Hi,

I'm new to this list and am hoping to get some advice. Last January I was diagnosed with a broken coccyx, a herniated disc, and spondylolisthesis (bike accident). The coccyx pain subsided in 4 months, but the nerve pain in my leg is killing me. I jumped through every "conservative treatment" hoop held up by my doctor (PT, chiropractor, acupuncture, massage therapy, steroid pills, and a steroid injection) with 0 result on my pain. I am now awaiting my surgery consultation next week and will be scheduling surgery for as soon after that as possible.

As far as medication, I started out with codeine right after the accident, and was switched to hydrocodone soon after (when it stopped being as effective). Once I developed a tolerance for the hydrocodone, I was instructed to take 2-325 mg tabs of oxycodone every 4-6 hours. Well, it's been a month of taking that and I'm tolerant to it now, too!

I have been VERY vocal with my doctor the entire time in two ways: first, my own reluctance to even be on pain meds (whether or not I need them - it's a matter or pride for me), and second, every time I develop tolerance and need a higher dosage, I feel like I'll be judged as a pill-popper, or weak, or an addict. I finally got over those "issues" though, and on Monday was very direct in asking for something stronger than the oxycodone. It's just not cutting it anymore - and whether that's due to tolerance or an increase in actual pain I'm not sure - but it shouldn't matter. I just need something to get me through until surgery.

But, just when there's a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of actual relief (surgery), I'm running into a wall with my doctor: "Stronger meds will cause addiction, and that's not in your best interest." I feel like tolerating the pain I am in without meds is WORLDS harder than kicking a possible addiction, as I am soooo ready to throw out all these little orange bottles forever! But, no matter what I've said she's just not giving me whatever the next step up in meds is (and I'm not even sure what that even is!). It might be because I'm young that she thinks I may be more likely to be addicted?

Does anyone have any ideas on advocating for a higher dose of pain meds/convincing a doctor I'm not asking because I "want to get high?" I want to be polite, complient, and respectful of her position (she is after all ultimately the gatekeeper of the medication I'm after), but when someone tells me what's in my best interest, it really makes me angry. It's in my best interest to get out of pain! And if I've been strong enough to deal with my injuries and the pain for a whole year without killing myself (which I have seriously considered a few times) I swear to God I'm strong enough to kick an addiction to pain meds. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!