Tramadol Anyone On This

Had to go and see my Dr yesterday morning as an emergency as I have had terrible pains either side of my right knee which I have agrevated by doing too much walking and the trampet work the other week to try and help bring my BP down The pain was now also behind my knee so Mr Kandy suggested I go and get something done or else I wouldn't have a good Christmas with the pain

Anyway the Dr had a look at my knees and said they were misshapen and said I would need to go and have X-rays done as it looks like I might need a knee replacement.

The Dr has prescribed Tramxdol 50mg and I can take up to eight a day,can't drive or have AlcoholWe trotted off to the X-ray dept and I had both knees done and it was so painful trying to stand upright and now I keep have a tearing sensation in the back of my knee if I stand wrong and it makes me cry out,the pain is that bad.The Radiographr said the X-rays would be ready in two weeks but after one week to ring my Drs to see if they have come back to the surgery.I didn't realise that X-rays take so long to be developed

Back home I took one of the Tramxadol tablets and ended up zonking out for a few hours on the settee.I took another one at bed time but I was awake for most of the night because if I tried to turn over the knee pain was horrendous.This morning we are off to the hospital in the town where I was born to be assessed by a Podiatric surgeon for an operation on the big toe on my left foot.

I have been researching on the net and evidently this Tramxdol is addictive and if I am on it for too long and then try to come off then the withdrawal symptoms are quiet bad

Can anyone on here tell me whether this info is correct as the Dr never told me this information and I don't want to start taking them on a regular bases if I am going to have problems with them.I would rather suffer with the pain Thanks PS Have had to change to spelling on the drug name as it is a banned word on here...

 

I was on tramxdol for a couple of years or more for my osteoarthritis and when he told me I had to come off them it was horrendous. They are an opiate and you do become an addict. It took me months and months to overcome the problem of coming off them. Far worse than suffering from the arthritis.

 

@Kandy
I used it for a short time after fracturing my elbow a few years back. I was told to take as required, I still have half the pack I was given left.
It takes about an hour for it to kick in. I had no problems with it as I took it for about a week.
The X rays don't take long to develop but getting them looked at by a radiologist/orthopaedic surgeon can be the delaying factor.
If you are concerned about addiction and withdrawal I would have a serious talk with your GP about potential issues and alternative painkillers for long term use.

 

@Kandy all I can say is your Doctor is an (expletive deleted!).

Here, some forms of tramxdol, along with other similar pain killers such as Nxbligan that have a similar base have been de-registered/withdrawn due to serious side effects. They are addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms can be quite serious. Back when they were available on prescription here, the limit was 3 in any 24 hour period. Driving/drinking alcohol was prohibited for a minimum of 24 hours per tablet afterwards.

One of the early symptoms of addiction is a kind of "sick" feeling in the stomach that reminds of the feeling when a person has a hangover. Another is that the pain level suffered seems higher when the effects of the previous one wear off.

By law here, the pharmacist, not Doctor, has to give information about prescription medicines the first time they are purchased. This information was given to me by one when I was prescribed them a few years ago.

 

I was prescribed tramadollll following a total knee replacement. I knew it could become addictive so I researched it and learned that at taking it at the maximum dose of 8 per day you could become addicted in as little as three weeks! So I was very careful how much I took and alternated doses with co codimol. I needed pain relief as knee replacement is very painful. I found that taking two tends to send you to sleep. Taking two more next dose spaces you out so stopped that. You are wise to be wary Kandy but I do think taking one per day probably won't do any harm and will give some pain relief. There used to be quite a good wiki article, google it.

Seems tram..... .is a banned word so have disguised it. How come others were able to spell it out?

 

Many Thanks everyone for your replies

We have only just got back indoors and have been out of the house since 10.00am.The male nurse assistant to the surgeon took the medical form I had to fill in and when I explained to him I was on Traxadol for my knee pain he told me that this drug acts on the brain to make you forget you are actually in pain and if I keep taking them then. Will have to go back to my Dr to discuss being weaned off of them before the surgeon can operate on me.I have only taken three of them,one yesterday afternoon and one when it was bed time and then one this morning at breakfast time but after all your replays I think I am going to stop taking them as I don't want to become dependant on them

@shiney it was the Locum Dr I saw as it was an emergency appointment,have never seen this one before and it has been two years since I last went to see a Dr.He just got me to roll up my trouser legs,looked at my knees,told me they were misshapen and that he wanted me to go for the X-rays.He didn't check my calf muscles but just told me I might need a knee replacement depending on the results of the X-rays and tapped everything into the computer to send the info to the X-ray department at the hospital so that when we arrive at the hospital they would know what I was there for.Not once did this Dr tell me the drug was addictive but just said I could take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen with them but in no way could I take Co Codamol with Tramxdol.

I am afraid I am a bit green when it comes to drugs and I don't make it a habit of going to the Dr's if I can help it,just the vampire who takes my blood every six months and then the nurse practitioner for the results.

The nurse who I was talking to this morning told me that my knee is playing up because of the pain in my toes as the left big toe is dislocated and is Arthritic as is some of my other toes and as I am putting all my weight on my right leg,that is one reason why I am in so much pain.He also suggested getting a knee brace so we called into Boots the chemists after having a bit to eat and bought one.It is a built bulky but it is helping as I can now walk about with hardly any pain apart from a little bit now behind the knee

Anyway,the surgeon came in and introduced himself to me and shook mine and Mr Kandys hand and after taking a quick look at my feet said he could fix them and as the waiting list has come down it won't be too long for the first one to be done,possibly some time in the New Year and at a different hospital where the parking is easier and is free

I have to go back next week for the results of my foot X-rays and will see what they say and whether they can go ahead.Hopefully this will be me in six months time

 

I've had them. I stopped taking them when during a brief moment of rare clarity, I realised I didn't care about anyone or anything while on them.

But I'm more interested in Kandy's initial assessment. So the knee has packed up. And an op is scheduled on big toe. Here's what I'd expect the doc to realise. Problems in big toes cause a change in gait that affects everything in the chain, all the way to lower back. The knees and hips take the brunt of it due to the way forces are transferred as you walk.

I'm surprised the doc hasn't in the interim, pending xray results, assumed a high liklihood of tendonitis around the knee as a result of the changed gait. That being the case, standard treatments for inflammation might have been a good precautionary/preemptive measure.

 

I rarely take anything the doctor prescribes for me, on a whim he said I should double my dose of Lisinopril for blood pressure, I'm still just taking my normal dose, the nurse took my blood pressure a week ago and said it was fine.

As to painkillers, well I always assume if you are in pain its because something aint right, numbing the pain is treating the symptoms and not the cause.
Anti inflammatories are the usual thing I get given for my back or knees, at least that does make some kind of sense rather than just numbing the pain.

Trouble is its far easier to just fob you off with something and wheel in the next victim/patient, Docs say they dont have the time, but I'm slightly sceptical on that.

 

In some cases, pain can trigger reactions that increase blood pressure at the site of the injury, thus aggravating it further.

 

I took them for back pain, couldn`t take the brain fog, so came off them after 2 or 3.

 

I have prescription CBD. Yes cannabinoids. It is the kind that helps with pain, stress insomnia. No high, just mellow help.

I have not had to take a naproxin or ibuprofin since using it. I only take some if I am starting to feel my tennis elbow coming back and it enables me to do the exercises that help calm it down. I have problems with both elbows and at one point couldn't lift a cuppa without using both hands. Same for brushing my teeth or changing the gear in the car. I am happy that I have not had to stop working or gardening since using the CBD.

I don't smoke so I make fudge or lollipops with it.

 

As previously stated it is an opiate and highly addictive :( my nan would take 8 a day for about 2/3 years before she passed away and it made her depressed in my opinion. My next door neighbour told me a few weeks ago she has been taken off them by the Dr after so many years.. I'm relieved, however she is not.. she has also become depressed. When you have an 86 year old telling you she wants to swallow every pill in the cupboard.. you tend to worry.

I personally think they shouldn't be given to anyone.. a friend, being young and dumb, took them for fun after his parent was given them for back ache, he was taking 2 a night and it steadily increased.. he's still here and off them, thankfully.. but it's such a worrying drug.

As Lori said CBD oil is great for inflammation, stress and whole lot of ailments. I have small pot on stand by (looks like ear wax!) and it doesn't contain THC, so doesn't make you high but can give a lovely calm feeling.

I might try making some lollies as I can't stand the taste.