Would Painkillers (or lack of them) be making me feel like this?

[JeremyVile]

Until a week ago I had been taking painkillers (fairly strong ones) every day since the start of march.
I know you're not supposed to take them for a sustained period but I hurt my back which had me in agony for two weeks, then just as that cleared up I had even worse pain from my wisdom tooth. (extracted last week, hence no more painkillers).
Anyway, since then I have been really, really achey and an almost constant dull headache.
I've not taken any painkillers because, primarily, I'm glad to not be popping pills finally but also becuase I'm not sure whether the achy-ness is some sort of effect of stopping taking them iyswim.

What do you think, am I actually unwell or is this just my body getting used to no painkillers? (and if so, will it go soon?).

I knew I sould have put something about bumming in the title...

Yes bumming might make you feel like that. But not in your head.

I know that taking painkillers every day can give you headaches, so maybe you are going through wihdrawl symptons, especially if they were strong.

Bloody hell, just read that back and realised I was no help!

You were more help than PW Coco - don't you worry...

I felt like that after coming off co-codamol for migraines and a tooth absess.
I was achey, shaky and dull, niggling headache.

Felt better after a few days.
Does sound like withdrawal symptoms.

My dh had a motorbike accident and was on strong painlikkers for weeks, he was told by his gp to wean himself of them, and not just stop, or he'd feel like crap.

HTH a bit more than my last tosh

Which painkillers? were they codeine based?

JV - yes, it's quite common, especially if you were on a high dose and came off quickly - IME any medication can take its time leaving your body and have some side effects while doing so.

Drink absolutely oodles of water and make sure you don't overdo it for a bit

Co-Dydramol. Don't think they have codeine, but apparently are the strongest O-T-C painkiller.

(Heartened by PC's experience)

Oh, thanks Wisteria.
I shall do my very best not to over-do it

Yes they've got codine in, hence the co.
As Wisteria says, take it easy for a while and the symptoms should ease off.
Took about a week for me to feel completely normal again but I was taking 20 tablets a day plus ibuprofen as I was in agony.

Oh my word PC - I thought I was being excessive with 12-15 a day!

But, dental abcesses really are the work of the devil, so I understand.

Yes, it will be that, that's why codeine is addictive I suppose, must be tempting to take more to get rid of the aches caused by not taking it! Hope you feel better soon

It was hell on earth.
I was only sleeping for 90 minutes at a time when the pain was dull enough to ignore.