Freedom from pain can mean different things to different people.    For some it means life without pain.  For others it means freedom despite pain.   There are many ways to manage pain so that you have it instead of it having you.   Medications (that do not have to be narcotics), restorative and injection therapy, cognitive therapy, and use of multiple self help techniques are examples.   Visit piedmontpmr.com and read about reducing total load (the total number of things that do not allow you to be well) and some of the links under Treatment Options to learn more.