Well, I would have to ask the doc if the disease is going to take it's toll anyway what's wrong with a little pain relief while it's happening? I would also mention to your doc what you said about your quality of life. I sought out a new doc because the one I was seeing only wanted to keep putting me on more and more NSAIDS even though I repeatedly told him I couldn't tolerate them. I went to a new doc and after a couple of visits he put me on Vicodin around the clock and I got some of my life back. I don't usually like washing dishes but the night I was able to stand in front of the sink and clean them was one of the greatest nights of my life.

Don't be afraid to ask for what you need. You know yourself better than any doctor does. You know how this pain is affecting your life and your mental health. Don't let him get away with telling you your pain and suffering are necessary. They are not. Some pain is (injury) but your current pain is not. There is nothing bad about narcotics except when they are abused. Used wisely they can make an amazing difference in your life. Mind you they are not for everyone but you should not be denied that option because your doctor is afraid. One thing I found helped when I went in to see my new doc is writing everything down. I wrote down what my current symptoms were. I then wrote what my concerns were in how they were affecting my life. I listed my immediate concerns and then ones that could be dealt with a little later. He seemed to really appreciate what I did. I tried not to make it too wordy and picked out just a few to concentrate on. Such as, handling my job during the Christmas rush and how 2 years running I had to wear wrist braces because of the pain in my hands, wrists and arms. I think that helped him figure out how the pain was affecting my everyday life. If you do something like that then maybe your doctor will better understand what this disease is doing to you.

Good Luck,
Christina