Hi all. Have I told you that I went to my neuro doc that did my back surgery in August for a recheck appointment? Actually I saw one of the PA's there. To make a long story short she basically said I may need to be on vicodin for a long time--like forever. I actually was OK with this as I do feel I have legitimate pain issues and I never take the vicidin to get the high as I see so many of you write about on this board. And please don't think I am being judgmental...like I am better than you because of this because God knows I have battled my own demons with drugs- cigarettes, pot, diet pills, acid to name a few. But I think I am going to not take them after this sript runs out (or try anyway). I don't like having to rely on someone to fill my script and I don't like having to be at their (the doctor's office) mercy. I always feel like they are doing me a favor by giving me another script. So when I get down towards the end of this bottle I will gradually taper. I am only taking 2-3 a day if that. Do you think this will be OK? And also what do you all think of the PA telling me that? I'm sure it is very common but... Also I was thinking that if I were to stay on the vicos I would eventually need more to get pain relief or they would become ineffective altogether as I have seen postings on this board that mention that so I don't want to do that. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Tiger

Hey Tiger,
Yes you couldn't have summed it up better when you said that you would eventually need more to treat the same pain. That is the sneaky effect of vicodin. It consumes you very...very slowly. For six months 1-2 a day was fine for me and then slowly it started creeping up to more and more and in a three year period I was up to 11 a day. At first I didn't take it to get high really either. Just to dull some stress related physical pain, but just remember this drug will consume you after a while. I always used to say I wouldn't let it get me...no way..not me...I said it for so long that finally when I finally realized exactly what I was saying...it had already consumed me. I said it for so long to myself that it just became repetition to convince myself in my head and I really didn't even realize what it meant. In the end if we take it long enough it will get each and every one of us because we're all human. Please don't stay on this stuff...and the fact that a doctor told you you're gonna have to stay on this for life I find heavily disturbing. A doctor like this should be reported. Just remember this stuff is a narcotic and a poison and an early death sentence. You will be able to deal with the pain...do therapy, take advil, anything but vicodin.