I never had any luck at all w/either Vicodin or Loratabs (combinations of hydrocodone & Tylenol/acetaminaphen in varying strengths). They just don't work. Percocet (oxycontin) makes me sick to my stomach in a horrible painful way.

Darvocet works for me - but I have to take it before I start hurting. Right now, I've got Ultracet, which is tramadol & Tylenol & it works whether I take it before I start hurting or afterwards & without the sensory narcotic-type side effects of Darvocet (ya know, when it just feels really really good to rub your nose?). (I've got nerve damage, bad knees & scoliosis, so I occasionally end up w/pain killers when it gets really bad)

I've noticed that a lot of pain killers are ineffective unless I take them before I start hurting, or they take awhile to kick in. The only narcotic-type pain killer that's ever worked quickly & during pain was codeine. As far as a fast-acting, non-narcotic, actually effective pain killer was Aleve (naproxy sodium). I bought it accidentally one time thinking I was buying ibuprofen (Wal-Green's generic ibuprofen & generic Aleve's have very similar packaging & very similar 'name brands'). I decided to try it, (even though I've heard a lot of bad things about that type of pain killer) & it worked - fast!!! And at the minimum recommended dose, too!!! I've discovered that if I take the Aleve at the onset of pain (or when I wake up hurting) & then take the Ultracet, the Ultracet kicks in before the Aleve wears off.