PLT EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB AND MISUNDERSTOOD AN ARTCC OPTION AS CLRNC. PLT DEPARTED ASSIGNED ALT.

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I HAD JUST CLBED OUT OF MDT TO AN ALT OF 7000 FT. I WAS EXPERIENCING SEVERE TURB. AFTER AN AMENDED CLRNC I HAD BROKEN OUT ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS AT 7000 FT; LEAVING HIGH CUMULUS CLOUDS BEHIND AND SEVERE TURB. THE CTLR TOLD ME (ACFT XA) TO DSND AND MAINTAIN 5000 FT. I DID THIS AND SURE ENOUGH BACK INTO SEVERE TURB. I TOLD THE CTLR MY FLT CONDITIONS AND REQUESTED 7000 FT. AGAIN; HE SAID NO; SO I REQUESTED 9000 FT. HE SAID; 'XA YOU ARE ON THE EDGE OF TOO MANY DIFFERENT CTLED AIRSPACE; YOU WILL HAVE TO TURN BACK TOWARD A HDG OF 280 DEGS AND BACK TRACK.' AS I WAS DESPERATE TO GET OUT OF THE TURB; I HAD ACCEPTED. THE CTLR SAID; 'TURN TO 280 DEGS IF YOU WANT 9000 FT.' SO I HAD SAID L 280 DEGS AND UP TO 9000 FT. MEANWHILE; EVERY OTHER ACFT IN THIS SECTOR WAS STEPPING ON EACH OTHER TRYING TO TALK. ALL WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT SEVERE TURB. SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE PEOPLE TRYING TO CALL HARRISBURG APCH AT THE SAME TIME; THE CTLR CLAIMS HE TOLD ME TO LEVEL AT 6000 FT. I DON'T RECALL THIS CLRNC. AS I CLBED THROUGH 7500 FT FOR 9000 FT; CTLR SAID; 'XA; SAY ALT.' SO I DID. HE SAID; 'XA; I TOLD YOU TO MAINTAIN 6000 FT; DSND IMMEDIATELY.' I SAID; 'XA; ROGER.' MINS LATER; JUST BEFORE RECEIVING MY NEW CLRNC; I FLEW INTO VFR ON TOP CONDITIONS. SO I CANCELED IFR AND RESUMED MY OWN NAV UNDER VFR TO HFD ON TOP.