I feel like I can address this subject very well from personal experience. I
have been wrestling with the pain in my leg for  years and years and... you
get the picture. I have been taking  hydocodone and acetaminophen tabs
(Vicodan) for about 7 years. On good days I need 4 on a bab day I may use as
many as 6. I use just enough to take the edge off and keep me going. For the
last few months I've been asking if there was a way to cut the nerves or
something (somedays it it so hard to move) anyway I got a lot of reasons why
that wouldn't be a good idea-- something to do with changing the circulation
in my leg.
Anyway, I got in a discussion about our hospital doing a trial test of  TENS
(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator) for post c/section pain insead
of the narcotics that wipe mom and baby out. I had one with all 3 of my c/s
and it worked great. The nurse said "You're different, you're used to pain
(?), a c/s isn't much compaired to your hip. When it works on your hip pain
then maybe I'll think about it" You know me ready for a challenge-- what
could it hurt?  My doctor and the physical therp. both said "I don't think
so" and we decided to try. I'm not bragging here but this is the end of day
one with the unit (work and all) and I've only used 2 pills today (the doctor
told me to *wean* ;-) off slowly). Not a miracle, but the unit seems to be
enough to block all but the stuff that's deep in the bone. The chronic muscle
pain that drives me nuts is gone but I know its still there (if I turn it off
I can feel it). Maybe it's psychological-- time will tell.
I hope I don't sound like I'm rambling here, but I wish physicians would look
at non-medication type pain relief first before telling a mom she can't
nurse. Fortunately most of the dr.s I know are reluctant to prescribe
anything unless they try  rest, heat- cold packs etc first.
Marie Davis