Are you taking Tramadol or even thinking about it?

[sailing1]

I had taken Tramadol (50-100mg every four hours, more or less) for only 6 +/- weeks starting in mid August for honest to goodness, horrible bilateral knee pain (I have torn meniscus and more in both knees from an injury I had over a year ago.)  My new health practitioner ordered tramadol because it's not classified as a scheduled narcotic, with reportedly little addictive potential.  I'm a registered nurse...I looked it up in my professional drug handbook and thought...OK.

When my pain was much less (rested for a week,) I went off it.  Two days later, I developed severe withdrawal symptoms.....the same you see with long term use or abuse of narcotics.  Only I didn't recognize it as such...I thought I had a severe case of food poisoning, and then later revised my self-diagnosis to an intestinal virus or flu after days of horrible, horrible symptoms.  After 6 days I found my remaining tramadol in my purse (by accident,) and thought, maybe this will help some of my cramping and pains, etc.  I took 2 and within 30 min. or so felt 100% better.  A lightbulb went off..."Am I in withdrawal?"  I got out my computer and looked up tramadol withdrawal and addiction and found this site.  I now know that I was in a full-blown withdrawal state and never having been here before couldn't honestly relate to how powerful it can be....I am a changed person and medical practitioner.  Withdrawal is really painful and rough and scary, and I applaud anyone who has made it or is going through it by choice.

My point is....those who have never experienced it, cannot really imagine how difficult it is, and I urge you to continue the struggle...the other side is worth it.  By the way, my 17 year old daughter was taking care of me through this horrible "illness."  She wanted me to go to the hospital several times but I refused, saying it was "just a really bad bug, it'll pass."  Two days ago, when I was feeling better, I told her what I had discovered about my withdrawal.  Having seen her mother going through that might have been the best anti-drug therapy she may ever get! !! Stay the course!  We are all here for you!

[sailing1]

If you, or your health practitioner are discussing using or switching to Tramadol, GET EDUCATED and educate your practitioner if needed.  The personal accounts of Tramadol addiction and/or withdrawal in the threads of this forum site will REALLY enlighten you.  Turn your practitioner on to this site if you have to...spread the word.  

Tramadol is very effective for pain relief, do not get me wrong, but it has to be prescribed  (or used) in the most educated way, and a planned discontinuation must be discussed and considered before withdrawal.  I now feel a social responsibility to get the word out on this until the FDA has re-reviewed this drug and its non-scheduled status, and until practitioners, like myself, are more widely aware of its hazards.