Many of the clients I represent take narcotic pain medications like hydrocodone, oxycontin, percocet and even methodone as a way to control pain. I think that most people who consume narcotic pain meds to control chronic pain over months or years would agree that these medications reduce their suffering but in no way restore a true quality of life. Narcotic pain meds usually will not control “breakthrough” pain, and all of these prescriptions produce bothersome side effects, such as lethargy, fatigue, constipation and cognitive loss (i.e., poor concentration and focus).
Unfortunately if you are not a surgical candidate for whatever reason or if you do not have the insurance coverage or finances to pursue curative therapies, long term pain management may be your only option, at least for the near term.
Now, patients who are receiving pain management have another issue to worry about. Pharmacies, in coordination with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and local police departments are using computerized verification systems to cross reference prescriptions at drug stores with the DEA number assigned to physicians.