Due to the opioid epidemic, my mother's NP has prescribed 2 caplets a day of Norco. My mother is 94 and is in severe pain everyday. When I have asked the NP to increase the dosage or add another pain med in addition to the norco, she always recites how she's worried about addiction. I think this is so ridiculous. Who really cares if a 94 year old woman becomes addicted to a med if it relieves her suffering? My mother mons every morning and during the day from bursitis. Does anyone know of an over the counter med that is effective in between taking the norco? She already lives on a heating pad. Additionally physical therapy has never helped her before. I'm lost.
My mom found pain reliving creams like myoflex or volaren to be helpful also.
He would buy and hide a bottle a week. Just crazy how they created a real overdose potential.
A good doctor will evaluate each patient and prescribe pain meds for THEIR NEEDS.. the so called 'opioid epidemic' has been blown WAY out of proportion and leaves a huge segment of the population in chronic, unbearable pain, when the judicious management of pain is the best way to ensure a decent quality of life. (Said by someone with chronic systemic arthritis that, if untreated, leaves me basically unable to function at all!)
The pendulum will swing the other way, soon enough and docs won't have to be hamstrung by policies that frighten them into underprescribing for the chronically 'in pain'.
BTW, real drug abusers will always get their drugs. Sadly, people in real need are going underprescribed.
I don't know where your mom's bursitis is: hip, knee, elbow, etc.? Regardless, see if her doctor will prescribe methadone for baseline pain and use Norco only as needed for breakthrough pain. Ask about a corticosteroid injection and/or an oral corticosteroid like dexamethasone. Over the counter remedies would probably be limited to NSAID's like ibuprofen or naproxen. You can get these in a cream form that you rub into the area.