Freewill,
A good pain doc can make all the difference in the world. I truely believe that without mine I would not be here! However finding a good doc can be diff at times. I got lucky on my second pain management clinic and the second doc I got there.
You should also know that there are several sites that deal with pain and chronic pain my favorite is the American Pain Foundation. I have seen very few of my pts (am a home health and hospice nurse) become truely addicted to even big time narcotics like MS Contin and OxyContin. If you truely have pain and take the meds only as directed and when you hurt, not for the high or fuzzy feeling then you will not be addicted.
TC