I think everyone would agree that one of (if not the) most pressing problem for LL, post-surgery is pain. I don't know if there's any thread in old forum  discussing each oral painkiller and reviewing.

Now, to begin with, I work in the ER and I know that each patient would respond differently from different types of painkiller. And to make it worse, pain is a very complicated bloke—there are different types and in fact, there is a subspecialty in Anesthesiology where doctors get subspecialized in pain control alone.

Types of Pain
But for all intents and purposes, we'll be talking about bone pain and neuropathic pain (different from neuropraxia). Bone pain is an example of nociceptive pain.

During lengthening phase, the main cause of pain would be neuropathic.

In general, bone pain is treated with paracetamol, NSAIDs +/- opioids (opioids are very poor bone painkillers).

In general, neuropathic pain is treated with meds with neuropathic component like opioids.

NSAIDs: eg. Ibuprofen (Advil)
Opioids: eg. Tramadol, Oxycodone

Technically speaking, paracetamol and NSAIDs have no neuropathic component, but in real life, they may augment the opioids in treating neuropathic pain.

Then the question  of NSAIDs affecting bone healing. I can tell you now that there is not a good evidence supporting this. Link 1 | Link 2

Aside from the painkillers mentioned above, there are adjunct meds—the plan B/C kind of analgesics like anti-depressants (TCAs like aminotryptiline), anti-convulsants (carbamazepine), anti-hypertension (clonidine), steroids, cannabis, and many others. There are also non-pharmacologic agents aside from these drugs, to treat pain, and also probably psychological route of treating pain.

__________

With this aside, I'd want to ask LLers what's the:
1. Best painkiller for each phase of the journey?
2. Side effects, if any, of each? (For me, tramadol makes me nauseous, and in general opioids can cause constipation and drowsiness), including the most addictive
3. Worst/No effect painkiller?
4. Onset? (fastest and slowest, in minutes, hours)

Again, each patient's response would be different and each country has different regulations, but I want to know what's your review from every painkiller you tried.

This is a good info to know so future LLers would opt to bring their own painkiller that is suited to them rather than experiment each drug during the journey.

Thanks.