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 I second the bringing a stash of your own pain meds.  I felt like I was drinking colored Kool-aid as my pain med while in Germany.  My first couple of days I had completely uncontrolled pain.  There is no reason for such suffering.  Discuss with your doctor before you go.  
 Cindylou
 
				__________________bicycle accident 6/01:  2 compression fractures @ T12-L1; vertibroplasty; 4/06: right hip labral tear & arthroscopic repair; 4/07:  lumbar prodiscs @ 3 levels, L3-6 by Dr. Bertagnoli; 7/02/08: ALIF L6-S1; 7/30/08: reopened to remove bone cement, leaked onto S1 nerve root; 8/08: pulmonary embolism, double pneumonia, collapsed left lung, pleurisy, pleural effusion;  ALIF fusion complete; 3/10/09: SI Joint Fusion by Dr. Stark; Jury still out.
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