Conversation:

Pah, don't worry. I've used codeine for decades and I'm still not addicted

Seriously though, addiction is no problem at her age. Let her drink, eat and use whatever makes her day. It may shorten her life but might as well also make her live longer and happier

The terrible thing about opioid pain relievers is that they don't really stop the pain, merely temporarily block uptake of neurotransmitters coding for pain while the neurotransmitters continue accumulating, so that the pain comes back with a vengeance when the opioid is withdrawn.

Something non-prescription that can be helpful is melatonin, a pineal gland hormone that's useful for a mild analgesic and moderating sleep, especially if withdrawal problems are an issue.

I was given morphine for a couple of days after an operation, but the following days a cocktail of 1000 mg paracetamol and 600 mg of ibuprofene was quite sufficient. Not to be used more than once every 6 hours, though

But I am not a so you should probably ask her/him if this cocktail is a good idea

it's the GP who prescribed it, and as she's 93, anything that'll take the pain away. I asked her how it was today (still on normal painkillers, the others haven't been delivered yet) and she said "we're getting there" but when I checked the morning log by the carer, Mum had refused the offered paracetomol

Oh dear, well it is a chance to still assert her independence I suppose

Websailor

err! I'm not always in the same spot