HAVE A QUESTION

[Michele80]

Hello all, i wanted to ask if anyone could help me. i  have been on here several times asking questions , now i have one more. i have been off of vicodin for 2 months already,(5-500 6 A DAY) and not wanting any either. i do however take up to 4 tramadol's(50MG.) daily. but they arent helping my shoulder pain or endometriosis. i take tylenol, naprosyn, etc.. with the tramadol but nothing helps, I have a doctor appt. tommorow with my rheumatologist  and i need to know what i should  do. tell him to give me somthing stronger thats non addictive? mri ?  my dr. has told me i have arthritis and i will have this pain for the rest of my life and all i will ever be able to do is take meds for it! thats all!! i can't live with this pain everyday, but i don't want to get addicted to anymore meds again either. please help.!! thanks to everyone in advance.!

[geting_better]

You are much stronger than me. I also have endometriosis and that is how I got addicted to the vicodin. Do you see a therapist? Many women who have severe chronic pain associated with endometriosis eventually have lesser pain when they see a therapist - I began seeing a therapist in July. and therapy has helped a little. But in regards to my opiate addiction she reccomended a drug called Subutex - which is a potent pain killer without the high and it prevents w'd symptoms from vicodin - though you are off of vicodin now... You might want to ask about Subutex or Suboxone as a pain management course. I just started taking it. Pain is not gone, but it is definately lessened. I have also had other treatments - for endometriosis, that were weird. They also told me that this pain was something I would have to deal with for the rest of my life, unless I wanted a hysterectomy...which I am not willing to do.
Good Luck Michele.

[High Noon]

I agree with the others reagrding Tramadol.
See your rheumetologist.

Ask about indicin- it comes in generic form and is a strong precription drug. Used by many with RA.

Good luck

[Michele80]

hi, i have rheumatoid arthritis in my sc joints, and back . i have no idea what that means, my dr, just said thats what it is. he said that it could go away, but after having this for 9 yrs, i dont think its going anywhere. i didn't think it goes away. guess i could be wrong, i went to him on monday, and he put me on doxycycline for the pain and inflamation. i know thats an antibiotic but he said it would help. has anyone ever heard of that?? i sure haven't.!! he is from cali.I KNOW HES A GREAT DOC. he said a dr from univer. of  nebraska  did studies on tha doxycycline helping with pain. it blows my mind what these drs come up with.!! anyway i still take the tramadol. i ask him again if it Could lead to addiction and he says  deffinatley not! w so what do i do ? people on here say its very addictive. i don't want to do that again as i have been off of vics for 2 months and some days . i am very proud. i never thought i could do it by myself.!! well thanks for all your help. everyone on here has helped me sooo much.  take care, MICHELE

[wait2long]

what type of arthritis do you have?

[avisg]

tramadol is addictive ,trust me hun I know ,Its my drug of choice ...... I know that doctors say its less addictive and if you read the paper work from the pharmacy it tells you it can be habit forming ...
I agree with anotherfinemess work with a rheumatologist to find other options...
Avis

[anotherfinemess]

as stated by nelly1313, the nsaids are better for arthritic pain.  There is also Methotrexate, which is not a narcotic, and is effective for RA.  RA,as you know, is an imflammatory disease, with painful and debilitating flare-ups.  Your rheumatologist should be able to help you manage this, but it is essential that you be completely candid with him/her.

[Michele80]

thanks to everyone for your replys. No my doctor don't know i had a problem with vicodin. but i have told him that i don't want anything addictive. he says the tramadol isn't addictive but, some people on here has said they are.  i have stopped taking them for a couple days now and then and haven't relly had any w'ds like the vicodins.anyway, i think they have gave a shot of cortizone in a couple places in my back and shoulder area but it did not help.i am at the point now to just start using again because of the pain, but i don't want to start all over again. is there a non- narcotic that they have in a patch form? i will try anything at least once. to the person who lives with chronic pain>what do you use other than nsaids? patches, creams, herbal, matural remedies??i just don't know how to handle this pain anymore. thank you all very much for your help. u all have helped me so much !!

[IBKleen]

Hi!

Is your doctor aware that you were abusing vic's?  I personally have no experience with it, but I have some info that I saved:

"You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Do not stop using this medication suddenly without talking to your doctor. You may need to gradually reduce the dose. Withdrawal symptoms may occur when you stop using tramadol. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these withdrawal symptoms after you stop using tramadol".

I too live with chronic pain, and arthritis,  but I am not aware of anything stronger that is non-narcotic. Hopefully someone will come on that can shed some light on this.

Take care.

[nelly1313]

I would definatly be open with your DR. and let him/her know that the meds prescribed are not working. Also let your doc know that you have had a problem abusing scripts in the past, maybe there is something to help. I am a nurse and personally think that NSAIDS work best for arthritic pain. Therefor your Naprosyn and Aleves are going to be the best pain relief that you could use.  They could also use steroids to help sometimes.  But good luck and I hope that they can find something to relieve your pain.