Is the advice the Doctor gave my father regarding codeine usage, sound advice?

So bit of a background. I have been on pain medication for a while and I currently take codeine when my normal daily medication is not covering all the pain. I take it as a when I need it kind of scenario and definitely do not need it all of the time.

My father is on codeine tablets as and when needed for his arthritis and recently he had a small operation on his toe and for some unknown reason, even weeks after it should be fine, he is still having issues. He has tried taking codeine but it doesn't help. It is mainly sore at night-time and he doesn't feel like he needs to take painkillers at any other time of day usually. The pills, when he does take them do not lessen his pain and he cannot sleep. He called the doctor and they said that he should be taking the codeine tablets all the time rather than just when he is sore and said that is the reason that he has issues. I have heard similar things from doctors about myself, but to me it makes no logical sense. I have heard conflicting information from doctors about it when I asked to speak to new specialists. To me, it could lead to addiction and because they are limited time pain relief tablets, there should be no benefit to taking them all the time, just negatives such as addiction and lessening of the affects for when he does need the relief.

Has the doctor given good advice? If yes can someone with a deeper understanding of chemical interactions tell me what should be done and how and why it needs to be done. Please and thank you.

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