question: Hi Doctor,My wife is suffering from immense back pain and stomach pain. The pain radiates from the lower back (12th rib / erector spinae - area) and also the shoulder (supraspinatus - area). The muscle pain ranges from stabbing to burning to tearing. Her stomach is frequently in cramps, some days you can feel/see the intestine as it makes what appears to be a spasm. The only semi acceptable solution we have found so far for her is water aerobics twice a week and physiotherapy every fortnight. Over the December period these services where not available and the pain just came back, worse than ever. Now this has been going on for 3 years, numerous doctors and bills later. Diagnosis has ranged from costochondritis, inflammation in the stomach (not a ulcer), fibromalgia, stress, 6 months anti depressants, gilberts syndrome. This ranging from doctors, specialists even homeopathic. This is just ridiculous. It has come to the stage now where she would rather just live with the pain than being given false hope and costly bills. I need to know what would be the best way to find a method where I can locate/determine a competent medical practitioner.