Perfectly stated,
ive been looking for people like yourself, I suffer from complex pain syndrome, so I'm always on the look out for 'real' information not the 'truth' that some doctors don't necessarily give.
Honestly is the key, especially in formus like this, and for people who suffer not from abuse but medical reasons, trying to navigate the opioid sad reputation for abuse, as well as trying to integrate many methodologies to minimise the devestation over prescribing can lead to. I've been there and walking the labyrinth to my way out.
i have found meditation in lots of forms and after 3 odd years I now get the benefits of the practise, it actually touches my reward system in the brain, motivating me with no effort to meditate. I'm only a beginner but I'm in the third band, where I can meditate without being guided, lower my pain levels in the same way and be in a blissful place, which again adds to the reward system.
its a tightrope with many dangers, any one who reads this, please take it from someone who has been there that opioids for pain control, (methadone, why they persist in pushing this nasty drug really gets me jumping on them, it reads havoc with your personality plus many other side effects, which for me was most of them).
please please consider their use, yeah it ps great to high and hide away from the world or your pain, true healing will come to those who use many methodologies to find their path through their personal labyrinth of life.
cheers
Surfermide
Dave