Pain Meds Post Op

I'm curious about different experiences with regard to pain meds. I can count on one hand the times I've actually used the opiate meds and sometimes I can even do without anything at all, entirely.

But, there are times when nothing else will control that pain (usually when it's my own fault for overdoing it). I've learned to recognize that it's when the pain is affecting my mood = making me nervous, unwilling to move, shaky, irritable.

How far out from surgery are such times for you all? What's been your typical experience so far?