I found out after being given pethidine when I had my first child, that my body can't tolerate anything but the smallest doses of all the opioids. A few times since, hospitals have ignored my warnings and insisted on my trying "just a little" morphine or something similar, always with the same result - they made me really really sick. The last couple of times I was in hospital - broken ankle in '99 and broken wrist in 2002, I made sure they knew and I had an allergy bracelet. I can tolerate a lower dose (8mg) of codeine, if I REALLY need something a bit stronger, but I hardly ever do.

While in hospital recovering from an operation on the broken wrist in 2002, I was given a Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device with a medication of paracetamol and a low dose of codeine. This worked really well, because I seem to need less of medications than a lot of people, and so I only pressed the button when I REALLY needed it. I ended up having way less than a normal dose, but it worked. Knowing you are in control is good because it helps eliminate fear and upset about pain, and as Susan said further up, being upset about pain can increase it.

I rarely need anything for pain - I can eliminate most headaches and minor aches and pains by taking magnesium regularly, drinking a lot of water, relaxation, fresh air and diet. The most I have ever needed or wanted - and then not very often - is paracetamol or Advil (ibuprofen) in the soluble blue caps. Liniment and a hot wheat bag is good for a bad back, and sleeping in a good position helps.

I believe you can get a rebound effect from taking too many painkillers, as jacqui.c mentioned, especially when the need for higher doses starts happening. The constipation is not very pleasant either. Anyway, as others have said, it's not good to mask symptoms too much. Pain means your body is trying to tell you something, and listening to your body doesn't just mean covering up the symptoms with painkillers.