[bknejones]

What have you found to be the best pain killer for nerve pain? I'm currently taking percocet 10's and they minimize the pain a little, but not enough to allow me to do my daily activities. I have read that tramadol helps with this kind of pain but I have never tried it before, I'd like to try something different that might actually help better! Has anyone had this kind of pain and used tramadol before? If so do you believe it helped you?

[georgemilchick]

yes,tramadol has helped me i have taken about 33mgs per day for about 3 years.i have herneated disc t-7 with cord impingment, also a transitional lumbar vertabrate, and bilateral hip resurfacing for severe hip arthritis,also need shoulder replacement.tramadol and meloxicam keep it all in check,but i dont work any more with these conditions. just dont take more than prescribed.hope this helps george

[BetsyAnn]

I do not have MS but I was prescribed tramadol for pain continued after c5-c6 discectomy/fusion. I used it for neck pain and neuropathy pain and I liked it... it had a bit of a euphoric effect for me, but I also tend to get 'hyper' from percocet/lortab/opiates. I haven't taken it in quite some time though as my neuro thinks I may be having seizures and it's contraindicated in that scenario.

It did work for pain, and helped get my house clean! Lots of energy. Not everyone gets that effect, though. It is supposedly not addictive, but I have heard reports that many folks had issues in that regard, so if you take it, don't pop them willy nilly. I never took more than 1 50mg tab per day, usually every other day at the most.

[bknejones]

Okay! Thank you! I'm going to ask my doctor about it tomorrow, I have gotten very "favorable" of the percocets in the past and my doctor doesn't like giving them to me, so she may feel more comfortable with the tramadol, and have heard it helps better for the pain I'm currently going through. I think she would be happy to hear that I want to try something other than the percocet, as well!

[Keely]

I have severe nerve pain in my left leg and foot; have had it for years and it's been gradually spreading throughout the entire leg and getting worse.

For nearly three years I took Methadone, which was prescribed by my wonderful doctor in Colorado, and it worked wonders for me. Since we moved to Florida the doctor here has been prescribing Hydrocodone, and it's working fairly well, but doesn't control the pain as well as the Methadone did.

I also have terrible spasms and jerks, and the Methadone and Hydrocodone both have helped with those as well; otherwise, I would never sleep again!

My doctor is sending me to a pain specialist who, he says, will probably put me back on the Methadone, as he often gives it to his MS patients.

I know that some folks don't tolerate Methadone well, but it worked beautifully for me; it never made me groggy the next day, it controlled the pain and I never got addicted or dependent on it in any way--and that's after nearly three years of taking it every single night. However, I've read that some people can get addicted to it.

Sometimes, though, when chronic pain is this bad, the addiction factor takes a back burner, priority-wise!

To be honest, if medical marijuana was legal in Florida, I would certainly try it. My doctor here has already said that he wished he could put me on it....

[NurseNancy]

2 good meds for nerve, or neuropathic, pain are:

1. neurontin &
2. lyrica

neurontin is cheaper, lyrica more expensive.
i started on neurontin, then it didn't work and found lyrica to be a good med.

[bknejones]

I have read TONS of articles about medical marijuana and how much it helps with pain. It, unfortunately, is not legal in Tennessee either. So pain killers it is. The percocets work great but at points the pain is so severe that one doesn't cut it. I think I'm going to talk to my doctor about going to a pain management Dr., just so she isn't liable for anything... not that anything would happen. But the pain management doctors work specifically for pain, so it seems like the only logical thing to do? Thank you EVERYONE for your help, I wish we all didn't have to go through this pain at all.

[Marie33]

Originally Posted by NurseNancy

2 good meds for nerve, or neuropathic, pain are:

1. neurontin &
2. lyrica

neurontin is cheaper, lyrica more expensive.
i started on neurontin, then it didn't work and found lyrica to be a good med.

Hi NurseN
Are you still taking lyrica? What are your side effects if any? Did you gain weight.. I started taking lyrica 19 days ago and can not get higher then 50 mgs /day. The dose is to low to even touch my nerve pain. It causes anxiety and some irritablity. Unforntly it dosent cause drowsiness, that would be helpful since I have insomnia. (can not sleep with pain) . I may stop taking it soon. My doctor gave me ultram (tramadol I think). What dose helps your pain. Sorry for al lthe questions. Thank you in advance for any help!

[NurseNancy]

i take the maximum dose of lyrica; 150mg bid (twice a day). i tolerate meds well and don't seem to have any side effects. i'm heavy and don't know if the med is causing any of it. i'd be inclined to say no since i have a wt problem anyway.

i used to take ultram for pain but it didn't help enuf. i mostly have muscle pain and have arthritis pain. i'm now on oxycodone and see a pain dr for that.

have you tried neurontin? maybe less side effects? don't stop taking the med without talking to your dr. if you stop you can get withdrawal sx's. it's something that generally needs to be stopped slowly.

[freeinhou]

I've tried meloxicam, lyrica, tramadol, gabapentin, cymbalta, etc, for the pain in my feet. Haven't found anything that works yet.

I haven't been to a pain management specilist yet. Just my PCP and a neurologist familiat with MS.

Tom