I'm sorry to hear of the troubles Alpaca. Hopefully the speech/swallow therapist, and dental team can offer more guidance, and ease of pain. As far as pain meds, I didn't want to ask my doctors for any like I had a drug problem or something lol, some who may so no, one did, or refer you to some other than themselves, but heck that, I'm in pain now. I'm going to see the pain management and palliative care doctor. As far as addiction, it's quite low when used to treat pain in cancer patients. Pain interferes with everything, healing, thinking, activity, mood, and we get programmed not to take them when their actually needed.

Good luck with everything.