Shoreline

Hey Skip, It's best to simply discusss the goals of PM with your doc. A 3 may never be reasonable given the condition of your back, I have a pump and an unstable fusion and at at best, I can get in the 5 or 6 range. If I take more or they increase the dose, I'm at the point where I really don't want to deall with additional side efects. But untill you know the goal of treatment you will never know if it's reasonable to ask or expect more. Of course more pain meds means more pain relief, But there has to be a middle ground where you can function and aren't simply taking as much as posible every day so that you don't have to to learn to cope with any residual pain.

If you take the max amount of BT medication every day just to keep your pain as low as possible, are the meds really for BT pain or simply part of your regemine to live as pain free as possible. By definition, It doesn't sound like the Hydro is a BT med any longer, just part of your every day routine, Whart hapens if you slip down the last 3 stairs or the weather drops 30 degrees over night and your pain increases for a couple days? That's what the BT meds are for, But since they have become a part of your routine, any increase in pain from weather or a slight slip or fall, and you have nothing extra to take, just the same dose you take every day.

There are some general rules about BT meds and your doc is already exceeding that. If your need BT meds more than twice a day, your doc should consider increasing your dose, If your goals simply aren't realistic, your doc should make the goals clear so that your both working towards and satisfied with the same goal. There are some docs that won't use BT meds because they believe your going to take the max regardless of how many they give you. If they give you 2 doses a day your take it, If they give you six you will take that and still not have an actual BT med that allows you to take extra when your having true BT pain or have caused a flair from activity or the weather or whatever the case may be.

What's it going to take to satisfy you and how long wil you be satisfied given the fact you will get used to and tolerant to whatever you are given for BT if you take the max dose every day. There are people that are given extremely potent BT meds like aqtiq and still end up in the ER wanting the BT pain treated with aditional meds. Isn't that what the doc prescribed BT meds for, so you don't have to go to the ER or increase your dose everytime the weather changes or your activity causes aditional pain? Talk to your doc and be honest about your BT med use and be clear your both on the same page as far as goals of treatment.
Good luck Dave