[captq4]

My wife and I want to move to NE ALabama to be near our family and I need to find a new pain Mgmnt doctor. My problem is one that I'm sure many others have encountered. How to find a physician that will continue treatment with the medication I've been on for 2 years. Can anyone give me advise on how to do this? I have called a couple of offices but as soon as I bring up the topic of narcotics they assume I'm an addict looking for pills. My workers comp adjuster has not been very helpful and has asked me to make the phone calls and after I find a new doctor she will follow up with the approval. That's another problem as not every physician is willing to take "comp" patients. I have a long established medical history of chronic severe pain, and have been in numerous pain clinics in my area. My injuries caused my retirement after 27 years with a large Fire Rescue Department as a firefighter/paramedic. My story is similiar to others I have read recently. Being bed ridden with pain and depression while suffering through every conceivable type of treatment/therapy known to man other than pain medication. The Dr I am seeing now understands it's about the ability to function as a member of your family and as a member of society. He understands because he too has suffered from chronic pain. The medicine has given me my life back. Not just me but my family also. People who have never experienced chronic pain don't understand how it affects the family! My wife understands and as bad as she wants to relocate near her family she is not willing to go back to the way it was when I was in bed 22 hrs a day. It was horrible not being able to go to my children's ball games, horse shows, family reunions, school events, etc.. We are now the only members of our family to remain in south Florida. They have all moved to either N Georgia or just N of Birmingham, Alabama. The Jacksonville or Gadsden, Alabama area would put us half way between the two. I have searched the internet and found there are several pain mgmnt doctors in or near Jacksonville, Alabama. I could use some advise on how to ask these doctors if they would continue my current treatment.If anyone has any information that would help me find a new doctor it would be greatly appreciated.