Dear Katrina, I have been going to a pain specialist for about 18 months. They try all different families of medications to try to relieve your pain. It is frustrating because sometimes it takes a long time to come up with the right combination of meds to work. My PS (pain specialist) tried tranqulizers and meds for epileptic seizures. They are also used to relieve pain. None of these meds were working for me and I kept asking him to prescribe oxycontin. He kept stalling and giving me excuses. He put me on a duragisic patch which gave me bad side effects. When I told him he just blew it off. He was writing a new script for the patch, when I told him I didn't want it; I wanted to try the oxycontin instead! Well, he just had a regular temper tantrum. Ripped up the script and wrote one for oxycontin. Told me since I was so unhappy with him, I should seek a 2nd opinion. On January 7th, I did see another pain specialist. I was happy with him and will continue to see him, I think. The first Dr. has apoligized for his trantrum and chalks it up to the stress he is under. I told him "After coming to you for so long, in so much pain, and no progress I was a bit stressed myself! The new pain doctor is keeping me on oxycontin with lortab for break-thru pain. He has also suggested a physical therapy program which I will be starting on Monday. They require you to be honest with them and see them one time per month, especially if you receive narcotic meds. I belive this is a law. Just be open and honest with them. If they don't help you or you don't like them, find another one. Just like a regular Dr. Good Luck to you, Katrina. Stay as far away from the surgical suite as you can. In most cases it will only make things worse. History proves it. Just read the quilt! Love, Cheryl