californiaguy1,
It's not important that anyone believes you. I swear that nobody believes me!!! Not my doctor, not my wife... (parents?... ugh), but ultimately they do believe I am experiencing something. Whether they think it's "in my head" or a true physical problem, sometimes our doctors and loved ones will feel just as (if not more so) helpless as we do.
What is important is that you help yourself and seek answers and remedies for your particular situation. Take the time to log down your symptoms daily and keep a journal. Make every effort to understand when the severity of your symptoms worsens or is relieved. Share this with a doctor/specialist and don't take "oh, it's stress... it's in your head.." etc... for an answer. Yes, stress does play a part, but there can be physical problems that can be addressed in order to make dealing with all the other stuff easier. I am no doctor and I am simply speaking from the last two years of suffering. If I would have taken my initial doc's advice I would have been taking meds and killing my kidneys for the next 50 years.
Not sure about your braces.. Wish I was more experienced to tell you something useful... There are others in your situation on this forum. You may want to read a few of their posts and see what might best apply to you.
Hang in there and don't give up looking. You will eventually find something that will help. Remember, that it may take some time for something to work or for you to discover...
Later
Carl