Chelee,
I expanded this over in artcles and there are some potentail solutions with existing opiate companions:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=42074
Another option is diclophenac. M y mom needed pain relief and after a negotiation wit the NP, came to came to this. It is an antinflammatory she said is used by ortho docs. Tramadol is a weak opiate but m=might be better than a prmary opiate, especially in combination wit hone of teh supplemental reversers below.
Anyway..the two opiate companions that may avoid the cancer issue are methylnaltrexone and cox inhibitors. Methylnaltrexone is available as Relistor and is sometimes prescribed to address opiate induced constipation. Maybe you need some Relistor anyway
