Sure, I'm always down to answer anything.
In the months after my partial lung removal surgery, I suddenly started experiencing a burning pain in both my calves. Doctors initially tried a variety of things like a bunch of different NSAIDs, more experimental painkillers like Lyrica, ... but eventually I was put on Tramadol. It's a bit stronger than Codeine but definitely nowhere near Oxycontin.
The doctors have never really found a cause for the pain in my legs. They found a bunch of weird stuff, like massive pseudo-hypertrophy in my calves and huge spikes of CK in my blood (up to 70 times higher than normal). By coincidence they discovered a rare hormone condition (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) but it's not related to the pain.
More recently because I also developed epilepsy in recent years, the neurologists scaled back my Tramadol to 200mg a day instead of 400.
Withdrawal is absolute torture, even the first hour drives me nuts. I had to concoct my homemade version of a substitute therapy. If you know of the methadone replacement therapy for tapering down heroin, that same principle is how I taper down my Tramadol.
My doctor gets me some codeine syrup and I import some Kratom from the Netherlands, as it's illegal here. Kratom isn't an opioid but it binds to the same receptors in your brain.
Basically, the Kratom tricks your brain into thinking you ingested an opioid. Through that combination, I'm able to completely remove any withdrawal symptoms for the most part. It's hard to avoid waking up in cold sweats at night or in the morning though.
Just to be clear, I concocted this form of substitute therapy myself but my local general physician and my neurologists approve of it.
Of course during those 10 years I've been a fullblown junkie on and off. It's very easy to mask and through my substitute therapy, I can remove withdrawal as well.
I'm blacklisted from every pharmacy in a good radius as well. If I want to pick up opioids, I need to phone my mom so the pharmacists get the approval from a trusted contact.
The opioid euphoria is by far the greatest feeling you could ever imagine but it is by no means worth it. If you don't particularly 'need' them for a medical issue, don't take them. Avoid at all costs.
Part of my Tramadol dosage has recently been replaced by Gabapentin but I've had all sorts of crazy side effects since my neurologists changed my meds. It's literally impossible to work because I constantly forget what I was doing and feel very drowsy all day. So at this moment I'm on temporary disability.
I'm constantly forgetting simple stuff like what I ate yesterday, the names of some of my daily meds, ...
At least the feeling of a broken arm has gone away, that was beyond obnoxious. That Gabapentin might not be an opioid but at least I never experienced a single side effect from Tramadol.
Gabapentin feels like going down the whole list of weird side effects it can cause.
especially because I quit drinking during that time, it's perfectly acceptable to drink your whole shift so yeah I was just smoking. 
