Probably you know about the opioid alternatives, but did you try anticonvulsants [1] for your nerve pain? I had nerve damage after a surgical procedure, and opioids did not really help. A doctor suggested to try Gabapentin, which greatly reduced pain down to tolerable levels. While anticonvulsants probably have their own risks, they seem much less addictive than opioids, and are probably easier to get on prescription.