I had to watch this episode on another night, & I had heard from several people that they didn't like it because it was so different. For me, it was actually pretty important. It never made sense to me that with all the fuss Wilson & Cuddy make over House's Vicodin, that they never would have considered getting a pain management dr to try different medications--some of which have time-released formulas that help prevent the highs that lead to addiction & OD's. For a show about doctors, it seemed like a critical mistake. Now we at least see House trying something different (and I believe there have been many incidents that indicate the Vicodin just isn't working as well for him anymore.). As far as whether or not the portrayal was realistic--different meds affect different people in different ways, so while the portrayal may not have been typical, that doesn't mean it was wrong. If you rememebr when Stacey came on the show, Cameron asked her how House was before the leg injury, and she said pretty much the same (but apparently he was better able to sustain relationships then). So of course he should have been just as good a dr without pain. I think the point was that he did so many things "just because" the parents wanted it--like ordering the tests--and that was not his regular behavior. Was it the lack of pain? Doubtful. That it could have been his reaction to a powerful drug is possible, or he could have had his judgement clouded by other effects of the drug besides pain relief that weren't explored. But my main point was that I think to be realistic, the show had to portray House trying something else besides Vicodin, as he is a doctor and as the Vicodin seemed to be less effective with use.

Well this episode certainly hit some buttons I don't think the writer's knew they would hit. Yes, chronic pain and the solution to chronic pain is a constant battle. Being someone who suffers from Fibromyalgia my whole life being in constant pain is not fun, especially pain no one can see. My husband has a heart defect that causes him daily pain and we both constantly deal with the decision whether to kill the pain and feel better or live with it and not be on medications. Plus then theres the question of what medication to take and the pros and cons. My husband watched this episode and became seriously pissed at Cuddy and Wilson for giving House crap for trying to kill his pain. Plus he was functional! He wasn't doped up and stabbing people with needles. He was being nice and relaxed. OMG! Give the man a break. I think there biggest issue is they only knew how to deal with the acerbic House and was sure he would sprial downward like he does on Oxycontin. However, Houses decision was just as stupid. He made a mistake anyone would make, but not only that he now knows that he needs to filter requests, so why not learn from this and be pain free and still a great doctor. This show starts to get better, even has interesting storylines, but then dive bombs constantly. As much as I like Hugh Laurie I'm having serious trouble sticking to this show.

It was a true delight to see Hugh Laurie end this season with "softness". He looked great in a suit and with a shave. Thanks to the writers of "The Softer Side "episode. Remember this is only television, not real life. Do not criticize an eqisode that can end a season with such grace.

Bruce- WTF? Dude...you read much, too much into this thing.

"Secondly, the last scene between Cuddy and House. She's desperate to keep him around and have him happy (or slightly less unhappy at any rate) not because she cares about his well-being, but because a nicer House is someone she could have a real relationship with. "

not sure it was that angle they were searching with that scene, I think she says this to him so because she wanted him to stop taking the methadon, wishing he do the contrary ... another step in their "game". I dont think she liked much the "new improved" House.

Would House be happier without the pain. Of course. Would he be nicer, I don't think so. I think House without the pain would be the best that House has to offer. Ascerbic, misanthropic, egotistical, snide, brilliant, unaffected........and damn happy about it. Simple.

Re: House changing and growing...I think the point is to have a character that APPEARS to grow, but his primary personality traits ALWAYS reassert themselves eventually, and he stays in place. That allows him to stay on this job, doing the one thing that brings him joy: solving puzzles. Well, two things: Solving puzzles and being right.

If House grew as a person? The show would be over. Immediately. It would become unwatchable.

And yeah...13 would be under a mountain of malpractice paper right about now. As would everyone at this hospital...half of the crap they tell patients or family of patients is illegal to divulge.

Melissa: why would you amputate a leg when there's medication that you can take to stop it from hurting? Because the medicine is politically incorrect and your "friends" are opiophobic ignorant jackasses who'd rather see you suffer in pain than take the medicine that helps you function pain-free? That's a bad excuse to chop off a leg.

Then there are the "ethical" issues people would raise and few if any surgeons would be willing to amputate a perfectly good (i.e. not malignant, not going to kill you) body part. Especially one as big as a whole leg - starting at the upper thigh. That's a huge amputation.

The only problem with being dependent on a medicine is not being able to get the medicine legally and inexpensively. Nobody would fire a diabetic for needing to take insulin. A lot of the commonly-prescribed antidepressants, like paxil, cause severe withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

The problem is not the pain medication House takes, the problem is with society's view of these medicines. Everyone is inherently jealous of those people who take opiates, and they feel that you have to "earn" the right to take those drugs (war injury is fine - they "earned" the right to take morphine). Deep down inside, everyone - you included - is jealous of pain patients who receive opiate prescriptions.

When is 13 gonna die? I hope soon!!!! Why does she get to be in the center of all the last
episodes?
I liked this episode much more than the 2 last ones, House was part of the plot and not a by stander. I also think that the girl-hooker that was in his apartment when Wilson stopped by wasn't there just to watch him sleep. Since he was pain free he just had wild sex with her because he's a normal guy who has a life while he doesn't do Cuddy.

Can I ask an obvious (at least to me) question here? If this leg causes so much pain and thus addiction/dependence on pain meds (which I don't blame him for at all)...why doesn't he just amputate the bloody thing? We have prostetics that allow you to do pretty much everything nowadays. And by the way, 13 is an idiot. If I were that mother I would have 1) sued the hospital for breach of confidentiality 2) kicked 13's anorexic bony a**. I can't believe Cuddy let her stay on the case...in the real world, she would have been fired. As well she should be being the headcase that she is.