Wow. Been there with misdiagnosed orthopedic problems. Been there with a string of MRIs and X-rays which don't reveal anything useful when the body's not in a certain position. Been there with the !@#$%^& anti-psychotics. Been there with the muscle atrophy. Been there trying to do a full-time job.

Medicine and the medical care system are traumatizing, all right. And the realization that they're traumatizing is additional trauma.

Yes - it all traces back to chronic pain. If someone hasn't wanted to kill themselves (seriously) from strong chronic pain, then they haven't experienced it strong enough yet. If you come to the realisation that there is no end in sight, its a horrible, horrible thing.