HEY , BIG CHUCK!!!!!!!
LOOKS LIKE U HAVE BEEN GOING THRU THE "RINGER"!
FIRST OF ALL , I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF U HAD ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY , THE ORTHO IS THE MD THAT HAS GIVEN YOU THE [UNKNOWN], ORAL MEDICATION THAT U WERE TAKING , [CORRECT?],AND THE "PATCH". WITH THE ORAL MED. TAKEN OUT OF THE "MIX", HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR PAIN NOW , MORE , LESS OR ABOUT THE SAME ? SCALE IT FOR ME , [ACTUAL PAIN]: SCALE OF: # 1 THRU. #10 - LEAST AMOUNT OF PAIN TO THE WORST PAIN U EVER FELT !!! IF YOUR PAIN HAS GONE DOWN SINCE THE OPERATION , THEN IT WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO DISCO THE ORAL MED. IF NOT, THEN , TRY TO BEAR WITH IT , UNTIL U GO SEE THE ORTHO , WHO IS GOING TO CUT YOUR "PATCH" DOWN TO 75MCG. IT WILL BE IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO ADVISE THE ORTHO. THAT U ARE CONSCERNED ABOUT YOUR PAIN , THAT U ARE STILL EXPERIANCING , SO THAT IF HE OR SHE STATES TO YOU THAT THE LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED , ON WHAT ELSE HE OR SHE CAN DO FOR YOUR PAIN , THE IT WOULD BE TIME FOR U TO GO BACK TO YOUR PAIN MANAGEMENT MD. AND ADVISE HIM OR HER ABOUT YOUR CONSCERNS AND LET THE PAIN MD. TAKE IT FROM THERE. I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH U ON 1. TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY U ARE STILL HAVING SEVERE PAIN , EVEN AFTER THE SURGERY,[U DON'T SAY HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE U HAD THE SURGERY]. EVEN AFTER ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY, U CAN EXPECT TO STILL HAVE SOME "LITE" PAIN , THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU . [TWO FRIENDS THAT HAD R/CUFF SURGERY , TOLD ME].
2.I AM SURE THAT THEY ALREADY LOOKED AT YOUR CERVICLE SPINE AREA. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT "TMJ" COULD BE INVOLVED WITH THIS PAIN CONDITION ! MANY TIMES OVERLOOKED!
TRY THIS PROCEEDURE YOURSELF: LITELY PLACE YOUR FINGERTIPS , ON EACH SIDE OF YOUR FACE , OVERLAPPING THE UPPER AND LOWER JAW AREA, JUST TOUCHING YOUR EARS . NOW OPEN AND CLOSE YOUR MOUTH , AND LISTEN AND "FEEL" FOR ANY TYPE OF NOISE , LIKE CRACKING , GRATEING , ANY GRINDING OR ROUGHNESS , CLUCKING ETC. ALSO MOVE YOUR LOWER JAW IN A CIRCULAR TYPE ROTATION , RIGHT TO LEFT AND LEFT TO RIGHT , AND AGAIN CHECK FOR ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED . IF YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE SOME OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOM , NOISE AND FEELINGS , YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO YOUR DENTIST AND LET THEM LOOK INTO YOUR CONSCERNS MORE FULLY.
*** JUST A THOUGHT *****
JUST KEEP ON PLUGGING , BE CALM BUT FIRM WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING TO YOUR MD'S . LOOK THEM STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AT ALL TIMES!
REMEMBER THEY ARE WORKING FOR YOU ! THEY HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CONTROLLING YOUR PAIN , WHILE THEY FIGURE OUT WHAT IS STILL CAUSING YOUR PAIN!! KEEP YOUR FAMILY IN THE PICTURE AT ALL TIMES!!!!!! I CAN NOT *STRESS* THAT ENOUGH!!!!!!!!
ALWAYS BE SINCERE IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH YOUR PAIN DOCTOR'S. THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW , A
VERY NARROW LINE , WHEN THEY PRESCRIBE NARCOTICS TO THEIR PATIENTS, AS THEY ARE UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY , FROM THE STATE THAT THEY ARE LICENCED IN AND THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT BUREAU, THAT OVERLOOKS THERE PRACTICE!!
I KNOW FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE TRACK, AS FROM THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE,[RETIRED L-E-O.] AND A CHRONIC , PAIN PATIENT .
SO BEAR WITH THE DOCTOR WHO TREATS YOU FOR YOUR PAIN. THE PROGRESS OF YOUR "PAIN CONTROL" MIGHT BE A LITTLE SLOW , BUT THAT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST!!!
TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU , YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR DOCTOR IN FINDING A HAPPY MEDIUM IN TAKING CARE OF YOUR PAIN PROBLEM , QUICKLY .!
DON'T BE SAD 
TRY TO BE HAPPY 
TAKE CARE ,
GARY
ALL WRITTINGS ABOVE ARE PERSONAL OPINIONS,
AS I AM NOT A DOCTOR , AND DO NOT PRACTICE ANY SORT OF MEDICINE. ABOVE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR PROFFESSIONAL ANSWERS AND GUIDENCE IN YOUR MEDICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
thankyou for your input, i know my dr. is working with me , and cares about my health. good luck to you !