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What are your experiences with tramadol ?

Posted by Always Hopeful @AlwaysHopeful, Jun 16 7:42am

I have been taking tramadol for over 20 years. It was first prescribed for knee pain. This was the era when they did meniscus surgery. I'm sure the medication is not effective for me now, but it continues to be prescribed. Any other thoughts or experiences?

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brotherchuckles80 | @brotherchuckles80 | Jul 22 2:29pm
In reply to @shaylyn4 "Hi! brotherchuckles80. I probably should have mentioned that I was a nurse for 48 yrs. The..." + (show)
@shaylyn4

Hi! brotherchuckles80. I probably should have mentioned that I was a nurse for 48 yrs. The last 25 taking care of medical/ surgical older adults#- 65 & up.At the time Tramadol was a script med. but not a narcotic. Many were from nursing homes and on scheduled Tramadol and as needed.The doses were all high and when I spoke to a physician he stated that they had been taking for a long time and they became “ used to” it or addicted but at their advanced age they should be allowed to be comfortable. I think that I was allergic to it.I have very bad osteoporosis and in pain most of the time. I wanted no narcotic pain med so my rheumatologist tried me on Tramadol. After only a few doses I had Stephen Johnson Syndrome. ( you can google it )
Thanks for your response. God Bless

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Thank you for sharing that information shaylyn4. And may God bless you on your journey. brotherchuckles80

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alba72 | @alba72 | Jul 23 7:06am

Tramadol works well for me with no side effects. I use ibuprofen first with warm tea. If I have no results I take one tramadol. It takes about an hour to work. I use a heating pad as well. It is the only thing that eases my muscle spasms due to spinal stenosis and I am grateful to have it.

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Always Hopeful | @AlwaysHopeful | Jul 23 8:51pm

So happy it works for you. I like the idea of the heating pad. There is always something comforting about using one!

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1 reply
shelsie22 | @shelsie22 | Jul 24 1:39pm
In reply to @AlwaysHopeful "So happy it works for you. I like the idea of the heating pad. There is..." + (show)
@AlwaysHopeful

So happy it works for you. I like the idea of the heating pad. There is always something comforting about using one!

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tramadol does not work for me . for muscle spasms my Dr prescribed Lidocaine patches; it work well most of the time.

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Always Hopeful | @AlwaysHopeful | Jul 24 9:27pm

Good to hear the patches work. I'm going to check into that - thank you.

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Always Hopeful | @AlwaysHopeful | Jul 25 3:18pm
In reply to @deltadawn3775 "I have been on tramadol for about 20 years also. Taking 2-3 daily all the time,..." + (show)
@deltadawn3775

I have been on tramadol for about 20 years also. Taking 2-3 daily all the time, sometimes up to 4. I do go into withdrawal if I forget the morning dose, by mid afternoon I don’t feel well, nausea, fatigue, aching all over, then take a tramadol and it goes away. I, also, take hydrocodone/apap 6-8 tabs over a week, sometimes days none, other days 2-3 tabs. If you have been taking tramadol for ongoing pain I wouldn’t worry about continuing to take it. I, also, use ice packs, heating pad, massager, stretches.

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I'm interested in the hydrocodone - I think tramadol hs run its course for me. Thank you for your reply and take care.

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sadies1mom | @sadies1mom | Jul 26 5:06pm

I'm surprised you are able to get a prescription. In some states, there are laws that don't allow for more than 4 days.
Maybe after so many years, you have developed a resistance to it.

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csmirat | @csmirat | Jul 26 10:10pm
In reply to @linamend "Actually, it it works, then that's awesome! I was also taking it for arthritis. Effects wore..." + (show)
@linamend

Actually, it it works, then that's awesome! I was also taking it for arthritis. Effects wore off and increasing doses were not feasible.

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It was much more effective for me when pain Dr switched me to tramadol extended release. Such a big difference and have stayed on that dose for 5 years now with no increases and no addiction. To be honest with you my dr says you cannot get addicted to tramadol because it doesn't cause withdrawals when stopping it. You can actually emotionally be addicted to any med in reality. I took 6 aspirin a day before going on tramadol. Even that was tough to stop because I was so scared to be in pain but aspirin is terrible for either your liver or kidneys.

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2 replies
jana13 | @jana13 | Jul 27 9:24am
In reply to @csmirat "It was much more effective for me when pain Dr switched me to tramadol extended release...." + (show)
@csmirat

It was much more effective for me when pain Dr switched me to tramadol extended release. Such a big difference and have stayed on that dose for 5 years now with no increases and no addiction. To be honest with you my dr says you cannot get addicted to tramadol because it doesn't cause withdrawals when stopping it. You can actually emotionally be addicted to any med in reality. I took 6 aspirin a day before going on tramadol. Even that was tough to stop because I was so scared to be in pain but aspirin is terrible for either your liver or kidneys.

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I really try not to take Tramadol because l can’t take it if l take Xanax, So if there is a day my back and hip pain are bad l have to leave off the Xanax and hope for the best. I can’t take NSAIDS because of my chronic kidney disease. I think if my rheumatologist would talk me about the pain instead of saying that she will treat the inflammation and the pain clinic can treat the pain. Maybe l just have too many things going on. If the pain gets too l intend to take the Tramadol and let the chips fall where they may.

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1 reply
linamend | @linamend | Jul 27 12:11pm
In reply to @csmirat "It was much more effective for me when pain Dr switched me to tramadol extended release...." + (show)
@csmirat

It was much more effective for me when pain Dr switched me to tramadol extended release. Such a big difference and have stayed on that dose for 5 years now with no increases and no addiction. To be honest with you my dr says you cannot get addicted to tramadol because it doesn't cause withdrawals when stopping it. You can actually emotionally be addicted to any med in reality. I took 6 aspirin a day before going on tramadol. Even that was tough to stop because I was so scared to be in pain but aspirin is terrible for either your liver or kidneys.

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Tramadol is one of the synthetic narcotics. You have a very low chance of getting "addicted", but that's a misnomer. You can get physically "dependent", so that if you reduce the dosage you may feel extreme fatigue which is relieved by taking a small dose.

Aspirin is not just bad for liver and kidneys, but it affects your platelets and the clotting cascade of thrombin. With long term use you will develop easy bruising because of capillary fragility and the inability of your blood to properly clot. Quite dangerous.

Your quote about "emotional" addiction is not quite right. You mean psychological dependency.

Please feel free to contact me for further explanations.

Lin Amendt, PhD

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