Confused about Hydrocodone & Addiction Levels

[Peanut1948]

I live in a very conservative community where doctors are gung-ho on not giving pain relievers. Recently, a highly-placed public official got gone illegally buying and selling hydrocodone. Now my doctor refuses to prescribe any more.

I have rheumatoid arthritis (severe), chronic chostochondritis, and migraines. On my worst days, I take one half of a 7.5 MG pill 3 times or basically one and a half pills per day.  

Is this an addiction level? I am very careful with meds. I find myself really worried about not having any pain meds except OTC.

All advice appreciated.

[Peanut1948]

Thank you for the replies!  :)

Our local pain management clinic only gives steroid injections. Not much use to me--both knees, rib cage, feet, etc. etc. are damaged from the RA. They'd have to shoot up a different area every few days!

I've found that I have more fatigue when I use the hydrocodone. So it's a trade-off: less pain, but then I get sleepy. Either way, not fun.

I've just worried so much about my medication level; but at the same time now I have to worry about not having any pain meds at all. Bummer.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Remember that with all opiate use. There still can be hard withdrawals. The body is dependent on it. That still does not define an addict. Jacqui805 is a good example. She was on Fentanyl patches AS prescribed. but her withdrawals were awful. Just wanted to clear it up. Any one taking opiates may have w/ds getting off of them.

[bmc1976]

When I said there is not such a thing as a addiction level that was my opinion. After reading it again. I don't think that was correct what I said. There are different levels of addiction I guess. In your case like GoingToMakIt said, as long as you are taking as prescribed, you are not abusing them.

[Mikeinthesouth]

I agree with goint to make it. If you become addicted to the point of hard withdrawal you will know it.

[bmc1976]

I don't think there is such a thing as a "addiction level" It's a good sign that you are not abusing your meds by taking more than prescribed. The problem using occurs when our body builds a tolerance towards them and the dose doesn't help anymore. That is what happened to me and I ended up taking more than prescribed. They thing is almost everyone will become physically dependent on them if taken for a long period of time. Not all people abuse meds and some need them for chronic pain issues. Maybe you could try to find a different doctor. Another thing that you could do is have your doctor refer you to a pain management clinic. There are many options our there besides narcotic pain meds to help deal with chronic pain. Pain management clinics are not just there to hand out pain meds. They try to find other ways of dealing with it but will help you with pain by medicating if needed. Best of luck to you.
brian

[GoingToMakeIt]

Addiction is described as abusing your meds. Being careful and following your dose, even to the point of being conservative. Is not addictive behavior. You can become physically dependent on them. That is the nature of all opiates. They were designed to help with pain. I would not worry about what you are doing. It is when you take them to feel good or take way more than prescribed. (your Rx always running out early) Those are signs of addiction.