i relate to this article completely. for years i just thought pain was what happened as a person aged. then a dentist gave me some vicodan, and was surprised to find that i could actually walk and move without hurting. after consulting with several different physicians and being told that yeah, pain is just what happens as we age, i turned to OP's. i'd rather be a 'criminal' than live (or not live) in pain 24/7.