When people say "painkillers" they immediately think oxy..but OTC analgesics (i.e. Tylenol/acetaminophen/paracetamol) and NSAIDs can do quite a bit.

I just had spine surgery (laminectomy + microdisectomy) a couple of weeks ago.

Tbh I didn't even think I had thrown my back out. At first I thought it was my sciatica, similar type of pain, mainly around my piriformis....but then it was more in my glutes and outer-thighs, and it was bi-lateral...and then my ass, taint, balls, and dick all went numb.

I didn't really have a whole lot of back pain. That which I had, I attributed to muscle-pain/compensation as a result of walking weirdly due to the leg pain (really should've been using my cane but I'm too damn proud for that).

That's when I called my ortho, and 5 days of phone-tag between him and his office-staff later, he finally called me back directly and told me to go directly to the ER.

Next morning I was cut open.

I was told the numbness was due to nerve compression.

Anyways a few days post-op I realized the oxy's they gave me weren't doing anything for the pain anymore, because the pain now was mostly from inflammation around the incision.

But even before that, gabapentin (nerve drug), tylenol, and meloxicam (daily NSAID), did a hell of a lot. I wouldn't consider them pain meds...in fact, I think the biggest thing is the anti-inflammatory.

Still can't feel my dick. It's like I'm holding someone else's while I pee. I'm holding a dick, but I don't feel my dick being held. It's real weird.