Please try to relax, no need to freak out. Trust us, we’ve been there. The odds are in your favor that you’ll do just fine.
You haven’t mentioned exactly why you don’t want to take the opioids. Is it due to the way it makes you feel mentally / physically, or due to a fear of constipation? If it’s constipation, there are meds to help and also some dietary options you can try.
If your OS’s recommendation of 1500 mg daily fails to bring you relief, which might be the case, you may want to consider Extra Strength Tylenol at 1000 mg every 6 hours, not to exceed 4000 mg in any 24 hr period.
You would need to calculate anything else you're taking that contains Acetaminophen into that safe 4000 mg / per 24 hr limit.
Most meds only remain fully effective in the system for 4-5 hours, no matter what the dose. So by taking it every 8 hours, you go at least 4 hours with no medication in your system at all. That gives the pain time to build up so the next dose takes longer to get effective. Just an option to consider and talk over with your OS if you begin to become dissatisfied with your current dosing schedule.
Working on icing although even that has been a challenge because when the ice gets warm, the thought of the pain involved to get to the freezer discourages me.
Do you have help....or someone at least checking in on you daily? If you can get someone to get you a small cooler, you could put some extra gel packs inside of it and keep it next to your chair or bed for easy access day, or night. I’m sure both could be ordered through Amazon with quick delivery if you’re totally on your own.
Wishing you comfort and we’ll managed pain. We’re here if you need us.
@Rosalita