I also take hydrocodone 10. I've been taking it for 20+ years for back issues that have gotten progressively worse over last few years. I take it every 4 hours when back is super bad, maybe every couple months, it's unpredictable. I usually take it every 7 hours, up from every 6 hours. I looked up half life and really went to 7 hours because I want as much of the previous pill to be out of system before taking another. Sometimes I'm busy on the computer and time gets away from me and before I know it, it's been 8 hours. My day starts at about 3:30-4:00 am so I'm still at 3 a day just farther apart. I always have to call and push my appt out by about 2 weeks because I have too many pills left. He calls in 2 RX's so I can see him every 2 months. My insurance does not pay for him and I do not want to change doctors. I don't want a lower quantity of pills because as I explained to him, on the days I need them more frequently than every 6 hours as bottle indicates, I have them and won't run risk of running out. I started taking them every 7 hours because I was really worried about toxicity from them. I have regular labs by pcp and kidneys are at normal function. I do agree though, the pain will be never ending and the meds just take the edge off. I have issues with my thighs getting numb if I stand in one place too long. I am a hairstylist and had to go out on disability 3 years ago. I owned a salon in assisted living for 20 years and the lifting and bending to accommodate elderly clients took its toll. It's true what several of my customers used to tell me....getting old isn't for sissies.... lol.

P.S. my computer set up is where I can lean back in my chair and prop my feet up on another chair. My mouse is on a nightstand that's lower than my desk, at the end of my desk and almost even with my chair. I can't sit up in a computer chair because pinched nerve in shoulders gets shoulders numb.