I have been reading this for a few months. I was amazed to read about the side effects of vicodin and how they "mimick" chronic pain symptoms. I have taken everything for chronic pain over the last couple of years. First was vicodin for a few months, then ultram for about a year, nortiptyline for a few weeks, MS contin for a few months, and then oxycontin for a year. I was taken off oxycontin and put on Neurontin and my hands and fingers went numb and I gained weight. I ended up back on the vicodin for about 6 months now. Besides the pain, I am a right leg above knee amputee since birth and have had chronic pain mostly on my good (left) side for 4 years now, I have been so messed up from all these meds. I can't stand the way I feel anymore. I am ready to face my situation without taking vicodin everyday. I really don't think I can take it casually when the pain acts up. I don't have the words to describe how it sucks you in. I am sure that everyone on this board understands. I stopped all meds early March and had nothing for 10 days. the withdrawals weren't too bad. The leg cramps were the worst, which I had before and thought they were part of my pain but they were from the vicodin. I am a mom of 2 and a wife. I don't have a lot of support and help so it is easy for me to overdue it and be in pain again. I need the strength to set limits with my family. I need to not be taking vicodin every day. I don't know how to taper and take it only when I flare up anymore.