Thanks for the responses. Yes, my pain doctor specializes and is licensed, certified . . . all of the above in pain management. He's an anestesiologist (sp?????) with 3 years extra training in pain management. He put me through an MRI and a very thorough physical. We tried the epidurals -- yuck! I take a low-dose long acting pain medication. I'd just hate to go back to hydro, as I feel like a new person now. He was not worried at all or so he said.

I live in Washington and go to a pain clinic in a larger city in that state.

I told my doc about this site for support, and that I've read on it that other pain clinics have been closed down.

z