Nikki, for the surgery I was given Oxycodone which was wondeful with no side effects and no problem stopping, then in my final week of rad when my neck was burned to a crisp and weeping, I decided to stop being tough and was given Fentinyl patches which worked wonders, I believe I was up to three or four and after about three weeks of those, just stopped, again with no problem or side effects. I really like the patches because they work for three days. Takes a little time to get started, but from then on, no pain at all. It is wonderful that the philosophy now is the patient should not be in pain. It was not always so.