I don't use drugs, legal or illegal. My questions come from the battles I've had, after a tooth extraction and a few years later with a shoulder injury. The doctors DEMANDED that I take pain killers "to help the healing process". I didn't take them, the pain was tolerable, and in both cases I healed just fine.
I just can't help thinking the situation is so the doctors won't have to be bothered later on if the pain really is tough to handle. I just don't get it that tolerable pain shouldn't be part of the coping and healing process.
I agree with you. I can drink a six pack of beer faster than my wife wants me to do. But the side effects of oxycodone type of drugs are worse than the pain. So I take a regular dose of aspirin and deal with the pain.
I had my shoulder rebuilt (screws, chopped bone, etc...). I took one oxycodone pill and felt like I was a squirrel on speed. I immediately went to regular doses of aspirin.
One positive effect of pain that is often ignored, is that pain is telling you "not to do that." I was not to move my shoulder or arm for 14 days. The slightest movement caused my pain level to go from "throbbing pain" to "red hot iron rod piercing your soul." So it was very easy to remember- don't move your arm.