DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 70-year-old female in fairly good health with a number of diseases/conditions that are fairly well-controlled. I take about 15 prescription and over-the-counter meds a day (including methotrexate) for my Sjogren’s symptoms and other conditions, plus a statin.

Nine weeks ago, I had shoulder surgery for a torn bicep tendon, a torn rotator cuff, arthritis on my clavicle, and a general “60,000 mile tune up” as my surgeon described it. He warned me that it was a difficult surgery, and recovery has been hard. I took oxycodone for about a week and a half after the surgery, and since then, I have been on the maximum dose of 4,000 units a day of Tylenol for pain.

I have a high pain threshold, but the pain continues to be more than I can tolerate without Tylenol, especially

See Full Page