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Hydrocodone/Medical Marijuana
I'm 62 years old. After 15 years of taking 3200mg of Ibuprofen a day for achilles tendonitis (which damaged my kidneys...before the discovery of ibuprofen's affect on them; in about the year 2000 or so), my Dr switched me to Norco (10mg Hydrocodone, 325 Tylenol...sorry can't seem to spell the generic name). Another 15 years down the road, I started having lower back, hip & knee pain. The Norco has worked wonderfully at relieving the pain. The last couple of years, I've been having trouble sleeping. Can only seem to sleep an hour or two at a time, having to get up for bathroom runs numerous times a night. California in the meantime had legalized medical marijuana. In the sense of full disclosure, I have done pot recreationally since the early '70s, but decreasingly in the last 10 years or so. Now that it's "legal", I started taking edibles as a sleep aid; have not noticed that the marijuana has had any pain relief for me, but as a sleep aid, it's been wonderful. So, Norco for pain, pot for sleep has been my regimen for about the last 15 months, and I've been feeling 25 years younger; no pain, nearly full 8 hours straight a night of sleep. I'm waking fully rested & ready to take on my days. For the first time in the years I've been taking Norco, my Dr had me do a urinalysis, results, of course, showing both the hydrocodone AND the THC in the pot. He gave me an ultimatum: one or the other, but you can't do both (due to DEA laws, etc). At this point, being a somewhat stubborn person, I'm not willing to give up my newly regained increased quality of daily life. What are my options?
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Nice to hear you have a doctor that isn’t terrified to prescribe pain meds. You obviously have followed instructions and not abused. I was taking Vicodin 10/325 for 7 years as prescribed then decided to stop to gauge my pain level. I learned fairly quickly I did much better with the meds. I have since moved away from my rheumatologist and the local doctors will not prescribe because of my previous “chronic use of narcotics”. So, I just deal with it.
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1 ReactionKeep looking for the right pain Dr. I see a doctor at a pain and rehabilitation center. I see him every 2 months. He'll do 2 scripts and when I need the 2nd one filled, I'll call. I had appt Monday that I moved from LAST Monday and I still had 10 days worth pills left. I had to pick up BP meds and told pharmacy that a script was coming in for the pain meds but not to fill it yet. I think they did anyway because I got an automated call from them but was on another call so I'm still not sure yet. Chronic pain requires constant meds. I do know that doctors must put the word chronic to get a months supply of meds. Just keep looking. They are out there. Good luck.
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1 ReactionYou should consider looking into buprenorphine for pain. It was developed to treat addiction but has been found to be a great pain reliever too. Find a doctor who's specialty is pain treatment. Read this for a better understanding and pain control. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675640/
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4 ReactionsI was in your shoes having started with Tylenol w/codeine #3 and then #4for over 15 years and then onto morphine sulfate. I'm now using buprenorphine patch every 7 days and it is wonderful and I no longer have to worry about Tylenol overuse and liver damage.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675640/
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3 ReactionsThank you. Good idea. I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder since I followed the doctor’s prescription religiously for years yet the “addiction” label is used without footnote. The irony is that it was my idea to stop the medication to gauge my pain level. Well, I found out but the door closed behind me.
I’ll check into this alternative. Thanks again.
It's prescribed off label all the time for depressed patients, including me.
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1 ReactionCan you tell me who prescribes your OxyContin? What type of doctor?
I’m new and not sure I’m posting in the right place…forgive me. I have been reading this column which caught my eye because I have been on hydrocodone myself for about 15 years. Last month I did not pick up my medication because I had “extras “as I was trying to see if I could do without as many. Now I have to meet with my doctor and I am afraid she is going to tell me that I don’t need as many you now when I found out that I sure as hell need as many as I have after trying to do with the less. I don’t know what to tell her to have her continue to prescribe the amount that I have been getting every month and would sure appreciate some coaching in that matter. I am 82 and have back issues Periferal Neuropathy among other chronic pain issues
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1 ReactionDoctors don't mind extras. Tell them you use them as needed as said it on the bottle. Personally, if I was your age, I would request something without all the tylenol. It affects blood pressure and the renal problems. I took hydrocodone for a year. Now I take oxycodone. Keeps my blood pressure more in check. Pain medication is part of your medication.
Just like blood pressure medicine.
You have no worries. Be well.
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1 ReactionYou should ask for oxycodone. If he disagrees tell him you're going to doctor shop. With online teletoc services it's easy to do. You're already receiving pain medication. It is given you problems you have a writer to ask for a different drug. Be well.