A few years back I threw my back and I could barely walk. I rested in bed. My friends kept pushing me to go to the doctor to get drugs to numb the pain. I was 100% against that. I don't remember the last time I took a pill. Narcotics would've numbed down the pain, but the root cause would still be there. I would've been able to get out of bed, move, etc, while at the same time making things worse. Plus all the side effects as you mention.

Nowadays, I'd go to my chiropractor.