Pain has to be evaluated on a person by person basis. Is the pain just effecting certain parts of your life or is is it worse in the evening verses the morning, or is it affecting your overall quality of life. For me it was effecting my sleep it was effecting my emotional being it was affecting everything! I to have been on Elavil as a matter of a fact for 10 plus years. When you go up to 150 mg like I was the side effects were ridiculous! It is the stigma of pain meds that drs shy away from. I have tried a whole lot of pain meds and the opiates by far for a great majority of people help the most. Even that being said finding the right dose for each individual comes next. I have tried percocept,vicodin,loritabs and it wasn't until we tried the oxecodone ir that I found relief and without feeling drunk from the amitryptyline,gaining weight,being sensitive to sunlight, and just recently was told that Elavil can cause you restless legs symptoms. I can't stand it when a doctor minimizes your pain. I mean what kind of life is it when you can't function or participate in life? You are sitting on the sidline while life passes you buy? Everyone here is right don't give up or give in and accept what the Dr's say as golden! And what works for one person might not work for another. I hope you find relief!