I used vicodin 5-500's since the onset of symptoms
in my shoulder last November.
I took approx. 1 Pill per day, usually after work, or before
bed- as that is when the pain was worst.
But if I didn't have to go anywhere, and had another adult around to help with the children, I would take one during the day for pain if needed.


After surgery- immediate post op. I was in a good deal of pain.
I woke up to find that I did not get the block.
I was kept in the hospital overnight with a Morphine pump and did very well with that for pain management.

I was sent home early the morning after post op, with Dilaudid for pain prescribed 1 or 2 every 4-6 hours.
That was really awesome stuff.
I wasn't in the house for 10 minutes and I had already thrown my arm onto the desk here and started typing.

I took Dilaudid 4mg 2 pills aprox. every 4-6 hours for the first 3 days, then I tapered off to 1 pill every 6-8 hours, then down to 2 per day over the first week.

On my 1 week post op visit the Surgeon asked me if I needed more Dilaudid and I asked instead if I could have my refill for something less potent as someone here mentioned that Dilaudid is a VERY heavy drug and I didn't want to stay on a heavy drug for too long.

My Doctor then prescribed me vicodin 5-500 again.
They did absolutely nothing for me.
I kind of regretted not taking the Dilaudid offered me, initially.

I suffered through the weekend with the vicodin 5-500's doubling up on them, then called my surgeons office first thing yesterday morning.
They called in vicodin 7.5 and I've done OK, on those.

I feel like I was able to do more in physical therapy and here at the house when I was on Dilaudid.

Today at physical therapy I couldn't do half the exercises I did just last week. I couldn't even lift a one lb weight to my side, which I lifted 2 lb. weights to my side 20 repetitions just last week.
But my Husband suggested that it was really the best move for me in his opinion as He felt I was overdoing stuff because I wasn't feeling the pain of my actions.

Plus Dilaudid could be addictive- and while I am a firm believer of taking pain medication when in pain, I definitely
don't want to take any chances of getting addicted to pain meds and I can do more stuff now unsupervised on the vicodin, versus the Dilaudid.- Which is a plus

I think the best thing to do is listen to your body.
Take what the Surgeon gives you but don't be afraid to
call the office if your pain isn't sufficiently managed.