narcotics are of limited value for many pain issues, really...
Well a broad brush stroke such as “narcotics” may be an accurate statement as not all narcotics are used in the relief of chronic pain.
W/O opioid pain killers, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people would have their quality of life dramatically diminished. I have seen it first hand.
My dad and F-n-law live with chronic pain, two very different causes. My F-n-law will resist as long as he can by not taking his pain medication and suffers to the point of tears. It's all he can think about...is the pain.
He’z an old timer, doesn't want to take the meds. He’z got it in his head that they are addictive and he'd become an addict. Just a spell after we finally convince him to take his pain killers...he is able to function, his mood improves, he is able to be with the family comfortably. He still says the pain is there, the level of pain is reduced to the point he can concentrate on life.