If this really is a big concern, talk with your husband's dr before the surgery. There are a whole slew of non-addictive (ie: non-narcotic) pain relievers out there that are formulated to relieve moderate pain (just like Vicodin does). An example would be Ultracet (similar to the drug Ultram). Unfortunately, while he's in the hospital, the pain med situation will be pretty much out of your control... and he will most likely be on an IV morphine drip post-surgery. Non-addictive meds just don't seem to have the pain relieving power of a narcotic drug... and your husband will certainly be in a great deal of pain at 1st...