thanks so much everyone! it's interesting to hear / read the different responses & reactions.

one of the things here is I'm only in my thirties! I'm not 'that old' yet. so if I start anything now, the odds are I will be on it for a long long time.

and in my case, it's spinal injuries from multiple MVAs and whiplash incidents! and as time goes on, things will slowly continue to get worse. I already have 4 bulging discs that are touching/pressing against my spinal cord (no compression yet), like 6 discs with tears, and like 9 bulging discs/protrusions! and also lumbar radiculopathy - which I am doing steroid injection shots for.

now I've also added nerve-based headaches (thanks to multiple brain injuries). for now, it's not really a pain 'intensity' thing for me - it's a 'volume' of pain thing. there's lots to be figured out still, so idk.....