DogLover,

I don't quite get this myself, but my brother in law, who has almost the same diagnosis with his back as I do manages to get a monthly prescription of 90 percocet, when my doctor prescribed me Relafen and Bextra. Not that I'm complaining that much, because I don't care for percocet, I've taken it 2 times in my entire life and puked my guts up both times.

But my point is, I don't think it really has anything to do with gender, I think it depends on the doctor you go to see, what kind (if any) insurance you have and your tolerance for pain, I guess. I'd be more than happy with prescription Motrin for back pain, but as I've said many times before, it all comes down to what the pharmaceutical companies are pushing and what kind of kickback the physician is getting for writing out those prescriptions. When Celebrex & Vioxx came out, my Dr. was pushing them onto me, now it's Bextra and Skelaxin after I complained that the Relafen made me sick to my stomach. Never asked for any kind of hydro or opiate drug at any time, so maybe it's just that the squeaky wheels are getting the most oil?

~Eeyore