What... the ringing in my ears is because I need a higher dose?

Marty, No no, the ringing in my ears is from the tramadol, when I have taken a higher dose. Have you ever had this with aspirin? Same sound. I meant it was time for a higher dose of Neurontin. Sorry to be abrupt, but your post scared me. I didn't want to mislead you.

Thank you for this thorough explanation. Sadly, one of my doctors Rx'd me flexeril while on the extended release formula of tramadol and within a day things were getting weird for me. After a couple of days it dawned on me to check the contents of it and thats when I realized what was happening. Even more sad was the fact that I brought it to the doctors attention. Now I just tell all of them that I won't touch anything with serotonin in it. That was a very scarry situation for me.

What is so bad about serotonin?

Too much serotonin is the issue. Where there is too much action on those receptors serious things can go wrong.

Normally we all have serotonin working for us. There are many types of receptors too, located all over the body. But when you add drugs into the picture, this sensitive system can get overloaded.
And it varies from person to person too. Some people just normally live with high serotonin levels, and those types would be more prone to serotonin syndrome. It is thought for example, psychologically that timid or careful people are high serotonin expressors. Contrasted with high dopamine people who are drawn to excitement and risk taking activities. You won't find many high serotonin types sky diving, for example!;)
Those with high serotonin systems, often get the worst side effects from SSRI antidepressants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome

90% or so of your serotonin is in the peripheral areas of the body. GI tract and platelets mostly.

Hey Marty, I'm another bare footer for 6 months now can't wear socks at all and any shoes drive me crazy. At first I got by for short periods wearing either Air walkers or Air Speed Both skate boarders sneeks come very wide and I get extra size also and use as slippers, and off they came when ever I sat also. But now all I wear is flip flops size 12 I have a size 9 foot, anyway you are not alone which now I know I'm not either Thanks

Since people are "coming out" here as bare footers, I'm wondering about something else...most folks here say that the cold weather is what bothers their feet the most. I'm just the opposite. One thing that really puts me over the edge is hot sun shining on my feet. Going to the beach is really tricky without ruining everyone else's fun. The key is my own big umbrella and a spray bottle. Also, white socks under these circustances can be better than bare feet under sandals/slides if I wet them down with cold water. I don't care if I look stupid.

Is anyone else here sensitive to the heat like this?

I am very sensitive to the heat. Summer is when I get most of my burning attacks. That is when I hit the Biofreeze the most.

A lot of people--
 

--especially those with a demyelinating component to their neuropathy, find heat more difficult to tolerate than cold, as heat is the enemy of "clean" nerve transmission, and if one had myelin damage the nerves are not transmitting that cleanly to begin with.

The MS people know this well--and there are many products on the market, such as cooling water vets, that are made primarily for them. And savvy neurologists know that nerve conduction studies are supposed to be done in a relatively cool room.

For me winter cold makes me frozen and pain goes up. Summer makes me swell more and pain goes up. When hot I only wear socks about 1 or 2 hours a day and that is by force. I do wear walking shoes though anytime I am on my feet from the pain. I can't walk bare foot.

Heat aggravates my feet badly.

Rich,
I've done the skate shoes too because they go off and on fast. For me that's a must. I wish flip flops would work for me but I just don't get enough support. For me this thing of socks and shoes woes has been my greatest trial with deep pain coming in as second. It has taken me years to get to a point where I can deal with it without total frustration.

If what some of you mean by "flips flops" are those things with the little posts that go between your big toe and the second toe, yikes! There's no way I can wear those!

I can wear slides as long as the band that goes over the metatarsal doesn't touch the outside of my big toes near about where the nail ends (don't know if there's a name for that part :o)

Support--eh, that's usually the least of my worries. The worst for me are shoes with a low toe box that smashes from above.

Width, nah, not so much of a worry for me.

Sometimes I think that the most we have in common is pain and that nobody else understands us.:(

Does Tramadol work better when its taken daily and constantly in the blood or is it just as effective "on demand' for breakthrough pain?

Last night had a strong flair I believe due to massive electrical storms on Bangkok (its rainy season) and my highest dose so far (100mg) didnt do anything

I don't use tramadol regularly. When used occasionally for me, it continues to work.

I use Tylenol, or Aleve or Topical things for everyday use.
With this heat wave we are having I am using my ice pack alot.

I've been taking it around the clock for about 5 years and I find that it does work a lot better for me that way and the extended release version is superior to the regular, although now I'm using just the regular and as long as I take it on schedule, I'm doing okay with it.

Just went to my chemist/doctor here in bangkok as they are one in the same , quick 1 min diagnosis over the counter and meds supplied instantly. Got to love 3 rd world countries :)
Its worth a mention that smack in the middle is a BEER fridge. Yep buy your drug of choice and and 6 pack.

back to topic , i changed from ultracet 37mg to tramdaol 50 but its called Tramacap (tramadolhydrochloride 50)

Its obviously a generic, has anyone used this ?

Big price difference, ultracet $15 for 30.... tramacap $12 for 200

tramadol
 

I have been using tramadol for years, though sometimes I'm given Ultram (brand name for tramadol). I go to a free clinic for the script, so I pay very little for it. I have never noticed a difference in the efficacy of the generic and brand, but the Ultracet have Tylenol in it, so I don't use it. I would never buy a brand name drug, if I can help it.

Lucky you to be able to get it so cheaply and readily. I have to exceed my doseage somedays ( 50 mg. x2 quid) and have to buy it online, which costs a fortune, but nothing can bring one to heel like pain. It's very demoralizing, isn't it? Linda

Wow 5 years consistently. Have you had to up the dose?

Does anyone know if you can get the extended release in generic??

complicated....
 

You know what's weird about socks and shoes is can't live with them, can't live without them. Sometimes I have to put socks on to warm up my feet (wintertime) but within 5 minutes off they come. LOL This stuff drives me insane!!! I could live where I'm at now with the dang PN if I could only get to where I could wear FREAKING SHOES! :eek: It's makes things so much more complicated.

Yes Marty. I've had to up the dose but I'm at the max and not going any higher. Sadly, the extended release isn't available in a generic yet. I use other meds with it and I've got room to increase those.

Yep, yep, yep. Well, I wouldn't say I could live with the pain except for the footwear, but jeepers, what to put on our feet is a problem. I just left a huge back of shoes I've worn once and brand new never worn socks for the Vietnam Veterans. At least someone might get some use out of them.