tramadol

[Guest guest]

As I read your conversations, it troubles me that your doctors don't put you on a longer lasting & stronger pain medication. For instance, MS Contin, Oxycontin, Opana and there are others. Taking the pain meds that contain Tylenol/Acetominophen - you must  not take more than 4000mg of tylenol in a 24hour period. I am a nurse, I have worked with Pain Management Practices for over 15 years. Chronic pain patients really benefit from seeing a good pain management doctor. It really is unacceptable practice for a doctor to refuse to go up on the scale of narcotics to treat pain. You/we all have REAL pain in this group. 

My pain doctor put me on Oxycontin in November, because when the short acting Vicodan, Percocet, etc.- if I slept over 6 hours - I usually sleep 8 - I would wake up in miserable pain (8/10)  that took a couple hours to catch up with pain meds.

Then in the first week of December I saw my Pain doc and had epidural steroid injections and median branch blocks. Since then I have really not needed to take any pain medication - however I had to take the oxycontin and wean down because of symptoms of physiologic withdrawal. 

Finding a good pain management specialist is just as difficult as finding a good surgeon or medical specialist. I travel 5 hours to get to my pain doctor - but it is worth it!

Just had to put my two cents in on this discussion. It really floors me when I hear people in your situations that have docs that won't prescribe the medications that are really going to help you. And unfortunately, there are alot out there like this.

KateOn Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 2:07 PM, Andy Stanton <andystanton@...> wrote:

 

You’re welcome, Karyn.

 

Yes, my doctor(s) repeatedly told me I was

in danger of harming my liver. For that reason, I had/have lots of blood tests

to make sure I’m OK.

 

Maybe you can negotiate with your doc to

continue taking the amount of Tramadol you require for effective pain control as

long as he takes regular tests?

 

To my mind, I’ll do anything to

avoid bad pain. I would take morphine if my doc would prescribe it (he won’t).

I used to feel bad about taking Percocet, but I don’t care anymore. I

know I’ll never be a [psychological] drug addict. Yes, my body might get

used to my current dose and so I might have to increase it, but so be it. My

doc, thank goodness, completely trusts me – he knows I use it safely.

 

If your pain becomes uncontrollable, there

are a couple of people in this group who have an implanted pain pump that

delivers morphine automatically. If you’re curious, ask (our Feisty

High Priestess!).

 

Andy

 

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Izarah Star

Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010

11:55 AM

Subject: RE:

question for my fellow canadians

 

 

Thanks Andy for the info. Did your Dr ever discuss

the dangers of Tramadol to you?

 

I am not a canditate for revision ( too risky)- so

finding some thing that i can take long term is fairly important to me. I

just worry that while i am helping in one area- i am ruinng another other,

UGH!

 

Karyn

 

From: Andy Stanton <andystanton@ comcast.net>

Subject: RE: question for my fellow canadians

FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

Received: Friday, January 1, 2010, 9:02 PM

 

Hi Karyn,

 

I just saw your post…I’ve been on

Tramadol for 15 years with no liver problems. My primary care doc likes me

to get a twice yearly blood test to check my liver function, which I do,

but I’ve never any problems.

 

Best of luck,

Andy Stanton

Boulder Colorado

 

From: FeistyScolioFlatbac

kers@groups .com [mailto: FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com ] On Behalf Of Izarah

Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010

3:26 PM

FeistyScolioFlatbac

kers@groups .com

Subject:

question for my fellow canadians

 

 

Has

anyone been prescibed Vicodin? I've been told its illegal in Canada-but i

am not sure if thats true. I am taking Tramdol-which has helped way better

than the T3's I used to take.

When my flatback is totally unmanageable I am prescribed Morphine-

Does anyone in Canada

have any success with other drugs? My concern with the Tramadol is the long

term effects it will take on my liver. So do we live with the pain now or

do we continue to take meds to help us now and worry about the long term

side effects later?

Karyn from Canada

 

Ask a question

on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers.

 

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for

Get it Now for Free!

-- KATE TRUDO

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate- I saw a pain specialist as well- they wanted to do nerve blocker injections ( epidurals). I personally decided that it wasn't for me for several reasons. First and foremost was that they couldn't tell me if i would have any success- they have never had anyone with flatback. The second reason i couldn't do it was because i needed to lay flat on my stomach perfectly still for 1/2-1 hour. I cannot physically lay on my tummy. They didn't believe me???? Then when i was told i needed to sign a consent saying that if they punctured an organ- they were not responsible. The thought of having another issue was too much for me.

My Dr is more than happy to prescribed stronger meds like oxycontin-i just don't like taking them- i cannot function on them. Aside from Tramadol is there another drug out there that doesn't give u that "high" feeling? I would rather live my life in pain, then live it spaced out on narcotics. Sadly I am not revision material either- so i need to find something long term.

I just think they don't know what to do with us. Its very frustrating.

thanks for listening.

Karyn

From: Andy Stanton <andystanton@ comcast.net>Subject: RE: question for my fellow canadiansFeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .comReceived: Friday, January 1, 2010, 9:02 PM

Hi Karyn,

I just saw your post…I’ve been on Tramadol for 15 years with no liver problems. My primary care doc likes me to get a twice yearly blood test to check my liver function, which I do, but I’ve never any problems.

Best of luck, Andy Stanton Boulder Colorado

From: FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com [mailto: FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com ] On Behalf Of IzarahSent: Friday, January 01, 2010 3:26 PMFeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .comSubject: question for my fellow canadians

Has anyone been prescibed Vicodin? I've been told its illegal in Canada-but i am not sure if thats true. I am taking Tramdol-which has helped way better than the T3's I used to take.When my flatback is totally unmanageable I am prescribed Morphine-Does anyone in Canada have any success with other drugs? My concern with the Tramadol is the long term effects it will take on my liver. So do we live with the pain now or do we continue to take meds to help us now and worry about the long term side effects later?Karyn from Canada

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers.

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Get it Now for Free!

-- KATE TRUDO

Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new

[Guest guest]

Karyn,I am sorry that you have the flatback so bad!I will tell you that I never thought I would let anyone stick needles in my back. I had 2 childbirths, natural, because I was afraid of an epidural with my scoli back. Then I ended up working in pain management with 2 different practices over 15 years. I personally assisted with the epidurals and nerve blocks, and saw how many people get relief from their pain. 

When my pain started about 5 years ago when I was 43, the epidural steroid was the treatment that my orthopod referred me for. Of course, I knew the pain management doc, so I was not afraid. I have also worked with patients that also could not lie on their stomachs, we would use pillows to position them- and they were also being given IV fentanyl and versed to get them comfortable for the procedure. 

It is hard to find the docs that will do what the patient needs, over speed or efficiency for the doc. On the issue of the narcotics: I was able to control my pain for 4-5 years using Vicodin - along with taking Lyrica, Skelaxin. Then when my pain eventually worsened and I needed something more long acting so I wouldn't wake up in the morning in excruciating pain. My pain doc had actually called me one of those mornings, I was usually in tears on these mornings, he heard me and immediately said - We need to get you on something long acting.

The thing with the long acting narcotics is that they don't give you the high. They are released in your body over the span of 12 hours, unlike the shorter acting which give you a burst of drug.Believe me, I did not want to go up on the narcotics either, but I will admit that it worked to relieve my pain and I no longer had the miserable mornings and hours of trying to catch up to the pain. I am four weeks out from my steroid injections and I was pain free taking no narcotics, I am starting to get some discomfort around my mid back level. I have started my Lyrica back up and I always take Celebrex daily.

Karyn, where do you live?One flatback to anotherFondly,KateOn Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 1:34 AM, Izarah Star <izarahstar@...> wrote:

 

Hi Kate- I saw a pain specialist as well- they wanted to do nerve blocker injections ( epidurals). I personally decided that it wasn't for me for several reasons. First and foremost was that they couldn't tell me if i would have any success- they have never had anyone with flatback. The second reason i couldn't do it was because i needed to lay flat on my stomach perfectly still for 1/2-1 hour. I cannot physically lay on my tummy. They didn't believe me???? Then when i was told i needed to sign a consent saying that if they punctured an organ- they were not responsible. The thought of having another issue was too much for me.

My Dr is more than happy to prescribed stronger meds like oxycontin-i just don't like taking them- i cannot function on them. Aside from Tramadol is there another drug out there that doesn't give u that " high " feeling? I would rather live my life in pain, then live it spaced out on narcotics. Sadly I am not revision material either- so i need to find something long term.

I just think they don't know what to do with us. Its very frustrating.

 

thanks for listening.

Karyn

 

From: Andy Stanton <andystanton@ comcast.net>Subject: RE: question for my fellow canadians

FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .comReceived: Friday, January 1, 2010, 9:02 PM

 

Hi Karyn,

 

I just saw your post…I’ve been on Tramadol for 15 years with no liver problems. My primary care doc likes me to get a twice yearly blood test to check my liver function, which I do, but I’ve never any problems.

  Best of luck, Andy Stanton Boulder Colorado

 

From: FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com [mailto: FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com ] On Behalf Of Izarah

Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 3:26 PMFeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .comSubject: question for my fellow canadians

 

 

Has anyone been prescibed Vicodin? I've been told its illegal in Canada-but i am not sure if thats true. I am taking Tramdol-which has helped way better than the T3's I used to take.

When my flatback is totally unmanageable I am prescribed Morphine-Does anyone in Canada have any success with other drugs? My concern with the Tramadol is the long term effects it will take on my liver. So do we live with the pain now or do we continue to take meds to help us now and worry about the long term side effects later?

Karyn from Canada

 

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Answers.

 

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Get it Now for Free!

-- KATE TRUDO

Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new

-- KATE TRUDO

[Guest guest]

Dear Kate,

Thank you so much for your post. You are so right. The undertreatment of pain is

something we hear about so often. (I hear about it at this group, at the

" Pumpsters " group, and frequently in the newsletters and requests for a

petition signature from the American Pain Society -- which some people think is

not nearly assertive or activist enough to bring about any needed change.)

The APS notified me last summer that the FDA was trying to put a ceiling on the

amount of acetaminophen that could legally be included in pills such as Vicodin.

I haven't kept up with that initiative and don't know where it stands at this

point, but apparently there was some concern about the prevalence of

acetaminophen-related liver problems. One of my docs went so far as to suggest

that the ONLY reason for adding the acetaminophen to the hydrocodone was to

prevent the pills from being used too much for getting high. The danger to the

patient's liver pretty much ensures that people with serious pain will be unable

to get a sufficient dosage of the hydrocodone without keeling over from

hepatotoxicity. I felt fortunate that my own doctor prescribed Norco, which

contains less acetaminophen (if I remember right, 325 mg.?), of course along

with with regular liver function tests.

Ultimately I had to resort to Oxycontin and similar long-acting meds. I could

never get up to a sufficient dosage, however, because of my narcolepsy, which

was greatly exacerbated by any narcotic I tried. For a time I was conking out in

public restrooms, nearly dropping my face into a plate of restaurant food, and

attracting aggrieved stares from public speakers and clergy who assumed they

were boring me to sleep.

Despite my intolerance for oral narcotics, I eventually managed to take enough

medication that by evening I would be halfway functional. The following morning,

however, I would wake up in agony and would have to start building up the dosage

all over again. I would need to pee at 6 or 7 a.m. -- and I would REALLY need to

pee by 12 or 1 p.m., when I finally had enough Oxycontin or oral morphine in my

system to get up on my feet and head for the bathroom.

Several years after my second series of revision procedures, my surgeon

suggested I see another neurosurgeon who specialized in implanting morphine

pumps. The pump man told me I was " the textbook candidate " for a pump. Following

another year of screening tests, I entered the neuro stepdown unit for my final

pre-pump assessment. This entailed " wearing " an intrathecal catheter for four

days while I was alternately given various doses of morphine and placebo,

double-blind. It was no contest. At the end of the week I went in to the OR and

had a Synchromed II and intrathecal catheter installed. This was the single most

life-changing event of my seven years of deformity, surgery, and chronic

horrendous pain. The pump has totally changed my life. The revision surgery and

the pump together have made my life livable.

Finding someone to maintain the pump was an incredible hassle admittedly. For

some reason the best crew in town, at a prominent teaching hospital, is also the

best-kept secret in town. They were covered by my HMO but were not included on

the HMO's provider list. I messed around with a series of incompetent so-called

pain specialists for several years before finally landing in the care of this

topnotch group. My attending is a bit odd, and I generally don't see him much,

but the fellows he is perennially training are terrific -- all Board-certified

anesthesiologists. The new crop arrives every July and is totally experienced

and skilled by August, given the sheer volume of pumps this clinic handles.

Nothing I have gone through with this pump -- spinal fluid headaches, repeated

pump pocket erosions, infusion with non-preservative-free morphine (a major

no-no) which eroded the gears and brought the pump to a dead halt -- has

ultimately detracted from the inestimable value of this little device in

improving my quality of life and eliminating most of my pain. The medicine (in

my case, a Dilaudid-bupivicaine " cocktail " ) is infused into my spine 'round the

clock, so there is no more waking up in pain. I also have a handheld device (an

old, reconditioned Palm with a telemetry head stuck on top) which communicates

with the pump and enables me to give mself an extra bolus p.r.n. Of course the

intrathecal dose of the drugs is way smaller than the dose it would take to

eliminate my pain via the oral or even the IV route. Very little enters the

systemic circulation or gets to the brain, so I am not nearly so prone to sleep

attacks.

I'm with you in urging everyone who struggles with unbearable pain to hold out

for the best and most skilled pain management help available. I really feel for

those who live in more rural or isolated areas where the necessary expertise may

be nonexistent If necessary I personally would move heaven and earth to travel

to the nearest appropriate facilty for my surgery and later for my

once-ever-few-months titrations and refills.

Unfortunately we are still battling the most egregious ignorance, prejudice, and

even ill treatment from some MDs, given the wrongheaded political programs

(entailing way too much indiscriminate harassment and persecution of

well-meaning physicians) and media hysteria campaigns that have scared so many

otherwise rational people out of their wits with respect to The Drug Problem.

Most of us " medical use " patients on narcotics are never going to become

" addicts, " street users, or dealers in a million years. Moreover, as noted in

the best clinical pain management guide I have managed to dig up over the years

-- a small paperback guide written entirely by nurses and pharmacists, from the

trenches; unfortunately it appears to be out of print -- a person in terrible,

intractable pain, with a history of substance abuse, nonetheless has a right to

treatment with opiates if indicated for his level of pain. The authors of this

book had successfully treated such patients, with careful patient education and

close monitoring.

What really breaks my heart is to encounter patients -- some at this group, at

least in the early days -- who had internalized all the nonsense and were always

trying their best to bite the bullet and do without the medication (even in the

acute post-op period, and sometimes at the price of putting themselves through

unsupervised narcotic withdrawl).

Sorry to have gotten so long-winded, but you hit on one of my Big Issues. Thanks

so much for your wise and informed message. We can not repeat it enough.

Best,

> >

> >

> > From: Andy Stanton <andystanton@ comcast.net>

> > Subject: RE: question for my fellow canadians

> > FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

> > Received: Friday, January 1, 2010, 9:02 PM

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi Karyn,

> >

> >

> >

> > I just saw your post…I've been on Tramadol for 15 years with no liver

> > problems. My primary care doc likes me to get a twice yearly blood test to

> > check my liver function, which I do, but I've never any problems.

> >

> >

> >

> > Best of luck,

> >

> > Andy Stanton

> >

> > Boulder Colorado

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > *From:* FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

[mailto:FeistyScolioFlatbac kers ]

> > *On Behalf Of *Izarah

> > *Sent:* Friday, January 01, 2010 3:26 PM

> > *To:* FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

> > *Subject:* question for my fellow canadians

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Has anyone been prescibed Vicodin? I've been told its illegal in Canada-but

> > i am not sure if thats true. I am taking Tramdol-which has helped way better

> > than the T3's I used to take.

> > When my flatback is totally unmanageable I am prescribed Morphine-

> > Does anyone in Canada have any success with other drugs? My concern with

> > the Tramadol is the long term effects it will take on my liver. So do we

> > live with the pain now or do we continue to take meds to help us now and

> > worry about the long term side effects later?

> > Karyn from Canada

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. *Go to

> > Answers.* <http://ca.answers./>

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for

> > *Get it Now for Free!* <http://downloads./ca/internetexplorer/>

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> KATE TRUDO

>

[Guest guest]

I'm afraid I'm not a fellow Canadian, but let me just add my 2 cents anyway if

you don't mind:

To the best of my knowledge Vicodin is a Schedule I prescription medication in

Canada. Unfortunately it is often not nearly sufficient for pain of the kind

many of us experience. Another problem is the acetaminophen, which can lead to

liver damage. Usually you are much better off obtaining a prescription for a

more potent narcotic such as oral morphine or Oxycontin from the best pain

mangement specialist you can find. Spinal injections of anesthetics,

administered by skilled interventional radiologists, can also be very helpful.

The ultimate answer for me was an intrathecal morphine pump, implanted in my

abdomen, which sends Dilaudid and an anesthetic directly into my spinal canal

day and night.

Best,

> >

> >

> > From: Andy Stanton <andystanton@ comcast.net>

> > Subject: RE: question for my fellow canadians

> > FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

> > Received: Friday, January 1, 2010, 9:02 PM

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi Karyn,

> >

> >

> >

> > I just saw your post…I've been on Tramadol for 15 years with no liver

> > problems. My primary care doc likes me to get a twice yearly blood test to

> > check my liver function, which I do, but I've never any problems.

> >

> >

> >

> > Best of luck,

> >

> > Andy Stanton

> >

> > Boulder Colorado

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > *From:* FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

[mailto:FeistyScolioFlatbac kers ]

> > *On Behalf Of *Izarah

> > *Sent:* Friday, January 01, 2010 3:26 PM

> > *To:* FeistyScolioFlatbac kers@groups .com

> > *Subject:* question for my fellow canadians

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Has anyone been prescibed Vicodin? I've been told its illegal in Canada-but

> > i am not sure if thats true. I am taking Tramdol-which has helped way better

> > than the T3's I used to take.

> > When my flatback is totally unmanageable I am prescribed Morphine-

> > Does anyone in Canada have any success with other drugs? My concern with

> > the Tramadol is the long term effects it will take on my liver. So do we

> > live with the pain now or do we continue to take meds to help us now and

> > worry about the long term side effects later?

> > Karyn from Canada

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. *Go to

> > Answers.* <http://ca.answers./>

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for

> > *Get it Now for Free!* <http://downloads./ca/internetexplorer/>

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> KATE TRUDO

>

[Guest guest]

does anyone have an experience with tramadol? i'm at 2 weeks post surgery and I

don't like the hydrocodone. just tried one this afternoon but it made me

nauseous. I don't want to take a drug to manage another. any advice?

[Guest guest]

did you eat with it food not just a few crackers? I have taken it but i always

eat with ant pain meds sorry your having a hard time

Sharon LeVine

tramadol

does anyone have an experience with tramadol? i'm at 2 weeks post surgery and

I don't like the hydrocodone. just tried one this afternoon but it made me

nauseous. I don't want to take a drug to manage another. any advice?

[Guest guest]

I have had Tramadol quite a few times and have no after effects from it at

all.

But my mother in law can't take it either. try it with some milk or food as

Sharon suggested.

x

-- Re: tramadol

did you eat with it food not just a few crackers? I have taken it but i

always eat with ant pain meds sorry your having a hard time

Sharon LeVine

tramadol

does anyone have an experience with tramadol? i'm at 2 weeks post surgery

and I don't like the hydrocodone. just tried one this afternoon but it made

me nauseous. I don't want to take a drug to manage another. any advice?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I take Tramadol daily, 50mg for my hip pain, it is the only way I can make

it through the day. I did have a small problem at first with it. I was

dizzy. On about the third day the side effect left. I hope your pain level

is reduced by one of the two you have tried.

Gayle in Calif

In a message dated 10/6/2011 7:25:34 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

goddessrenee@... writes:

Haven't taken Tramadol recently, but the nausea goes away after a few doses

of hydrocodone. Your body adjusts pretty quickly, at least that has been

my

experience.

On Wed, Oct 5, 2011 at 7:35 PM, lillaross <lillaross@...> wrote:

> **

>

>

> does anyone have an experience with tramadol? i'm at 2 weeks post

surgery

> and I don't like the hydrocodone. just tried one this afternoon but it

made

> me nauseous. I don't want to take a drug to manage another. any advice?

>

>

>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

Be your own advocate! The best patient is an informed patient!

Groups Links

[Guest guest]

None of the heavy duty pain meds are to good from your body. I was in a

great deal of pain and took a lot of pain meds (as prescribed), for both TKR

surgeries. You are absolutely right to check out all the meds and know what

risks are involved. I am now facing liver damage from my pain meds. Not to

make us fearful, but to educate and help make us become more aware. God

bless!

On Oct 5, 2011 5:35 PM, " lillaross " <lillaross@...> wrote:

[Guest guest]

Very True. It is also someimes so strange how only one dose of pain med

taken can simply knock out the pain not for just the 4 or 6 hrs but for that

whole day.

Sure that is a nice rare bonus that we all hope for i am sure.

They once told me atbthe ER with a fmily migraneur that someimes only a one

dose injection will do the entire job because it might just be needed to calm

down the nerves or blood vessels that are causing the pain.

L

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> >

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Be your own advocate! The best patient is an informed patient!

> Groups Links

>

>

>

>

>

>

>