dihydrocodeine, and anything in that group, are a complete bitch. Friend on mine who is young but has the worst arthritis imaginable has been on and of them. I have also seen a few old mates try to get off the smack, not pretty. But it can be done, hell though.
All the best to you mate, i am trying to quit the fags (using a new drug called Champix). i moan enough about that, but what you have to do puts it into perspective. Hang in there