YKW, I have an almost opposite problem. I react very badly to any narcotic pain reliever. I'm not allergic, it's just I get a severe case of side effects (horrible stomach upset for about 12 hours, extreme fatigue--basically it feels like I have the stomach flu). Plus, they never help with the pain. I've been told, "oh, your pain would havegotten worse if you didn't have it," but it has happened so many times, without any relief, that I know it just does work for me. But doctors keep insisting on giving it. So obviously they are not worried about me seeking something stronger.
When I had a minor surgery a few years back, I told the doctor about it, and she said she did not feel comfortable saying no narcotics, so she said she would write the order in such a way that I would have to ask for it. Well, the stupid nurse in the recovery room gave me 2 doses of morphine, IV, without ebven telling me what she was doing. OMG I was soooo sick. And the kicker is I had no real pain before she gave it--it hurt just enough that I would maybe consider taking a motrin (which I tolerate without any problem and is my go-to pain med).