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Hi Carol: I agree with everything that Dr. Fee mentioned, but having worked with chronic pain patients for many years now, I also have a concern about the meds your husband may be taking. You didn't mention specific medications, but if he is taking pain meds (either prescription or over the counter), or being given pain meds at the ER, I would worry about him being addicted to these medicines, and/or what they might be doing to his body. While pain medications are often necessary, we can have withdrawal symptoms from them, in fact, because of how they are prescribed, we can go into withdrawal EVERY NIGHT from them. When that happens, not only do we have the withdrawal symptoms that include agitation, anxiety, insomnia, sweating, but pain actually increases.  What does your husband's physician recommend? If, for instance he is refusing to prescribe pain medications, you should ask him why. What we have found in my practice (from over 2 decades of pain management) is that people sometimes have to go to a hospital to detoxify from their pain medications. The strange thing is that their pain does not get worse after they are off all the medications. In fact, my patients usually report a decrease in overall pain! In any case, the two of you should go to your husband's doctor for advice. I worry that if you go to the ER too many times they will refuse to give your husband medication.  In the meantime, go to the website, Chronic Pain Connection for more help.   I hope this helps, Dr. Diana Walcutt The Stress Masters   *Dr. Walcutt is a Psychologist, not a Psychiatrist. Psychiatrists prescribe medications. Psychologists study them, but the majority of Psychologists are not authorized to prescribe meds or give you specific advice about them. Dr. Walcutt's answers are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental disorder. Any information given in a post about medication is for educational purposes only, and primarily to aid you in having an informed discussion with your own Psychiatrist/Physician.