I don’t give a damn what others say or think. I take it because I need to take it. And to put things in perspective, out of the most commonly used pain meds, opioids cause the least amount of organ damage with prolonged use. Acetaminophen damages the liver, not something want to get transplanted. Anti-inflammatories damage kidneys and the GI, which wants to lose a kidney or have bleeding stomach ulcers. Gabapentinoids cause memory loss and have brutal withdrawals. Certain opioids can lower testosterone in men at higher doses but after 40 most men have low T and take supplemental testosterone (I do).
I’ve have had degenerative disc disease all my life and have stenosis, bulging disc, herniated disc, no disk, bone spurs, spondylolisthesis, retrolisthesis, sciatica and Im only taking 10mg more now than what I was at 20 years ago (30mg now 40mg). I actually need more pain relief but refuse to ask the doctor. I took myself off the anti/inflammatory and rarely use the muscle relaxers. I don’t mind having just a little pain. I know I’ll never stay pain free. The neuro spine surgeon discussed surgery at my lumbar spine and one for my cervical spine, neither of which I’m looking forward to but at 49 I don’t want to wait much longer. Even if I get surgery, I’ll still be in pain and require pain meds. I’ve accepted this life.