My father had a back surgery that went badly and left tons of scar tissue that caused him agony. He took pain pills for 20 years. I would watch him take 7 at a time the last five years and beg him not to do it as I was afraid he would die of an overdose. His response was that it would be a relief.
Finally, laser surgery came along and a brilliant doctor went back in there and removed all the scar tissue around his spine. My father was back running around as a young man and did until the day he died. I just knew he would have to go into rehab because of the pain medication. He didn’t. He suffered no ill effects from withdrawal of the pain meds. Evidently, he was not addicted.
I have no doubt that my father would have done as this man if he had not had a doctor that gave him huge bottles of the pills for twenty years. I am very grateful to that doc.
I am thankful I have a very understanding doctor. But, I also don’t get my meds filled but once every two years. She has even told me just call and she will mail me my prescriptions.