I'm thinking we all need to do more study and take more responsibility for our own health. I still trust my docs, but they are SO burdened with regulations and rules they have little real time with patients. Then there are all the materials they are bombarded with from companies selling stuff from meds to instruments and more. Maybe most of those otc meds do some good for many people, and some do get carried away with dosing themselves, so bear some of the 'blame'.
My heart doc at the time, did tell me the stomach ulcers I didn't know I had, which caused enough blood loss to cause a heart attack, were caused by taking too much Aleve, AND that it is one of the worst, if over-consumed, for causing problems. I was 'encouraged' to use the higher doses for the joint and back pains for which I was trying to postpone surgery at the time.
So, having had some surgeries, and still quite a lot of pain, I'm mostly living with it, but am doing some study of and trying herbal and spices as 'meds', as well as Tens machine and various braces. Sure wish the acupuncture and massage people I like were not so far away!
It is old injuries, some arthritis, and not handling stresses of life well that are causing me the most pain. The prescription meds for Arth. scare me more than the pain does, so will keep on with what I'm doing, more or less. I appreciate that things could be worse, and sure enjoy most of life at age 77, and really am not worse off than 40 years ago, but do handle it better now.
mrj