I have never used that medicine myself so I don't know. I worry about my own use of Lortab and that it is no longer effective for my pain. U know u own body better than the dr. I think ur doc was overreacting

I would sit down with your doc to ask why does she feel this way?

Could it be the long term effects on your internal organs? If so, could it be reversible? Are there tests for it?

Or ask her to take a look at the alternatives. If you stop taking the pain meds...then you're left to deal with things on your own. Will you then start popping tylenol and ibuprofen like they are M&Ms to try to match the pain management you once had?

Or is it that she originally thought that your fibro would have gone into remission?
Fibro = CHRONIC pain. It's not the 'oh I over did it again' sort of situation. It's a lifelong ordeal. It's always there. Did she think that if you started taking pain meds for managing your pain that with daily activity your pain would suddenly disappear? If so, then she has a skewed understanding of fibro it seems.


Either way, I would question her. Listen to her and devise a plan that the both of you are comfortable with.

It sounds like you are being responsible with your meds. I would find out why your doc is so uncomfortable with your current pain management plan.

I've been taking Norco 4 x daily since 2008. It's the best thing they have every given me. I don't have any problems with it hurting my organs. I'm also on Neurontin for the horrific nerve like pain that the narcotics don't seem to help.

Doctor's are a mixed bag. Why would they want to take you off it if it's working? Your illness is long-term so why not let you have long-term pain relief?

I agree that she's overreacting. I take that same pill 3x a day. Let them walk a day in our shoes and see what they think then!

It might be a good idea to find out why she thinks that way. There are some great articles floating around here about research on addiction vs. dependance. You might print some of that out and take it with you.

If it really helps you, then stick to your guns!

Norco is hydrodone/narcotic . Here is what the medical interaction encyclopedia says,"

Dependency, respiration problems, kidney problems, hepatic (liver) failure, decreased mental ability (both in thinking and in sensation), and reproductive organs

. Bottom line, long term use should be monitored by a doctor with regular blood tests!"

So, I would say that your doctor is not over reacting and you should be aware of these possible effects

Ive been on Hydrocodone for many years. My Dr. always checks my liver etc. But it has NEVER helped my Fibro pain. I have to take it for Sphincter Of Oddi Dysfunction, which is horribly painful.(Look it up its too complicated to explain.) I ONLY take Spring Valley Magnesium with Chelated Zinc for Fibro pain. Its the ONLY kind that helps me. I take 500 mlgs a day in the AM with an Active yogurt. Im also on Lorazapam, and Amytriptyline for insomnia. Other than that, Im only on meds for other health problems.

It doesn't sound like you are taking much or abusing it.
However, doctors in general seem very leery about providing
presriptions for narcotics on a long term basis.
I just saw my doctor today (rheumy) and we talked about this.
I take Tylenol 3 once a day and I told her I was a bit uncomfortable with this.
I am going to try to get off of it and increase the anti-inflammatory.
I work in health care and doctors are often very concerned about addiction and a whole host of other issues.
Narcotics are also a hot commodity on the market for drug addicts and a doctor is at risk of losing their license if anything happens.
Many doctors now refer their patients to pain clinics for pain
management.
Then you are into pill counts, signing contracts, urine tests etc...
I would have a frank discussion with her as well.
You sound responsible and so I would see what her concerns are.
If she has concerns for your health then I would certainly think
about trying something else, though I understand that this can be hard to do.
Good Luck.

Thank you everyone for your great advice.

My doctor does not seem to know much about Fibro and always refers to the notes my Rheuny dr. has sent her. She has actually asked me at least four different visits if I was actually diagnosed with Fibro and I have to keep reminding her that I was dx by my Rheumy. The reason she is in charge of my meds is because the pain clinic I used to go to said she could help me just as much as they could.

I have been taking Magnesium, b-2, Co-q10, vitamin d and fish oil for at least 8 months and I have not had any improvement with my Fibro, only with the migraines (thank goodness!). I have ended up with 2 ulcers from taking ibuprofen and aleve, so my doctor thinks I should stop taking it and I agree. I feel that the Norco/vicodin is the only choice I have to control my pain. I guess I will have to wait it out and see if she will no longer refill the RX.

Based on your history I have to agree that she's over-reacting. I have been on hydrocodone for many years for breakthrough pain and never had to increase my dosage. The Tylenol in the tablet is much more of a long-term concern but shouldn't be an issue at your dosage as long as you're not getting it from another source as well.

Having said that, I don't know your medical history and these are things that ultimately have to be worked out with your doctor. I don't understand though why so many times a doctor will mess with a treatment plan that has a long history of good results.

I have two doctors monitoring my treatment plan and thankfully neither is interested in changing what works.

I hope you and your doctor can work it out.

Wish they wouldn't mess with things that work. Everything we take is a risk. It should b up to us to chose. We have a right to relief.

i have been on norco 4 times a day for 3 years and i thas really helped me ..they keep a check on my liver so far thank the lord it has been ok ...it is th eonly thing that will even take th eedge off my pain ..

I agree too that she is overreacting and does not understand what 'chronic' means. I have done TONS of research on this as many others have too and here is my personal take.

Doctors make more money prescribing anti depressants, anti anxiety, etc than pain killers. Most of them with insurance are fairly cheap. Even though not ALL doctors are in it for money, many are. Also, our fibro has nothing to do with depression. We could HAVE depression running concurrently, but they are not connected. We have NERVE pain. Over active nerves. Many of us also have pain signals out of whack, hypermobility syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, etc. Dealing with that will definitely make us DEPRESSED but having clinical depression is different. It is a chemical thing.
Many docs are in the back pockets of pharmaceutical companies who push their expensive and many times more dangerous meds. They DO get kickbacks. I have seen it firsthand.
So, for me I take a pain killer every day for a few years now and it has been a life saver. I also take quality supplements and do other treatments but without the pain killer, none of the other stuff would work for ME.
If she is concerned about your liver and kidneys, there are many supplements you can take to help clean them out. N.A.C is an amino acid ( i think) that helps boost glutathione production for the liver. My naturopath suggested that. They actually give that to some who have liver failure in the hospital! So it works.
Anyways i could go on and on. LOL. I am always researching things and trying to find the reason behind docs say what they say. She probably just is concerned and that is good... but, if the pain pills are working or you need more, dont feel afraid to ask! We have a RIGHT to be pain free as so many millions of others take for granted. Doctors work for us. If he/she is not providing proper care than I would move on.

Thank you for your replies. I take supplements and drink liver cleanse teas every once and a while to help my body along.

I know some people have gotten relief from vitamins for fibro pain, but they do not really help me with that, only my migraines. I do everything I can such as exercise, stay away from alcohol (could not drink even if I wanted to because I can not stomach it), try to eat right and take vitamins, but doctors never think we are doing all we can. If my doctor does not refill my next RX, I will have to go back to my Rheumy and see if she will help me. She is the only one that seems to understand Fibro pain.

Do whatever it takes to get relief and a break from the pain.