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March 9, 2010 - 4:11pm
Long term users of Tramadol out there?
Hey team,
My name is Adam and I am 23 years old. I have broken my neck in four places (C3, C4, C5, &C6). I did this in 2004. Since then I have been taking Tramadol 3 times a day, so all up roughly 5 to 6 tablets a day (50mg per tablet). I suffer chronic pain and I am not too sure what the future holds for me as I thought the pain would have gotten better by now, and it has only seemed to get worse. I was just wondering if there is any one else out there that has been taking Tramadol for long periods of time? I am a little concerned about the long term affects that Tramadol may have on my over well-being and body in general. I have taken bloods for liver damage and there were no signs of any damage. if there is anyone out there who can share there experience of long term use of Tramadol with me I would gladly appreciate it, as I need to get into a good frame of mind about my future with taking medication.
Thanks very much for your time.
Adam
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I have taken Tramadol for the last 2 years. I briefly weaned off last summer, but started back up around Christmas. For me, it has been a good pain medicine, plus the added benefit of depression/anxiety relief. As of right now, I only take 1-2 50 mg. tabs a day along with Celebrex and Zanaflex. I haven't had any problems. Oh yes, and it helps me sleep too.
You should talk to your doctor and let him/her know it's not taking care of your pain like you had hoped and hopefully he/she can give you something else to try. Good luck with pain relief.
Have been taking Tramadol as needed for three years (50 MG), usually every day or every few days with no problems or side affects. My Doctor advises it is a pretty safe drug considering the danger Celebrex has. I am finally off Celebrex and did notice a change in liver function readings during doctor physicals when I was on it.
I was just put on Tramadol today! Thank you Adam for asking this question!
I was taken off of Norco a little over 3 weeks ago, so my doctor could see my "real" pain. He said Norco masked my pain. So today at the appointment, you can imagine my surprise when he said he wasn't going to give me Norco again. He is doing another epidural, from the side, to try and get around the scar tissue that is pressing into my spinal cord and nerve roots. I started to cry, because I really rely on that med to give me some ability to function. He told me he understood, and asked me if I have ever tried Tramadol. I told him no, and if it worked, great, as long as I have something to help with pain. The only side effect so far is feeling sleepy, and thats about it.
I know my post doesn't really pertain to your question, and I'm sorry. It's just ironic that I have never even heard of Tramadol, and you posted this question today.
Good luck to you!!!!!
Caity
36 years old
Lumbar Degenerative Disk Disease. Completely collapsed disk, bone spurs, facet joint disease and nerve root compression, thecal sac mild epidural fibrosis, all at L5 S1. Disk Bulge at L1 L2
3 failed epidurals in 2009 (too much scar tissue blocking the nerve). Was told in July 2009 that I am inoperable
Meds: Norco 10/325 1 pill 3 times a day Flexeril 10mg 1 pill 2 times a day Mobic 1 pill 2 times a day
I've been on tramadol for around a year and a half. My main pain med is Temgesic (buprenorphine), but the tramadol seems to work quite well with it. I was prescribed four 50mg capsules a day until very recently, when my doctor changed to one 200mg controlled release tablet per day. I find this to be more effective (and convenient) than the 50mg capsules.
When I first started taking it, I did notice some side effects - a tightening sensation around the mouth, a little light-headedness and stimulation (it has an SNRI anti-depressant type effect, so that's not surprising, really), but before long those effects subsided. I don't know of any long-term problems with taking tramadol, but I expect it would make sense to taper off it gradually if you decide to stop taking it.
Lumbar: DDD, degenerative spondylosis, severe stenosis, severe facet arthropathy, herniated and bulging discs, collapse at L4-5 and L5-S1 with retrolisthesis. Cervical: degenerative spondylosis, severe stenosis, cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Also, peripheral neuropathy. Decompressive laminectomy (L5-S1) in 1995. Currently in pain management.
I've been taking it about a year. No long term side effects that I am aware of, but then I haven't had blood work taken for about that long. From reading what others are saying, maybe I should be getting a liver function test.
I recently went off of it to see if there is a difference. I feel like it doesn't do anything because I am still in severe pain even when taking it. I figured if I take it I am in pain, if I don't take it I am in pain. Stopping it did teach me something. I now know that yes, it does help, and hopefully will be starting it up again after my appointment tomorrow. Or maybe after this little experiment the doctor will give me something different. It is important to me to be able to drive and there aren't many narcotics that allow you to do that, so not sure where to turn from here. Just want you to know that after a year there doesn't seem to be any ill effects from in my situation. Hopefully that helps.
Protect your neck--you've only got one!
Click this link to read my story. http://www.spine-health.com/forum/new-member-introductions/cindys-6-year...
I've been on Tramadol for 4 years now, 50 mg, 3 or 4 times a day. I've had no side effects and do have blood work done twice a year. Tramadol works for me unless I have breakthrough pain. I have read countless times how it has no effect on pain for some people.
Spinal stenosis surgery in May of 2002. Emergency surgery in March of 2006 for spinal infection of L 2 and L 3. Spine became unstable after surgery and had 360 fusion with 10 pedicle screws, plates and rods in April of 2007. Retired early as a high school principal, couldn't run a school with such a bad back. 61 years old.
Yep, I've been on it around 2 years now. No long term effects, and it's still effective. I take 2x 50 mg/day though. Good luck!
11/2007- equestrian accident. Fractured L2, 90% loss of height, retropulsion, bone fragments. Moderate-severe chronic pain treated with epidurals, facet ablation, medication.
12/15/2010- L2 corpectomy and L1-L3 fusion via thoracotomy. Posterior plates installed next day. Total surgery time 9 hours!
I have been a regular user of this pain killer fot the last 8 years. I take 6 x 50mg capsules per day along with 30mg of an anti-inflamatory drug called piroxicam. Although I have had back pain, on and off, all of my life, my main reason for the painkiller is psoriatic arthritis. I have had this since I was 21 years old and I am now 51. With regards to any side effects, I have now got kidney stones and a stomache ulcer. However, without these drugs, I cannot walk very well. I am also still working full time as an installer / servicer of fire alarm systems.