Many things in life make us reset to a new normal. When one of these things happen there is a time of grief and loss while at the same time there is evolution toward the "new" normal. I will never be the same as I was but I am almost to the point where I can stop grieving about it. Yesterday I dropped a plate of food as it was being handed to me in a cafeteria. It fell a couple of inches and did not spill so I grabbed it again and said"something shocked me" and went on as if it were "normal". The same evolution will occur with your pain threshold. Perhaps as time passes your pain tolerance will increase as your meds effectiveness decreases. I have quit Gaba and Hydro and currently have Tylenol with codeine that I only use for road trips. You know that all cases are individual and there are very few hard and fast rules so be patient and yes-thankful- and you will settle into what will be your new normal. May it be with little fear and grief. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.