Bill, I feel similar to you. I feel that I'll have to live with some kind of pain the rest of my life. Right now I am in pain and take all my meds prescribed and just go on with life. I just figure this is what I have to do. Maybe seeing a counselor like you suggested might help. For now I am trying to think positive and set some short term goals for myself. Over the past couple of years I have been in and out of the hospitals for pain management and surgeries.
I have almost lost my job for calling in sick to many times. The last two years I was in the hospital right up until the day before Christmas. My goal I keep telling myself is "I won't be in the hospital near Christmas this year". Lynette