Nervous about this!! Drug question

I have been nervous about the drug thing. I got shot in 03 in the knee and don't hafta to take lortab daily but when weather changes and gets cold it bothers the knee and I take but have script and all that but I would hope that wouldn't disqualify me because I can't help it. I was a cop 19 years and they had no problem with having to take and yes was on duty when I was shot by my own dang partner. But will this disqualify me. Because I'm in refresher school because haven't drove and have job lined up and orientation to begin so I dunno. I certainly won't hide it at all I will tell them and I walk w no limp or anything but have a of titanium in my knee and when it gets cold it gets cold and bothers me. Any help would b great. I'm no druggy by no means. After being shot in 03-2011 when I retired as an office they knew I had to take and was fine w it as long as I had note from dr and the script which I did and had no issues at all. Any help thanks

 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you won't pass the D.O.T. physical if a narcotic shows up on the drug test. Plus no company would hire you...it would be a liability nightmare. You take a Lortab then later in the day somebody hits you and get's killed; you still have to take a drug test. The Lortab shows up, even in a tiny amount and BAM that is it...all over. That's one of the warnings on those class of drugs...do not drive or operate heavy machinery. As an ex-cop, you know how it would get you a DUI/DWI/OUI if that showed up in a drug test. I might be wrong...and I do hope I am, but I don't think so.

 

Is there any medicine you can replace the Lortab with; might not work as well, but at least you could pass the DOT physical and drug tests.

 

Go talk to your doctor about it.

Like a bunch of us internet truckers will have the true answer for that question.

I have been prescribed some nice drugs in the past for temp pain relief. Talked directly TO my doctor about it and I wish I still had the sheets he printed out for me giving me clearance even on a Schedule 1 drug.

There's exceptions to every rule and even exceptions to those. Go talk to your doctor.

 

How did your own partner wind up shooting you? You weren't partnered with Barney Fife, were you?

 

The drug test, has absolutely nothing to do with passing the physical........

 

If you have a prescription for it , you don't have to worry about the drug test. However, after looking up Lortab, it is just a mix of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. You won't be able to take this while on duty. It would be possible to take it off duty, as long as the effects of the drug wear off before you go on duty again.

 

Lortab (and its close cousin, Vicodin) can take nearly a week to get out of your system so that a urine test won't see it.

I have a recurring back condition, and I do have a prescription for Vicodin if it gets really bad. The warning label on the bottle only states "May cause drowsiness. Take care when operating a car or dangerous machinery." However, if it's bad enough that I need to take the Vicodin, I'm not able to drive anyway.

To the OP: You may want to talk with your doctor about alternate pain relief methods. If cold is the main trigger, check out some heat wraps; there are reusable wraps that you heat in the microwave. I've personally found that naproxen (Aleve) does a wonderful job of relieving chronic pain.

 

Don't worry about the drug test, or the physical you should be ok. I've had many of both and you should be ok.
I'm not sure what knee your talking about, but if its the left knee then maybe you should find a company that has automatic transmission trucks.

 

Can you bend down with the knee for the DOT physical?