when my pain was so much worse my pcp sent me to a pain dr clinic.
i get enuf help with medication that i can control the worst of it and live my life.

perhaps this might be an option for you. i know how debilitating chronic, unrelenting pain can be. it saps your physical, mental and emotional energy and clouds all in your world. please don't give up.

Kitty, I can't offer any great ideas for dealing with the big stuff, but I do have one for your texting difficulty: does your phone have some kind of voice typing software? My phone came with Google voice typing loaded on it--maybe yours did too. If you have an on screen keyboard, look on the lower left between the ?123 key and the space bar for a little microphone icon. If you see the microphone, you can tap it to start voice typing.

If you don't already have it, I'm pretty sure you can download it fpr free. You can also download voice typing for your computer.

I hope this is helpful.

I'm so sorry you are having so much pain. Finding the right combination of meds and other therapies can be a daunting task. I hope that your doctor can come up with something to help you. Have you thought of trying LDN? Others on here seem to be doing well on it and it is inexpensive so you may be able to afford it without the insurance. It's worth a try.

As for your kids, I don't know what to say. I am fortunate that my girls live close by and we talk or see each other regularly. I try to be careful about what I discuss with them as I know it stresses them when they see or hear that I'm not doing the best. DD23 gets really stressed out and DD22 gets so worried. Most of my conversations with them revolve around them. I listen to all their silly stories, their woes, etc. Both of them know when something is up though as I don't respond to the conversation as I normally would. I save the other stuff for friends and even at that I am not a big complainer or discuss my symptoms or pains with them. Usually, people can tell by my facial expressions that I am in pain or not feeling my best.

Texting is a great way to keep in touch with the kids as that's how they communicate now. Me personally, likes to hear a voice. But, it's just a sign of the times. Texting is a difficult task with both pain issues and tremors (if you have them) but Joan gave a great suggestion.

Again, I hope you and your doctor finally find something that will work for you.