If the rheumie put you on pain meds, then that should have continued through the rheumie, imo. Don't let them mess with you on that "FED crackdown" garbage. I called my MD on it and she finally admitted that she has other pain patients that she prescribes more meds to than to me. Her main thing is that until I quit driving she won't increase my dosage...as if driving IN pain is safer than driving without pain. But I got her to admit it wasn't the FDA at all.

In fact, they are required by law to treat pain patients adequately. The FDA is just looking for the flagrant dispensing of narcotics for any little pain. Chronic pain wins out.

Maybe you could try another med, one that dosed right won't make you feel worse. I can't tell a bit when I'm taking my pain med, but surely do when I don't. I find that I try to work through feeling bad and finding I just can't do anything..and then realizing I missed taking my pain med, no wonder!

Unless you PT is a Physiatrist, they can't prescribe. Try and find a pain doctor, someone who isn't afraid of the supposed big bad wolf of the FDA