20 years ago I had rotator cuff surgery and was prescribed oxycontin to help me get through the very painful post-op physical therapy. For the first week there were 2 a day sessions and I kicked up the oxycontin with oxycodone 45 minutes beforehand and it was still a painful affair. After the course of PT ended I found myself physically dependent on the stuff. It took 6 weeks to gradually wean myself off it and I still remember the happy moment when I realized I didn't need to take another maintenance dose. The opioids were necessary to get through all that but I decided I never wanted to be in that place again except in extreme circumstances.
Since then I've had a knee and a hip replacement, foot surgery, 2 hand surgeries, a bowel resection (done laparoscopically) and several cardiac catherizations and once away from hospital care I've only relied on extra strength Tylenol and meditation to deal with pain, with the exception of the Meloxicam I started taking recently for the arthritis in my other hand which makes it possible to play my musical instruments without much discomfort.