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This year, I had to get off of opiates and learn to manage my pain without them (rotator cuff injuries) to recover completely from addiction. But I don't know your sis' story. She might have more pain than I do at this time. Some people do need pain medication for long periods of time legitimately. My Dad has to take them for the rest of his life for horrible pain. These people do become physically dependant on opiates, but it can keep them functional.
It's impossible for us to tell because we aren't in their situation how much pain they are in. A lot of people are under-pain-medicated in our society according to the Society of Pain Mgt Doctors' web site, because of fear of addiction. As a result of this, and after having been in serious enough pain to need opiates after my surgery just to get out of bed, I try never to judge anyone else's pain management needs. That is best left to the doctor and the patient to decide. You can't see pain.
KJ
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