle relaxers and narcotics. I am being as honest as I can by saying nothing worked at all except the narcotics. My doctor gave me a prescription of 5/325 (10 of them) every 2 weeks. I didn't have to fill them every 14 days, as I'm sure most of you in chronic pain know that all our days are different. Sometimes I could barely make it to the 2 week mark, other times I didn't fill another prescription for a month. Well...here I am today with no doctor to help again (my current doctor was very nice, but said I have to go to pain management because he doesn't know what is wrong with me). I am very stubborn and do not want to MANAGE my pain without knowing full well what is going on. I have to mention that after almost 2 years, I still haven't gotten anyone to do an MRI or anything. In February of last year, he did one xray on one shoulder and said that my bone was no longer in socket, but gave no explanation as to what could have happened. I have taken to the internet countless times and many sleepless nights. I have deduced that the muscle tension in my back has literally pulled my shoulder out of socket. But where is this tension coming from? My latest suspicion and the only one that makes the most sense is I suffer from Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I have all the symptoms and most of the causes explains my life perfectly. The biggest kicker for me was learning how sufferers of this don't respond to, get this...otc medicines (not strong enough), muscle relaxers (not a spasm, so nothing to relax), nerve medicine (duh), etc...it is the pain medicines that work because that is what I suffer from...PAIN! But I can't get anyone to listen to me and help me. I do as much natural stuff as I can (dry needling, yoga, massage, vitamins, exercise), but I still suffer every minute of every day. How do I get a doctor to listen? Where do I find help? How can I get them to understand that I am not a druggie!? I want help and to be fixed...I don't even want to live my life on medication. I am now depressed and can barely function as a mother. Anyone...please, anyone...I need advice and help. I thank all of you who took the time to read my post.