[Beholden]

Well, I went to see my family doc on Wednesday for refills on 2 meds as well as a referal to see a poditrist about my ingrown toenails.

In 8/08 I had a surgery and was given Pecocet to help with my pain when I was discharged. I can no longer take Advil, Celebrix (NSAIDs) anymore due to kidney disease, I use extra strengthTylenol as needed for osteoarthritis and was told I I could manage my pain with ice, heat, Tylenol and if needed Pecocet by my kidney doc.

Well, my Rx of 60 Pecocet has only 3 tablets left (yeah, in 2 years, I've only use 57 of them!) and I took it only at night since I don't function well taking them while awake.....but I wake up without pain.

My family Doc said he doesn't prescribe Pecocet...too addictive, which I'm aware of. He wrote for Tramadol/Ultram instead. My left hand has been hurting in the past few weeks, don't know why, anyway.... I blame the arthritis....

I took the Tramadol last night after I iced my hand 30 minutes and went to bed. My hand feels better today, but I woke with a headache.

Anyone out there use Tramadol? How is it for you etc... thanks

[(JD)]

No I can't take it. But it's an opiate-like medicine. MDs often have their own picks on pain medicines...who knows why? (I mean, they'll prescribe a more addictive pain killer like methadone in place of another pain reliever that has a big addictive stigma (only.) )
http://www.drugs.com/tramadol.html

[LostSavant]

Originally Posted by Beholden

Well, I went to see my family doc on Wednesday for refills on 2 meds as well as a referal to see a poditrist about my ingrown toenails.

In 8/08 I had a surgery and was given Pecocet to help with my pain when I was discharged. I can no longer take Advil, Celebrix (NSAIDs) anymore due to kidney disease, I use extra strengthTylenol as needed for osteoarthritis and was told I I could manage my pain with ice, heat, Tylenol and if needed Pecocet by my kidney doc.

Well, my Rx of 60 Pecocet has only 3 tablets left (yeah, in 2 years, I've only use 57 of them!) and I took it only at night since I don't function well taking them while awake.....but I wake up without pain.

My family Doc said he doesn't prescribe Pecocet...too addictive, which I'm aware of. He wrote for Tramadol/Ultram instead. My left hand has been hurting in the past few weeks, don't know why, anyway.... I blame the arthritis....

I took the Tramadol last night after I iced my hand 30 minutes and went to bed. My hand feels better today, but I woke with a headache.

Anyone out there use Tramadol? How is it for you etc... thanks

I've been using Tramadol for about 10 years now, with no real problems at all. However, when I moved from PA to FL just a few months back, my new doctor here won't perscribe it for me. But then again, he is not an arthritis specialist. I am still trying to get a referel to one, and hopefully I will be able to get more tramadol. Good Luck.

I get headaches alot too, but not from the tramadol, I have numerous other health conditions that attribute to the headacehs. Hugs.

[thunderbear]

Hey Beholden. I can't take Tramadol (It interferes w/ my Celexa) but my mom-in-law takes it for her back. It does awful things to her blood pressure. She has actually fell out in sezuires due to the med spiking her b/p. But that's about all the docs around here will prescribe. Like LostSavant was saying his doc won't prescribe Tramadol, but ou there you almost have to be half dead from pain before they give you anything other than Tramadol or an NSAID. For me, i am allergic to NSAIDS and asprin. Can't take tramadol, so the doc just tells me to take Tylenoyl for the severe arthritis in my spine and degenerative disc disease. I take about 12-14 tyleoyl a day. Which I know is too much but 2 of them every 4 hours just does'nt help the pain i have. But back to you question, my sister tells me Tramadol helps her alot with her scoliosis and arthritis pain. I have heard it is a good pain med for that ind of pain.

[Beholden]

Now that I've used my new medicine, I'm not getting the headaches. I think I just had a headache!

Now I'm wondering if my hand pain is arthritis. And I really hate not being able to get through one day without the darn pain.

I really don't want to go back to see the doc. because I will be seeing a completely new family practice doctor next time I schedule an appt. that is what happens a lot when you use the Air Force hospital/medical center. I've had 3 different doctors in the past 5 years. the last one was just a 'temp' until the new guy came on board. The other 2, I had for 2 plus years each.

My p doc stays the same because he is a cilivian doc. so I'm grateful for that.

I'm wondering if this hand pain is some kind of 'repetitive strain' stuff, and wondering if something other than drugs and ice could be tried?

Anyone out there have repetitive strain problems? It started up after my sister was here for a visit, so in early July when I did a lot of knitting in a short time. Then it continued with other activities, kayaking for instance and now gardening... I really don't like this. Or have I complained about that already? LOL.... I'm right handed, so why the left one is the one with the pain makes no sense either. Darn it any old way.

[lorna]

I too have hand problems, but its caused through the neck, I wonder if you you have a neck issue that is settling down into your hand, just a question. In my case it affects specific fingers, but i know everyone is different. I have tried tramadol, its slow release meds which I like, but personally i didn't feel it addressed enough nerve pain.

[Beholden]

Originally Posted by lorna

I too have hand problems, but its caused through the neck, I wonder if you you have a neck issue that is settling down into your hand, just a question. In my case it affects specific fingers, but i know everyone is different. I have tried tramadol, its slow release meds which I like, but personally i didn't feel it addressed enough nerve pain.

Hi Lorna,

I don't know what the cause is right now. I really think it is the tendons/etc with what I've been doing this summer. I was a medical massage therapist for 10 years and I sort of remember how much my hands would hurt when I over worked. I do understand how neck issues can refer to the hands...but I haven't gone to the doc for this specific problem. I went to get a pain medication and he wrote for tramadol.

This medicine doesn't make me dizzy/spacey like the percocet did, so I'm hoping it will address the pain issue for me. At least I don't think it does. I haven't tried it during the daytime, only at night. It makes me sleepy.

Thanks for your reply and I hope you feel better. Does your doc say there is something you can do other than pain meds?

[ser25xr]

I take it you mean "percocet", I was given it after shoulder surgery and helped the pain but I did not like it.

You can't take NSAIDS so Voltarin or a generic is out for you. If your kidneys are in trouble for the drugs you were taking then you better be careful with the Tylenol (acetomenophen) as it is very harmful to the liver at high dosages.

In Canada you can get a prescription of Tylenol #3 with codeine and will help reduce the amount of acetomenophen you are taking while giving you a strong pain killer. The ratio of acetomenophen you are now taking will be greatly reduced. With Tylenol #3, one or two pills a couple times a day probably will help.

The downside, codeine is very addictive and a hard habit to break unless you take a controlled amount. Also, the more you take the more tolerant you will become.

Alan

Originally Posted by Beholden

Well, I went to see my family doc on Wednesday for refills on 2 meds as well as a referal to see a poditrist about my ingrown toenails.

In 8/08 I had a surgery and was given Pecocet to help with my pain when I was discharged. I can no longer take Advil, Celebrix (NSAIDs) anymore due to kidney disease, I use extra strengthTylenol as needed for osteoarthritis and was told I I could manage my pain with ice, heat, Tylenol and if needed Pecocet by my kidney doc.

Well, my Rx of 60 Pecocet has only 3 tablets left (yeah, in 2 years, I've only use 57 of them!) and I took it only at night since I don't function well taking them while awake.....but I wake up without pain.

My family Doc said he doesn't prescribe Pecocet...too addictive, which I'm aware of. He wrote for Tramadol/Ultram instead. My left hand has been hurting in the past few weeks, don't know why, anyway.... I blame the arthritis....

I took the Tramadol last night after I iced my hand 30 minutes and went to bed. My hand feels better today, but I woke with a headache.

Anyone out there use Tramadol? How is it for you etc... thanks

[ser25xr]

Sorry, you did ask about Tramadol. I was given that for back pain, but I did not find it as effective as the codeine in the Tylenol!!

Alan

Originally Posted by Beholden

Well, I went to see my family doc on Wednesday for refills on 2 meds as well as a referal to see a poditrist about my ingrown toenails.

In 8/08 I had a surgery and was given Pecocet to help with my pain when I was discharged. I can no longer take Advil, Celebrix (NSAIDs) anymore due to kidney disease, I use extra strengthTylenol as needed for osteoarthritis and was told I I could manage my pain with ice, heat, Tylenol and if needed Pecocet by my kidney doc.

Well, my Rx of 60 Pecocet has only 3 tablets left (yeah, in 2 years, I've only use 57 of them!) and I took it only at night since I don't function well taking them while awake.....but I wake up without pain.

My family Doc said he doesn't prescribe Pecocet...too addictive, which I'm aware of. He wrote for Tramadol/Ultram instead. My left hand has been hurting in the past few weeks, don't know why, anyway.... I blame the arthritis....

I took the Tramadol last night after I iced my hand 30 minutes and went to bed. My hand feels better today, but I woke with a headache.

Anyone out there use Tramadol? How is it for you etc... thanks

[avoice]

Hi was on opana made me very sick. Now i'm on nothing because i'm an addict and nothing works for me so today I have managed pain another day.

[Beholden]

ser25sr,

thanks...right now I try to take a little pain medicine as possible. Some days zero, others 2 - 650mg tabs once or twice a day of the Tylenol. And the Tramadol only before bed. I use ice or just live with it.

If I am still having this hand pain after next week, I think I will go and have the source of it checked out. I just don't like the idea of pain medication.

I won't give up all my activities! darn!

avoice,

Sorry about your addiction issues and doing pain one day at a time.

I know my temporary primary doc thought I was 'seeking' drugs the way he asked me,

"Have you had x-rays of your hands"?

and then added under his breath,
"to see how bad the arthritis is".....

Ha, if 57 pills of Percocet in 27 months would make me suspect, then what the heck? I sure don't want to wreck my kidneys or liver or heart or anyother necessary body parts! I just want to have as little pain as possible without strong or addictive drugs. If or when I need something, I want it to work as well, so I won't over use anything now, not even over the counter Tylenol.

A bag of frozen peas really helps for the short term. thank you for your support.