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There have been people I personally know that have been in my family who have been on narcotics for decades and decades and if one did not know of the medication one would not have a clue. For myself it is going on 19 yrs. Without my med's I cannot imagine what my life with be like. As it is I am soon to be using a cane, which really was mentioned to me a few years ago, but because of vanity and other reason's I decided not to. When it comes to being addicted I really do not know if I am or not. I am sure if I had just stopped taking the narcotics which are quite an amount to people that have never taken them or know little about how narcotics work on the body many in my family would be stunned,for that reason few people know the amount I am on. What I do not know is if I would go through serious body withdrawls or if I would just be uncomfortable. I don't have a clue for if anything I have underprescribed myself which according to my doctor is fine(this having to do with b/t med's). Unless in the next couple decades severe arthritis can be managed without narcotics I will be the first to give it a try. I have tried other non-narcotic med's and they have very little affect on my body. Dr. Lois mentioned a very true statement about being addicted or dependent,and I am one that does not know if I am one or the other

i really hate when people use the word addicted, like "youre addicted to those pills.."  or " youre an addict coz you take oxycodone everyday".  well if its legal and used as rxed its called being dependant.  im glad you guys said something about this because i really wish people would educate themselves about the difference instead of flapping their gums. the difference should be on a banner pulled behind an airplane or something so everybody knows the difference.  chronic pain sufferers dont wanna hear that stuff from people who have nothing better to do than judge others to make themselves feel good.  being a pain sufferer myself ive experienced it all.  the judgements and stereotypes, and the really sad thing is...even if its just a dirty look or something as little as that...is its happening mostly IN DOCTORS OFFICES!!!  in my experience it wasnt by the dr and usually isnt coz they know the difference between dependance and addiction, but it was by the staff.  nurses or more frequently the receptionists or office workers.  it really makes me mad!!!!!!!!!  i hope people will think before they speak, or even give someone a look that just handed his rx for oxys to the drs secretary so she can copy it, coz most likely when she hands it back to you, u will get a dirty look, or a REALLY FAKE  "..have a nice day!"   then the second u leave she starts runnin her mouth.  trust me ive seen it first hand!  sorry for the long message, but i had to vent to someone who also knows what i mean.  im all done now, so all u guys have a nice day!....and that was REAL!

What Dr. Lois is referring to is a phenomenon often referred to as "pseudoaddiction"  Where you and others may think you are addicted, whereas you are only dependent upon the medication.  Its inevitible that you become dependent upon the medication, it is the nature of the opiate drug family.  Any drug that builds tolerance, is likely to create some type of dependency.  I dont think you are addicted, but indeed dependent.  If your physician thought you were addicted, he/she would NOT have increased your dosage, or at least not without much scrutiny.

The definition of addiction is the compulsive use of a substance despite it negatively affecting your physical, mental and social health. 

thats a good idea...about the papercut. Unfortunately I am no longer receiving rxs for pain meds. but when i was, i used to give the looks rightback to the lady and whoever else. im the type that does not take any u know what from anyone. One time about a week after i saw my doc and got my rx for the roxis, i had to go back to see him because i did something to my neck, and my legs were going numb. Now I have herniated discs in my neck and DDD, so I have existing neck problems, i just moved wrong or something and all of a sudden was getting the numbness in my legs. i had been getting it in my arms and hands, but NEVER my legs.

So its a week after i get my rx and i go to his office. and while im waiting one of the nurses who i disliked with a passion came out and told me i had to give a urine sample, obviously to see if i was still taking my roxis a week after i got them or if they were gone. Now I was LOADED to the gills with them, i had been taking like 15 a day right... so i tell the lady i dont hafta go at the moment and asked for some water, she comes back with this little tiny dixie cup of water. so after making a stink about that i got a real cup from the water cooler and started drinking. so i saw the doc he told me what i did yada yada. so i finally after drinking water for the whole time i was there, i had to go finally. so i did my biz and left.

So 3 weeks later at my reg monthly appt for my rx, the dr tells me my urine showed NO OPIATES. so i told him i drank an ice coffee before i showed up that day which i did, and then drank a TON of water. so him being the cool guy he was, said yea u probably flushed it all out. now normally most docs wouldnt give u another rx if that happened. but this guy was the man, he was younger like late 30s, so i think that helped. so i go to leave and walk out to the waiting room with him and he gives my rx to the lady to copy. Then i heard her say: "oh.....so you are going to give HIM a script." and the dr just nodded and said "yup". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA finally I got one up on this woman. I cant explain the feeling of revenge and excitement and my adrenaline pumping when this happened!! I was soooo happy. so she handed me my script, and i said in the most sarcastic tone " have a great day!" ohhh it was awesome. u had to be there to really appreciate it. the only thing that would have made it better was giving her a papercut!!!!!! LOL