have you read Jane Brody in the New York Times? She is their longtime health writer and has been doing a series on Pain management (and the lack thereof in this country). I remember when she found out that hydrocodone is not for pain management but only for breakthrough pain, after she had been in tears over the pain after her knee surgery. Sufficient pain relief has been proven to speed healing, and increase the level of healing. You just don't want to ignore it. My rare and completely disabling condition can only be caused by ignoring pain. You can find some really wise, down to earth articles by her at nytimes.com. Try searching on "Jane Brody pain management". You can get opiates that can probably make you MORE functional, not drugged out.
Good luck,
Jane