Thnkas Chris for replying. You know how it is then. These docs around here, push that tramadol like it was the next big thing. I know it is a good pain med for back pain (my sis is on it for arthritis) but I went back on my Celexa and you can't take tramadol with Celexa. I have even had a doc ask "What's more important to you managing your PTSD / depression symptoms or your pain" Ugh!! Of course I chose my mental symptoms. And went home with instructions on how to take 2 tylenoyl (LOL) every 4 hours and use moist heat. That was 3 weeks ago. For some reason the pain in my neck, shoulders and low back has almost driven me mad. The other week it hurt so bad I was throwing up so went to ER. The ER doc told me to not come back in over back pain cause they could not give me pain medicine (I have been in there 2x this year, gues thats too many) cause I have DDD and it's a chronic pain only to be treated by either my GP or my neuro. Which sounded funny t o me. But hey what can you do? My husband's friend has arthritis in his leg from an accident years ago, he doctor hops and gets all these diff pain meds (he don't even hurt that bad he has bragged on that) and sells them and makes money on them. That's why people my age can't get relief from real pain. i don't know. I feel like a druggie when I ask for them. So I kinda just quit asking.