I'm sure I don't have near the pain you do, but I was on Tramadol. I decided I wanted to get off of it--because I didn't like the idea of being addicted to something. So I tapered off---and my pain was so bad, I asked my doc to put me back on it.

Now my newest pain doc wants me to take Vicodin instead. Tramadol potentially interferes with my main med for Bipolar. I talked to my psychiatrist, and she said Vicodin wasn't any more addicting than Tramadol.

Yet, I am planning to just take the minimum I can. I have never taken more pain meds than the doctors have ever prescribed anyway. And I am told that my pain does need to be controlled, so I won't be as prone to head into depression. And I do need to sleep, and my pain can keep me from it.

I say all that to say, not all people get psychologically addicted to pain meds and even though their bodies want it, the people will be okay as long as they don't start overdosing and seeking that "high."

I have used other things for pain, too. But I don't think all people necessarily need to stay away from meds because of their addictive nature. If someone is hurting so badly he/she can hardly function, then I see nothing wrong with pain meds.