I have had chronic hip pain since an injury in HS (cheerleading--) and then carrying 5 huge babies took its toll on my right hip. It seems to be a family issue and both my sisters have it, too, and I know my Grandmother suffered also. It's arthritic, not very much so, I think more ligament damage. I am 55 and menopausal, and for some reason all pain seems to have worsened with the onset of menopause.
I try to get by with Ibuprofen, but my old GP let me have Lortab 7.5 for use up to 3 times a day. Made such a huge difference in my life! I knew I could do whatever I wanted, physically, and if I exacerbated the hip problem, it was OK to take a pain pill and do some stretches and in a day or so, the worst was over. Sadly, also with menopuase came the resurgence of migraines, which I had not had for 25 years. Imitrex for those, but a Lortab alongside and I was functional.
My dr left the state after 20 yrs of practice, her "replacement" dr told me I was an addict (going through about 90 Lortab in 6-8 weeks)..and cut me off. Made me feel so terrible. I never took the stuff more than prescribed, I never took it to get "high" whatever that means...now I have a much lower quality of life...in much pain just from walking and I was going to the gym 4 days a week and babysitting and doing everything..now I just want to lay on an ice pack and cry. It's not withdrawal, it's pain! I did find out this particular doc is on probation and CANNOT even prescribe anything w/o another dr's OK, and I did not know this going in.
I haven't upped my dosage in 5 years, I really do get by with 90 in 6 weeks, so that's, what, 2 a day?
I am seeing another dr tomorrow, one whom I hope will have some empathy.
I guess my question is...am I addicted to the Lortab or to the feeling of having no pain, or pain that can be managed with the judicious use of narcotics? My old GP never let me run out and was very good about seeing me every year to discuss this. I will not be returning to the 2nd doc. He was totally un-sympathetic, even to the point of telling me to "suck it up" and menopause never killed anybody. Seriously. Any thoughts on this?