Is tramadol something you can take everyday for the rest of your life? does it stop working? is it addictive?

I see many posts about gabapentin only being effective for a year or so, then not doing much to help pain. It seems pretty common from what I have read. If that's the case, why go on it? I am scared about withdrawing from it a year later.

Yes, Tramadol can be habituating. It can also develop a tolerance and require higher doses. Most drugs are like this, these days. Gabapentin creates a dependency and requires a slow taper off as well. So do SSRI antidepressants.

Dear Canagirl,
I am currently taking 20 mg amitriptyline at bedtime. I have been taking for it for about 3 months. At first it made me very drowsy and I was finally able to get some sleep. I have noticed that I am not getting as much relief from it now and may need to increase the dosage. I have acute onset but now chronic progressive idiopathic small fiber predominant mixed sensory-motor polyneuropathy. I have tried Gabapentin and Topamax and could not tolerate. The withdrawal from Topamax was horrible. During the day I take 1-2 Vicodin as needed. I have a follow up visit with pain management Dr. next month to discuss options. My symptoms have progressed to my arms and trunk recently and it is a scary feeling. I hope this helps you. You are not alone!

I have the same concerns as you. It is a relatively new med for me. From what I've found out, it can be addictive to some, but some can use it for a long time and discontinue it without much trouble. It also works well for many for a long time & sometimes it does not. It depends on the person.

You don't know if it will work for you or not, yet. You aren't likely to get dependent on Tramadol if you only take it to try it out. My suggestion is that you try it with a full glass of water and wait. Personally, if I take it in the morning, in a couple of hours (maybe less) I feel the benefits of it ALL DAY, into the evening. That may be just me & not you or someone else, but me. I'm having a hard time justifying to myself not to use more often than 4 days a week (to prevent what you are worried about). I may only be suffering in my feet, but after 4 years, it gets pretty old. Luckily, I don't have much problem at night & only during the day, so a dose in the AM is working for me now.

If the Dr prescribed you one 50mg a dose, I'd stick with that, if it works. If the Dr said it was OK to take 2-50mg, that you could try another day. You're going to have to take a step somewhere to see what works for YOU. If you don't like a drug, by all means, stop using it and look for something else.

No one can decide for you & no one drug will likely give you exactly what you want. What really matters, I guess, is how long does one want to suffer.

Welcome Lukesmom.

If they gave you instructions to increase once a week, then you're just going to have to give this more time. I don't see you getting much relief until you get into a higher dose. We ALL understand how frustrating it is to deal with the pain as you find the right med to help you.

As for Neurontin/Gabapentin, yes many people can only take it for a few years before they have to change to something else. I took it for almost 5 years before maxing out on the dosage. But that gave me 5 years of fairly good pain relief. After that, I was jumping from one med to another trying to find something that works...Cymbalta, Lyrica, Lamictal, Namenda...the list goes on and on. I could not get relief or the side-effects were horrible (Lyrica made me a zombie and some others made me violently ill).

Everyone is different and you have to find something that works for YOU. Don't put much stock in what you read online...just see what helps you and what you can tolerate...one at a time.

U haven't heard if allydonia but maybe that makes sense. I have now read a but about it but all I can find is that non painful stimuli cause pain. However I don't see Anything about the pain never going away. Two weeks ago at the neuro he scraped the soles of my feet with a sharp stick. My feet felt fine at the time but two days later my feet were burnung horribly and it felt like somebody had taken a razor blade and sliced my feet open in the exact path he took. They StIll feel this way!
Does anybody else have this ? How long does it take to go away?

Sorry that should be "I" haven't heard of allydonia

Allodynia is a condition that results from existing neuropathy...so typically, it would mean already having neuropathy that is causing the allodynia. That would explain why the usually non-painful stimuli hurts, but the underlining neuropathy is making the pain stay there.

This is why I think you should go back to why you went to the acupuncturist and address the initial symptoms that took you there. They are likely the first signs of your neuropathy. Do you remember what triggered that jerking and twitching? Were there any other symptoms that came along with those?

thanks en bloc. Do you know of anyone that has this? How long does the pain stick around? I can't imagine what it will be like it everytime I get a poke or scratch etc. I have razer blade pain that never goes away!