Originally Posted by
Done4today 
My opinion is that it's all the intent/motivation of the use. My story only has booze but I have had two back surgeries and many other orthopedic surgeries. The few times I took my prescription after the surgeries, I would have no problem keeping my sobriety date. My motivation/intent on taking the drug was 100% to relieve the pain in order to sleep. Nothing to do with getting high.
I agree with this. I often read on the mental health forums I follow the saying "no one gets hooked on meds they actually need" which for the most part I think is true.
I had surgery on my knee and was in excruciating pain, and was on narcotics for about a month. I wasn't getting any kind of "high" from them, it was the only thing keeping me sane from the pain.
Once the pain went down, I stopped taking them no problem. As long as you are using them as they are meant to be used, you should have no problem. Abusing them for a high is where the problems start.