Back Pain - I am on gabapentin, diclofenac and tramadol for herniated neck, mid and lower spine?

Well I am taking Tramadol 50 m, 2 tabs x 4 times per day, so 8 pills. And that's the limit is the point. They are saying that if this is not doing the trick then I need to be evaluated, the sleep apnea, to see which narcotics next to prescribe, the sleep apnea helps they say, determine which way best to go.

As to the abuse, no, just that I've been on this doseage too long is the point. So, they need to up it to a narcotic.

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What went on for 2 years is that my dr (she) would set up the meds and I'd be fine for 4 or 5 months, then I'd say that something was not right, and I'd go in and there'd be an adjustment and I'd be alright for awhile.
At first the dr. prescribed physical assessment for movement evaulation and they set up a referral (had to have that for my insurance), insurance would pay 400, I would have to pay 1,200. I was not willing to do that.
Then I asked for a physical therapy doctor, and she sent me to a specialist and he said, i can do pain medication management and Steroid Injection, and he offered the SI. I said no, too scarey, the medications are doing fine, I 'thought' you were a physical therapy dr. He said no, well call me when you want it.
Then after 1 1/4 years I said ok, this is not healing at all, I need to have it checked more thoroughly. So dr sent me to a neuro surgeon, he said you are way behind the 8 ball physically unfit, overweight, no activity, your trapezoids are going to freeze if the medical community doesn't help you within a year. But no, I can't do surgery on you, it's not severe of herniated discs in the lower neck, C4, 5, 6, 7... and mid back, and lower back.

To 'me' the ultimate culprit is my mid back, right at the bottom of the scapula, at the last rib there. when I sat in a chair that agitated that area, 3 separate times it blew my body up nerve wise. "But", I've been informed, they have no tests for the mid back. So my MRE of the hands/wrist, neck showed right side aggravation and right wrist, elbow carpel tunnel.

So, then my 2nd specialist prescribed wrist wrap, and returning to the surgeon. Also that he could 'not' do the SI, because I am alergic to shellfish and the dye they use in those instances provides a very iffy murky view in the best circumstances (slim frame, low weight), I am broad at the shoulders and overweight, so he gave me to percentages of 50/50 and death posibility, so I declined.

Meanwhile the 1st specialist who also does pain management would not sign a form for work required for me to remain off work (I was receiving short term disability for awhile)... he wouldn't until I had the Physical Movement Assessment study done, and he now decided that he would not do the SI as originally offered, as after seeing the neuro surgeon's report he couldn't offer that in good faith. He also stated he wanted to set up a sleep apnea study for me to see if I am losing sleep by waking in the night, and that would be one reason I am not healing.

So, facing being fired, I cancelled the sleep apnea study, his reasons weren't very solid for that to me, and I did the MRE for the other specialist instead. And then after that study, and seeing my 2nd specialist for interpretation and diagnosis and suggestions, well at that time, because neither the 1st specialist nor my primary would sign the work papers, I was released from work... no insurance now.

So, I said, ok, I have my meds and I'm maintaining ok...
But then a few days ago the pharmacy said dr refusing to refill. Contacting dr stated she needs the sleep apnea study because it will tell them which way to go with prescribing narcotics. I stated what the 1st specialist stated why he wanted it was not the same reason or else I would have made the appointment, but she disagreed that he would misinform me, he was the most respected specialist in the area.

My wife and I sent three faxes to the 1st specialist stating 'why' are you refusing to sign my off work paperwork? I can barely move, and they released me as a patient because they stated over and over the reason was they needed the sleep apnea study and the Physical Assessment study.

I'm caught in the medical professionals making good on the paperwork with the government and the med insurance agencies in procedures needed. But I am the 'real' case, and I am being docked by the abusers of the system in the past. I hate that.

So, now I am going to a walk in clinic tomorrow and stating my need.
If nothing goes well with that, I will sit here in bed from Sept. 11 until October 6/7th to see if the clinic will refill the prescription plus set me up with sleep apnea and/or Physical Assessment.

I am applying for SSI (2nd time, 1st time they stated percentages showed I'd heal with in 12 month period, I've gotten worse... I don't know if it's also arthritis now, or just the herniated discs shown in the MRI)...
Also I've signed up for the local VA clinic/hospital, and those things take time to set up.

I've asked around, the specialists assistants, etc. and they state that there is really nothing I can do, and that it's a sad situation.

My dr was angry and upset because my workplace required paperwork for every time I went from full to 1/2 time (8 times in a 1 1/2 year period) calling it excessive compared to her other patients only needing paperwork 1 maybe 2 times, for Short Term Disability. My reasoning was that I couldn't work more than 1/2 time, however my insurance rates doubled and I was left with 100.00 x 2 times per month to live on, so I'd go back to full time and had 300.00 x 2 times per month, yet after 3 to 5 weeks I'd falter badly and have to go back to 1/2 time. So that process that I felt I had to take for my family agitated my dr. Plus 2) my stating requesting physical therpy and she sent me to a pain medication specialist who offered SI when I didn't want that, plus 3) the 1st specialist stating sleep apnea was to see if interrupted sleep was why I was not healing over time. shrugs, she just became frustrated with my case, plus she stated she is an internal medicine dr and not a generalist, and really can't help me much.

so, it's a mess.
Looks like I'm going to be in bed for 20 days, and try my hardest to be civil to my wife. :)

Wish me luck.
Thanks for the feedback, by the way. I appreciate it.