regular co-codomol users please advise, worried about being dependent on a prescription drug that I do actually need.

[embarassedandworried]

I suffer from a skeletal condition, its incredibly painful and affects my ribs, my shoulders and arms. the bones actually distort it is chronic and it is non-curable. it will only get worse as I get older. all the doctor can do is help me manage the pain. I have had physio and take painkillers regularly. specifically co-codomol (I can no longer take anti-inflamms due to stomach issues) 15/500. so not the highest, but not low dosage either.

I take them almost every day, because I am in pain every day. but I have noticed that on days I try to avoid taking them I feel shaky, sick and I have a headache. now, the headache could be attributed to the fact that my neck seizes up, but I am worried about this.

what should I do?

ps, I am a regular who has namechanged. but I have talked about my condition before on here.

I went to my GP with this concern (well, not specifically, I mentioned it as part of an appointment about the condition I take the painkillers for) and she was very kind and said to me 'look, I'm not going to lecture you on the dangers of drug addiction or overdose or rebound headaches, you're an intelligent young woman studying for a PhD and you know all that stuff. You are in pain, and you take painkillers for it. If you stopped taking them, you'd not be at risk of addiction, but you'd be in pain, and that would completely defeat the point. Don't worry about trying to make yourself come off them, because you need them. Don't tough it out, your life will be better if you are not in pain.'

And you know what, she's right. We get told that painkillers are bad, that we should try and ignore the pain, all that stuff - and I think that certainly, for an occasional pain you can just ignore it, tough it out, whatever. But if you are in pain all day every day, 'toughing it out' has far more downsides than just taking the damn drugs and getting on with your life. I haven't worried as much since I talked to the GP. I have asked for a pain clinic referral to see if there is something else that might help me better than codeine, and I think that will happen eventually (although the GP said that actually she'd like to delve a bit deeper into the causes of my problems and is referring me to another specialist first, which I'm ok with.).

I agree with Ilovedaintynuts if you are in terrible pain you have to take what is necessary, when my DS had angina @ 9months he was given diamorphine and I was worried he would become dependent GP said if he needs it it is not dependency. However a trip to your GP could be useful.

thank you, I havent been able to get an appointment, but I spoke to my gp and she said pretty much the same as the rest of you. Ive tried to go another day without, and I am in proper agony now, feels like my ribs are cracking. so, Im stuck with them

lissie, you really sound like you need to take some. I have had to go on full dose today and felt a bit bad about it but then read Naoko's post, she makes a lot of sense. Controlling our pain is more important than addiction or long term side effects, at the moment. I'm so sorry you are in so much pain. It's crap living with long term pain. Codeine is in many ways a blessing in disguise though - please give yourself a break and take some. Thinking of you.