Part of the problem also with Tylenol/aspirin is that people themselves tend to abuse it and not because of any great pain that they’re in (not a pain-management issue) but just ‘Oh, I’ve got a bad headache, if 2 are good, 4 are even better!’ And when the headache isn’t gone in an hour, pop a few more. So many people think OTC = benign and take it at higher dosages than they should, for a longer period than recommended. Dosage instructions are there for a reason, even OTC meds.
And I agree about pain management becoming much better. My coworker’s mom just had two spinal surgeries. She’s had oxycodone, a morphine patch and others, basically whatever she’s needed to get through the recovery period. I’ve known many Hospice patients and the meds prescribed for pain are pretty freely given.
The problem is that we view minor pain as really bad. Pain doesn’t bother me. I look at it as a sign that something is wrong. Most of the time, I can just tough it out.