Hi there,

I also take OpanaER 20 mg x 2(every 12 hrs) with 2400 mg Neurontin, 180 mg Cymbalta, Xanex, Baclafan, HBP meds,Meloxicam,and the Tramadol, 50 mg x 2 every 8 hrs.
The OpanaER is a Substance II narcotic, and is suppose to be 8 to 10 times stronger than morphine. I started having brake through pain and the doc increased the Tramadol. Tramadol is suppose to be good for nerve pain,too.However, when my OpanaER script was delayed, while in AZ, I only had Tramadol as a actual pain med..my PM doc scripted 18 Norco as emergency meds until script for OpanaER was received by pharmacy. Tramadol did NOTHING for the 2 days I was out of the OpanaER. I did get some relief from the Norco. I think Norco should be my break through pain med. I will discuss this matter with the PM doc next time I see him, in Sept.'09.
Thanks for your input

Dew I think it was outrageous to give you tramadol- they might have well as givne you nothing, its like giving someone a bandaid of a rurptured artery or an asprin after taking oxycontin. it makes no sense what so ever. Sorry to hear about your suffereing - that was a riduculous script. cz

I took ultram (tramadol) years ago for back pain (I sprained my back) and it was absolutely worthless. After I got this ugliness I was scripted it again, and I took one, then another a half an hour later, then another a half an hour after that. No effect. At all. Next time I had a doc try to script it I told him to write the script out for M&Ms, as they were more effective. He seemed offended! lol...idiot. The only reason I can see you being scripted this worthless med is if it blocks your real painkiller from being eliminated from your body via the liver, say by using the same enzymes necessary to break down the real one, you know? If the doc actually thought you would get some relief from pain they should get their head examined. I have never met a single person who has actual pain that got any relief from this med. Not one. Ibuprofen is more effective. As regards the goofy woman you have to deal with, well, good luck. Some people shouldn't have certain jobs, and it sure sounds like she's in the wrong line of work. Maybe she would make a good sanitation worker, or perhaps a janitor at a mental ward?

I didn't get any pain relief for years when I got this. Even a Chicago anesthesiologist wouldn't give me an analgesic. Of course a lot of the problem was that these were so ineffective for me and my pain is often tolerable. Even morphine and methadone were mostly ineffective.

But my GP finally gave me tramadol and it helps. No, it doesn't help very much but I always feel it kick in so it's a great crutch to help me ignore the breakthrough pain. Just knowing there's something I can do makes it a lot easier. I find it works a little better with the acetaminaphin (Apap) whatever they put in it.

At last! Someone who has some effect from it. Are you on any tranx or muscle relaxers? They are required for me to get any relief from the pain, regardless of whatever else I am on. Without them, I get NO relief whatsoever.

No. But I'm on antisiezure (?) (zanaflex).

I think I get a little analgesic effect from depakote as well but this is less sure. I'm also on gabapentin and it helps a lot. The gabapentin doesn't act as a true pain reliever for me though it seemed to at first. It seems to stop the pain from arising or make it less severe when it does come around but taking it for pain does nothing now. The last time the pain ratcheted up a little the doc upped the dosage and it seems to mostly work.

The opiates mostly just make me not care as much about the pain but doesn't have much effect on the level. I once woke after an operation and they had to give me four shots of morphine just to get me calmed down. It still hurt like hell and they had operated on something else.

I've tried only a few of the other pain relievers and they are almost completely ineffective and some get me stoned. I like codeine since it seems to put all the other pain to sleep and relax me so I can sleep even with my hand still hurting. I try to take it as seldomly as possible and only to sleep.

Part of my problem is anxiety and stress. They are closely related to the pain. Indeed, I've discovered that some things, like paranoia, seem to just be a form of pain; a different manifestation. The depakote helps a lot here and I've got lots of over the counter and herbal things that help too. It seems just being deliberate and careful can help in avoiding stress. For breakthrough stress I've got some heavy stuff that's getting so old I'm afraid to use it but use valium for typical things. I also take seroquel regularly. I get bad sideeffects so have to severely restrict the amount.

Most things scare me. It's ironic since I used to be fearless to the point of being foolhardy sometimes.

One doctor told me that most people with RSD eventually get on a mix of medications that make the condition easier to deal with. Now all I have to do is not worry they'll quit making some of them.

Imahotep
zanaflex is a muscle relaxant,,,,,,i was on it for a while,,it made me sleep ok and gave a good drowsey could care less feeling too,,kinda like the old muscle relaxant,flexiril.......either way i wish you well,,i feel your pain ,when it comes to stress bring pain into over drive,,xanax calms me down but i need to get off of that too,but it does the job,,melontonin [natural] is a good clean ,easy on the liver and non addictive alternative sleep/relaxant,,,,,,,,good luck ,,and i respect you being cautious with the meds,,,,,,,,,,,,,,bobber