My personal experience with Tramadol is that it gave me a Migraine from hell. And your surgeon is right. Long-term use of Norco CAN be damaging to your liver. I hope you have had liver panels done every few months!!! If not, please ask your doctor to run one NOW.

I think instead of Tramadol, I would rather be on a long-acting medication such as MS Contin or OpanaER or something like that -- a medication that lasts 8 yrs or so. Neither the Tramadol or the Norco lasts anywhere near that long -- in fact you're lucky they last until your next dose!!

I'm 64 yrs old and have been on medicatons for many years. My doctor put me on OpanaER after I'd been on just about everything else - including the meds that contained "Tylenol" and he wanted to get me away from those. It seems to work quite well, and does last for a good long time. I'm NOT pain-free, and never will be, but I'm more "comfortable" that I have been in 27 years!

I wish you the very best! Let us know what happens, ok? God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee