What are your experiences with tramadol ?

Hi,

I have severe spinal stenosis and I am wondering what was the surgery you had and do you think that was the best course of action?

Spinal stenosis hit me overnight. I woke up on a Sunday morning and I could barely make it to the bathroom. In hindsight, there were warnings. The chiropractic treatments only lasted a day or two before the attack.

I remember when I was 4 years old and having to stop walking a long distance because the pain in my right side was so severe. Over the years, I used to get pains in my right side and I worried that it might be appendicitis. When I had an operation, I asked the doctor to remove my appendices so that I wouldn't worry. My appendice were perfectly healthy. I'm glad I had it removed because I didn't have to worry if I was having appendicitis or not.

My brother phoned. I told him how I felt. He urged me to go to Emergency and I did. I came home with an opiod to cover the pain and directions to call and arrange for an x-ray. I got it and and an oppointment with a surgeon. It was going to be at least a year wait.

I kept calling his officeonce a month until I got a call back. He gave me a choice. One was to stay on 2 Tramadol and 2 Gabapentin 4 to 5 times a day or an operation with no guarantees. I took the operation. Even though it's not perfect. 4 Tramadol a day is better than the previous. I still go to the chiropractor and the acupuncturist every 2 or 3 weeks. I've accepted the fact that this is the rest of my life. It beats being in a wheel chair. I find if I walk my little dog and touch my toes while in the shower that seems to help. There are times that I am in pain but I keep working. It seems to eventually help wear off the pain. I couldn't tell what the surgery was. I suspect it helped relieve the pressure on my spinal cord. I have a scar about 4 inches long on my spine. The surgeon was pleased with his handiwork. Surgeons are not very good at bed side manners. The information that I was given wasn't all that helpful. I went through hell at first because i was determined to get off the opiods. One pain killer ended up giving me a minor heart attack. The doctors didn't tell me to not take it for more than 3 days at a time. My cardiologist said because there was no visible damage to my heart he didn't consider it a heart attack. My blood pressure went through the roof and it scared the living daylights out of me. So much so, I checked my will and realized I needed my executor to sign some papers. I got it done! That was about 2 years ago--and I'm still kicking! For me, the operation was worth it, even though it's not perfect. I have days when I act and feel like the "old me." That would not be happening if I stayed on those pain killers.

I have been taking tramadol for 8 years. I crushed my foot and ankle and had multiple other, bone, muscle, tendon and nerve injuries. The pain management Dr. tried everything for chronic pain. Tramadol has been the only thing that manages the pain effectively with the least amount of opioids. After a while I was not getting as restful a sleep as I use to. 'Not sure if it is the tramadol or some other reason. My pain management Docs in Pennsylvania had no problem using the drug daily. However since moving to Ohio recently and all the opioid problems this State has had, there is a legal State ban on all opioid medication except post-operative or while in a nursing home so my pain is being left untreated. Good luck.