hey all,

I got the results of my x-rays back. The good news is my upper back and my spine look clear, the bad news is that my lumbar spine is fusing. The worse news is that now there's now logical reason for my upper back to hurt worst and my lower back to not hurt much at all. I suppose the fusion in the lower back puts strain on my upper back. Anyway, I really want to get my symptoms under control, whether they're from fusing or muscle strain, or inflamation, I'm at the point that I don't care anymore and just want to get on with my life. Right now I'm on indocin, ultram, and enbrel and I'll admit that they make a small dent in the pain, but its not very much relief. I would use a morphine based product in a heartbeat, but my dr has made it clear he doesn't want to use narcotics. Besides, all that would do is cover up the pain while the disease takes its toll. I've done enough of that already between the time I spent without a specialist just taking painkillers, and the time I spent with a quack who did a complete 180, said I didn't have a problem and took me off all anti-inflamatories. I was wondering where I go from here. How do I impress upon my doctor that his treatment isn't helping enough. Last visit all he did was scale back the ultram, which is reducing my quality of life. I don't want to switch doctors because he seems to really be trying, but doesn't like painkillers. Should I see if he'll add MTX to the mix. Or might a 2 week pregnisone pack get my symptoms under control to the point that I can continue with the meds I'm on now (I really hate pregnisone, btw)? Thanks in advance for any help.

Jeff