That's hard to say because people react to medications differently. ALL medications have side effects, and people react/respond differently to them as well.

Chronic pain is generally considered to be "pain that lasts beyond the term of an injury or painful stimulus," and I'm not sure you're there yet... you're still healing!

That said, most longterm chronic pain patients on opioids that are properly prescribed and taken are able to function at a high level, but there are downsides, and that may not be appropriate for you; that's between you and your doctor(s).

Some patients do fine (without grogginess) on gabapentin or Lyrica.

Some more reading - Google: talk doctor pain for tips on describing your pain to doctors, things to do and not to do. Choice of a particular medication should generally be left up to the doctor, lest the patient be thought a drug-seeker. Once you see a pain management specialist, medication may or may not be the best therapy for you anyway. There are other things they may want to try first; it may take some time to find the best solution/therapy for you.

Doc