There are many options the lower the amount of narcotics you take. First, the option of physical therapy, attention to posture/gait/balance (possibly also body awareness training in tai chi, yoga, or ballroom dance). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, sometimes depending on the condition, drugs that damp down nerves like cymbalta/amitryptiline/gabapentin. . And, if we are restricting discussion to opiates, a very small amount of a short acting narcotic like hydrocodone or tramadol might be an alternative. Since 15 mg per day is not a rare situation...but it is the lowest amount one can be on.