[bebop]

has anyone ever taken tramadol for chronic pain?

[heyjoe]

i havent taken it but i have heard from people that tramadol and lyrica together has been effective

[EJ711]

By any chance are these non-addictive?

EJ

[bebop]

heyjoe I am finding this doesn't help my pain at all. errrr

[bebop]

ej it is suppose to be non narcotic. for me though it is not helping the pain.

[MyBestKids2]

Hi bebop,

My husband was just prescribed Tramadol (50 mg) 2 tables every 6 hours. Its meant to replace his Oxycodone so can return to work safely. He said its better than aspirin, but not as good as the Oxycodone and morphine sulfate he previously took.

Dee

[bebop]

I am in so much pain right now the tears are rolling. this stuff won't even touch the pain. this is worse than it has been in a while now. wish I had something strong right now!

[kimmydawn]

(((((((((((((((((( bee ))))))))))))))))))))

Hubby has that to take during the day (two at a time) and then has hydrocodone to take at night when he's not working.

He said the ultra works better than regular tylenol, but not like the hydrocodone. It's better than nothing, I guess.

It's brand name is ultram. There are some side effects and i guess it's also up in the air as to whether it's addictive or not. I guess if it is, it's to a way low scale?

I'm so sorry you're hurting so much. Can you call dr. or go to ER/urgent care?

Love,

KD

I take it and it works very well.
you can easily take 200-300 mg per day, so maybe that is the problem...not enough?

[bebop]

I don't know hon. I know it does nothing. going back to lortab I think.

[Perna]

Yes, I was taking Tramadol (1-75 mg, every 6 hrs. as needed) and it did "nothing" until some of the pain got less (which then, I didn't really need it, did I!) and I think it is habit forming even if not "addictive". Didn't even help make me sleepy so I could get to sleep when the initial pain was making that hard. I still have some percocet I don't need anymore if you want me to email you some :-)

I took tramadol (Ultram) a number of years ago, but it did not work well for me. I felt like I wasn't taking anything at all. I didn't have any side effects but there also was no decrease in pain either. I am taking different pain meds now that are working well for me.

[bebop]

I have lortab left over as well. I am going to ask the dr to put me back on it. not like I take it all the time anyway. I hate meds so that isn't an issue but at the times the pain in unbearable I will at least have that

[InACorner]

just dont OD on it.....pretty scary

[bebop]

no I won't hon. I hate meds

[Peacemaker]

A Rheumatologist, who I first saw for chronic pain, prescribed Ultram for my pain. Unfortunately, I experienced 0 pain relief. He was not sure of my diagnosis and sent me to Mayo Clinic which diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. That was the beginning of my hell because it rapidly spread to every part of my body except for my face, the front of my torso, and feet. The pain was excrutiating and severe. I eventually found a Pain Management Specialist (after attending a chronic pain program which was a bust). She prescribed Methadone which worked well and enabled me to focus and concentrate at work.

Today, the Fibromyalgia is gone... woooo hoooo. I do have chronic pain today but it is due to degenerating facet joints in my lumbar spine. I take Suboxone for the pain and undergo Rhizotomy (severing of the peripheral nerves of the lumbar spine) every 10+ months.

If you are interested how I was "cured" of FM. let me know. I have nothing to sell; just info to share.

Hope your doctor finds a med that helps.

[Peacemaker]

Hi Dee,

First of all, is your husband seeing a Pain Management Specialist? I have found them to be much more aggressive in treating chronic pain.

You may want to tell him to ask his doctor about trying Suboxone. It is a newer drug that is meant to replace the use of Methadone for heroin addicts. In my opinion, Methadone works better to relieve pain. Suboxone works but may provide less relief. One important fact about this med is that you absolutely can not take an opiod drug because there is a component (naloxone) in Suboxone that will cause a withdrawl type reaction that will make one horribly ill. The doctor had me begin the drug before the Methadone was out of my system. I had only been off of it for 3 days when it takes about 30. I felt like I had the flu but a 100 times worse. I even had to have my husband stay home from work to take care of me. It lasted 7 days.

By the way, I am still on Suboxone. I did have surgery where Demerol was ordered. The anesthesiologist assured me that it wasn't enough to cause a reaction so I let them give it to me. I was fine.

Hope this helps.

[(JD)]

What I don't understand is why they put ppl on those other meds like Methadone, which are far more addictive and just as potent or more so than demerol i.e. yet it's perfectly fine with them because it doesn't have the stigma and the problems with the FDA... for them. The stigma of being on Methadone and not being an addict is more than the average pain sufferer needs to mess with, imo.

[Peacemaker]

Sky,

I have to agree with you that some people carry a bias against those who take Methadone as they automatically assume that the person is a recovering Heroin addict. I learned the hard way. I had reconstructive surgery on my foot and the nurse refused me the ordered pain meds post-op because as she said "you can take your Methadone".

Actually, studies show that few chronic pain patients become addicted to their pain meds as long as they are not abused. Actually, it was found that the pain patients were less likely to abuse prescribed narcotics than if they were self medicating. In addition, Methadone can be very safe too take when the patient communicates closely with their Pain Management Specialist.

Now that Suboxone is out, the docs are switching to it. Unfortunately for some, it is so expensive that they can not afford treatment where Methadone is quite affordable. Hopefully, their doctors will work with them.

Another plus for the phsyician is that prescribing Suboxone will help keep the Feds away because the doctor will not be prescribing a Class II narcotic so often.

By the way, Demerol isn't used so often because it's half-life is only 2 hours requiring more frequent dosing. This, too, makes it more addictive.

I hope I haven't offended you. I have just been a chronic pain patient for many years.

Be Blessed,
Peacemaker

[(JD)]

No offense taken

I tried the methadone just because my MD is antsy about the Feds it didn't work, it made me terribly sick. I don't agree with changing something that works, and has worked without much increase for over 10 years, just because of stigma.

BTW I didn't enjoy the stigma that went with methadone either. I didn't receive the respect I normally did when encountering other medical personnel. THAT is a shame!

My only issue with the demerol is I don't get high. LOL Sure would be nice once in a while, don't you think, to feel some euphoria instead of pain? What AM I saying!? I'm thankful I have tools for good pain management.

TC

[Peacemaker]

You know, Sky, a little high from the pain meds would be nice. Out of all the pain meds I have taken, I never once received a high. Go figure!!!

[heyjoe]

there actually is something to that, if you are in great pain you wont get high or not high after the first few times using it. Its when you use it to get high that the problems start. In pain you may become dependant on them to be able to function to a high level in life, used to get high they become addictive. There is a difference.

[bebop]

I am just happy I still have some of my lortab left over. I am gonna tell my dr the tramadol just does not work.

[bptoo]

No, I've never taken Tramadol for pain. I have severe chronic pain in my back and knees. I take 180mgs per day of Avinza, and Norco as needed for breakthrough pain. It's a pretty strong med combo, but when the pain is at it's worst, it's worth the few side effects.

Greg

[Peacemaker]

bebop,

i forgot to mention in my other posts that i have been rxed Tramadol twice. the stuff was absolutely worthless for me each time. the first time i was rxed it was when i had fibromyalgia. the rheumatologist i was seeing at the time did not believe in prescribing narcotics as they are addictive and dangerous (his words not mine). the second time i was given tramadol was to use for a hairline fracture. the only difference was that the doctor had me take more than the normal dose. again, a waste of money. as i was on suboxone, there was no way that i could take an opiate with it and not experience false withdrawl. suboxone is an agonist/antagonist (naloxone) . an antagonist will fight an opiate for receptors. rather than to more technical... when this occurs, all hell breaks loose and you become extremely ill. today, pain docs have jumped on the suboxone band wagon because there is absolutely no way you can abuse opiates with it, it is not a class II narcotic like methadone, and it keeps the feds happy.

most people i talk to find no relief with tramadol or Ultram. if you do, that is great. keep us up to date. i am truly interested in what the outcome is.

Peacemaker (Sherri)