Andy, I believe that unnecessary suffering should be avoided. As I was recovering, I tried not to take painkillers, but I still used them. I used Diclofenac as a cream and Aleve in pills, and I still made it to about 95% recovery. I use Aleve very sparingly for migraines because it gives me almost a narcotic high and at some point I caught myself wanting to take it not as a pain killer but to lift my mood. The less frequently I take it, the more effective it seems to be each time I take it. Beware that your TMS journey may take you longer than you expect (as it was for me and many others), so be careful not to get used to the painkillers. Best of luck!