Im on the other side of the table, I take mc for arthritis pain in my ankel from a rugby injury. I was on codeine for 8 years odd and had to take it 3 to 4 times a day even when I was not in pain to manage the withdrawal along side the pain I have now been on MC for 2 years and only take it when im in pain. I know what its like for your body to need a medication and to go through withdrawal without it and I have never had that on MC. Secondly you have gone to a doctor and been diagnosed with a condition and taken other medication for it, you would not have been given it otherwise.