If you are in true chronic pain, I don't think you have to worry about getting hooked. I've been taking between 3 and 6 Norco 10-.325's a day for almost two years now. The Norco 10's are like two Vicodin 5/500's. Sometimes I take six of them throughout the course of a day; most of the time I only take four of them a day. I take two at a time, which would be like taking 4 Vicodin at the same time. I am hooked on these meds in the aspect that I can't live my life in chronic pain. Without these meds, the only way to get pain relief is to merely lay on the couch all day with my bad leg elevated. If I do any activities that warrant physical exertion, I will be in constant pain with no way to get relief from it. I don't want to spend the rest of my life sitting in a lazy boy nursing a messed up leg!
Recently I went six days without the meds just to try and gage how my main levels would be if I stopped taking the pills. I didn't have many withdrawal symptoms, but the pain was terrible. There were a few nights when I couldn't sleep because the pain in my leg was horrible. I had to slam a dose of Nyquil to be able to sleep. The Nyquil does not get rid of the pain at all, it just knocks me out so I can sleep despite the pain. I finally broke down and took two Norco and I had a really good nights sleep. I can't take a lot of Tylenol or Ibuprofen because I'm on blood thinners, and I'm at an increased risk of stomach bleeds if I take NSAID's. This means that my only option for pain control is either Gabapentin/Lyrica which does not work, Tramadol which also does not work for me, or Narcotics which do help my pain.
I also do not take more than the six pills a day that I'm prescribed. There are days when I do need more than six pills, but taking more than you have been prescribed is a slippery slope. You have to moderate the amount of pills you take. True addicts will start taking between 20 and 30 Norco's per day. They can't stay on a limited amount of pain meds for an extended period of time. These meds will not take away all of your pain, but they will help you control the pain so that you can live a more functional life. Honestly, in my particular situation, I would be very miserable if I did not have moderate pain control.
I know there is a lot of fear and paranoia involved with taking pain killers...but you will be taking such a low dose, I don't think you will have any problems. As with any drug, there is always a risk of addiction - but that shouldn't stop you from seeking out adequate pain relief. You will take your meds as directed, sleep a good nights sleep; and when you wake up in the morning - you will literally feel like a new person! Please keep us posted on whether or not you decide to use these meds, and if they make a difference in your pain levels.