Is pain management and anesthesia more aggressive in the US than in other countries?
I'm from Peru, and something I've noticed from reading people's experiences online is how differently pain seems to be managed in the US compared with what I'm used to here.
For example, I've had dental extractions and root canals, and I've only ever had local anesthesia. I've never been offered nitrous oxide, even though I know it's relatively common in the US, especially for anxious patients.
I've noticed something similar with pain medication after medical or surgical procedures. Americans often mention being prescribed opioids or stronger painkillers for procedures where, in Peru, people might simply be told to take ibuprofen, acetaminophen/paracetamol, or another NSAID.
I've also seen Americans receive larger quantities or combinations of medications after procedures that seem fairly similar.
I'm not saying one approach is necessarily better than the other, and obviously individual cases vary. I'm curious about the cultural and medical differences behind this.
Is it actually common to be offered sedation or stronger prescription painkillers for relatively routine procedures, or does the internet exaggerate how common this is?