Am I addicted or just in pain??

[Liz50]

I have been on Lortab, 7.5 mgs/500 (often just taking a half of one) for about 5 years due to chronic migraines caused by menopausal issues and just by life! I don't take it every day, but it's so nice to have real pain relief when I overdo it at the gym or have hauled a 22 pound grandbaby around for six or seven hours. Also my job is very physically demanding and I work very, very hard and I know I over extend myself  farther than my physical capabilities at times. My previous GP doc had no problem with me having a "stash" as she knew I wasn't taking it for "funsies", so to speak, but to keep my quality of life at the level I want and need it to be. I have some very arthritic joints and by hitting the gym 3-4 times a week I am helping to keep active.
Well, long story short, my old doc left the state and the doc who took her place simply cut me off. Said I didn't need the stuff and he wouldn't prescibe it. (Turns out, he actually is under sanction right now for abusing oxyContin himself and cannot prescribe opiods anyway). So I am going cold turkey off of it. I am not afraid, and I am not getting sick or anything, but I so hate being in pain. Rreally hurting today (day 3 or 4) and kind of angry at the new doc for being such a jerk about the whole thing. Aren't pain meds for this kind of thing? I can't even face the thought of the gym  knowing if I work out really hard, I am going to be so sore I won't be able to move. Ibuprofen is great, but that has it's drawbacks too. Just feeling so sore tonight and not a little angry. My dosage has not changed in the 5 years, my "need" for more and more has not happened..i just fel like I am going to have to cut back on activity just due to the pain. Arrggghhh!

[Liz50]

Thanks--yes I am aware of the Ibuprofen/Tylenol piggybacking. I do not find Tylenol to be very effective, although Ibuprofen is a wonder drug! I am seeing a new dr this am, a female, who is closer to my age and hopefully will have some empathy. I think, IMHO, that 400-600 mgs of Ibuprofen and 1/2 of a Lortab or even a whole Lortab, and I am pain free...opioids have their place! As I said, this first doc would not (actually, could not) prescribe much of anything. Also he is barely 30, and when I was 30, I was invincible, too.
I'm not comfortable taking that level of Ibuprofen/Tylenol on a daily basis. And then to have to add an antacid on top of that...really, just too much for me. Oh--and I have been taking Estroven for the hot flashes, etc., since I cannot take hormones. It's ok, not awesome, but it does help. This doc that I saw said those OTC herbal things were "crap"...well, my doc put me onto them, and they work, even tho I am not particularly into alternative meds. I'm going to keep taking it. "Sucking it up" while going thru menopause is pretty heartless advice.
Thanks for your response.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Well, I understand your frustration. You can certainly find another doctor, goodness only knows there are plenty of us out there; or you can try managing some other way.  Are you taking an appropriate dose of Motrin? You can take as much as 800mg every 4 to 6 hours and alternating it with Tylenol 1000mg every 6 hours (so you have something to take every 3 hours) does the trick for a lot of people.  You should also take something like Zegerid OTC once a day if you are taking NSAIDs to protect your stomach.  Don't cut your activity level, may be changing the type of activity will suffice.  Hope this has been helpful.