I also am not sure who told you pain meds are over the counter.

Unless its tylenol or ibprofen I've not taken anything in probably two
or maybe three years for pain. Except for blue emu and some of the
patches I can buy at Dollar general that are linocaine I believe its spelled
in them. These don't work to well for me so I only use them for a day
or two if the pain is really bad.

The thing that I use that helps me the most is a heating pack or a thing
to go in the microwave.

They seem to really help me.

Donna