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I don't want to get into an arguement, but first you made it sound as if your Dr. was overmedicating you by saying:

"Too many doctors are willing to write scripts for hardcore drugs so the pharmacutecal companies can be in their pockets. I literally had a script written for me for both 60 Oxy's and 60 Vicodin's in the same office visit. Not to mention Celebrex as well."

When I agreed and condemned him for prescribing you two narcotics at what I thought was the same visit, you then say this:

"Maybe I should make it a bit more clear. My doctor prescribed all of those after each one was not effective enough. Not all at the same time. He is a pretty good doctor and didn't want to put the bash on him. Just was saying that he was very quick to write out scripts for every little thing I felt. I just can tell he is one of those doctors who lies in bed with the drug companies in a big way."

I'm sorry...but "you" told your doctor that the Vicodon wasn't working...so he gave you something stronger. Yet, when he did, you accuse of being in bed with the pharmaceutical companies? Maybe I'm missing something, but could it be that he was trying to help you based on the information "you" gave him? I'm a little sensitive to this issue since I've been dealing with severe pain for over a decade now...and have not found the type of Dr. that I would call, compassionate, as you did. But instead of being thankful for having a doctor who treated you based on "your" complaints, you accuse him of collaboration.

Now, I have no doubt that there are doctors who do this...and make it worse for everybody. At the same time, it's attitudes like yours that make it harder for real pain patients to find relief. Could it be that you were not in as severe pain as "you" told him and were surprised that he gave them to you? Because, to be honest...people in severe pain don't complain about a compassionate doctor who's willing to treat their pain...they generally praise it.

While we do have corrupt doctors as with any profession...we also have corrupt patients, who lie. And I'm not saying that you did this, but others do and they are as much apart of the problem as the doctors. If Vicodin (which is, in itself strong) wasn't strong enough for you, the most logical step up was an Oxycodone/combination, since it is still considered less powerful than the morphine combo's. I don't neccessarily see the collaboration that you do, but rather a doctor being responsive to your needs.

At some point, the patient has just as much a responsibility as the doctor...including following the prescribed dosaging and cautions. This is something personal for me so forgive me for the harsh tone, but these medications have been Godsends for many of us...and statements like "legalized heorin" only add to the misconception and ignorance that surrounds the issue.