[tommynicholas]

I just got ACL surgery and am doing the entire recovery (day 11) without any painkillers stronger than ibuprofin. This is not because I'm so brave, but because I know the pain associated with opioids to be so much than the physical pain in my knee. We've got to aggressively pursue alternatives.

[mhb]

Or maybe your pain is not as severe as the pain for which others take opioids.

[tommynicholas]

That is almost certainly true. ACL surgery pain is intense and taking prescription painkillers is strongly recommended, but certainly, there are more intense pains people experience. I don't really think that's relevant to my point but perhaps it is.