My experience was to be started on 20. The pain continued. After 4 days, my dose was increased to 30. Pain went away after 1 more day. I maintained that dose for two weeks, pain-free, started to taper, and was reduced to 25. After two more weeks, I was reduced to 20. Still pain free, and the plan is to continue to taper every two weeks until reaching 10, when another round of labs and an evaluation will be done. I do not understand that you cannot provoke a dosage increase by the doc. Frequent and timely access to your doc should allow for an assessment about a dosage increase. You should not have to endure the pain you are experiencing, especially as you are not on anything approaching a high dose at present.