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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@AlwaysHopeful

Good advice - thank you. I have never considered extra strength Tylenol, but I"ll try it. I am on 50mg 2 a day. Only use it in the evening when I start getting a headache that can go into a migraine if I don't act on it.

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Be careful excessive use of Tylenol is damaging to the liver and excessive use of Motrin may cause stomach bleeding

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@ruislip0416

I started out taking tramadol for fibromyalgia pain and it has been increased to 4 times a day at 50mg plus to 500mg of Tylenol with it. It has very little effect on my pain. I am glad it works for some of you. I wish I could find some kind of pain relief. Any suggestions let me know. Thank you.

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What does your pain feel like ? That's the question, people have different pain. I have a prickly feeling and sometimes pinpoint cramping. My Surgeon gave me Oxycodone which helps but I don't want to get addicted also it makes me nauseous and kind of depressed. Has anyone had similar experiences ? Is Tramadol better ? I can't sleep now, so I thought I would just try to connect with other people with pain.

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@annie1

What does your pain feel like ? That's the question, people have different pain. I have a prickly feeling and sometimes pinpoint cramping. My Surgeon gave me Oxycodone which helps but I don't want to get addicted also it makes me nauseous and kind of depressed. Has anyone had similar experiences ? Is Tramadol better ? I can't sleep now, so I thought I would just try to connect with other people with pain.

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My pain is a burning ache with sharp pains that go down both legs. My arms and hand have pinpricks and aching at this point. I can't take oxycodone but I have used hydromorphone and it was not for neuropathy pain. I have been on tramadol with no success. Right now the only thing that helps a little is when I take a hot shower.

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@AlwaysHopeful

One medication that has worked for me is pregabalin, also know as Lyrica. After three years of chronic pain, this seems to be working. I'm holding my breath. I still take 2 tablets of tramadol (50 mg each) in the evening when I get a headache type of pain that can evolve into a migraine if I don't take the tramadol. I often wonder if this signifies an addiction to tramadol.

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Always hopeful,I’ve been taking Lyrica for fibromyalgia for years. Recently, I decided to get off of it as an experiment.
After a few days, I went back on it. It was helping.
As for Tramadol, I have resorted to taking my dog’s Tramadol on many occasions. Especially before my hip replacement. The hip replacement took care of 90% of my pain.
I was seeing a pain doctor - still am - and she was very upset about the Tramadol.
I told her that if she would just give me my own Tramadol then I wouldn’t take my dogs. She would not. Everytime I see this doctor, she makes me pee in a cup. Sheesh.

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@ferret911

I’ve been taking tramadol (50mg 4/day tops) with 3 Extra Strength Tylenol for my bone on bone knee arthritis for 12 years. I recall it got bumped up to Schedule 1 (addictive) years ago, but haven’t read the research. None of my doctors seem concerned about addiction with it. I did a science experiment to stop it for a month to see about any withdrawal reaction. I didn’t have a withdrawal reaction but I sure missed the relief it gave me in conjunction with the Tylenol. Give that cocktail a try/takes about 3 weeks to kick in. Most folks give up too soon on meds…

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I'm going to add in the extra strength tylenol - thank you for the suggestion.

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@26sabrina

I have been taking Tramadol 50 mg 4 times a day for 8 years for neuropathy. It does help. Doctors not concerned about addiction.

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Very happy that it works for you !

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@susanfalcon52

Always hopeful,I’ve been taking Lyrica for fibromyalgia for years. Recently, I decided to get off of it as an experiment.
After a few days, I went back on it. It was helping.
As for Tramadol, I have resorted to taking my dog’s Tramadol on many occasions. Especially before my hip replacement. The hip replacement took care of 90% of my pain.
I was seeing a pain doctor - still am - and she was very upset about the Tramadol.
I told her that if she would just give me my own Tramadol then I wouldn’t take my dogs. She would not. Everytime I see this doctor, she makes me pee in a cup. Sheesh.

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Do you have the abillity to change doctors ? The peeing in a cup is demeaning and bullying. Her message is that she can get your pee tested for tramadol use.

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@ruislip0416

My pain is a burning ache with sharp pains that go down both legs. My arms and hand have pinpricks and aching at this point. I can't take oxycodone but I have used hydromorphone and it was not for neuropathy pain. I have been on tramadol with no success. Right now the only thing that helps a little is when I take a hot shower.

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have you seen a neurologist?

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@deltadawn3775

Chronic pain, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, cervical fusion-currently partial herniation of cervical spine above fusion, loose SI lumbar spine. So I have been on tramadol 2-3 x per day for about 20 years! I am not addicted, I don’t crave it! I always take 1 tab 2x/day to manage daily continuous pain. That said I do have a tolerance level, if I miss a minimum dose I do become nauseous, increased pain, worsened fatigue. Then I realize I need to take my dose. Those symptoms resolve. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TOLERANCE & ADDICTION! Retired nurse and this so irritates me that legitimate patients are being treated like drug addicts! (Limited number of pills, urine drug screens etc. Rant over! thanks!

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deltadawn,
Totally agree. See my posts about ‘confessing’ to taking my dog’s Tramadol because pain doc wouldn’t give me my own. Everytime I go there, she makes me pee in a cup.
As a psychotherapist, I understand that there is a difference in dependence and addiction.

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@ruthblaze

Be careful excessive use of Tylenol is damaging to the liver and excessive use of Motrin may cause stomach bleeding

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Good. point - thank you.

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