Hi Boomer,
Welcome to the pain board. I read your post and I am appalled at what I read. What on earth is this dr talking about you won't make it by 40. Oh my, I would not accept that if I were in your shoes. I would run, and I mean run like hell and find me another dr who isn't so darn negative. Dealing with cd and chronic pain is a very long drawn out affair for sure. I too have crohns with one resection under my belt. It has not been any fun as you well know. I cannot take steroids and we all know how the gi's want the patients to get on steroids to get things quieten down and then onto another med.
Have you ever been seen by a pain specialist? If not, ask you PCP to ref you to one. They are more up to speed on medications, what combos work the best together. These are the things our PCP's do not keep up with. As a rule most of our PCP's get squeamish writing a script for vicodin.
Most of please step out and get the help that is available to you. We are here for you. Have any questions, postem-someone will come along and try to help. Good luck, Susie