Another Doc touting Trams as completely non-addictive!!!

[IwillDoThis]

My boyfriends mother is 74 and racked with rheumatoid.  She takes no pain pills for it however recently they thought she had a fracture in her back and her rheumatologist convinced her to take a completely non-addictive pain pills called TRAMADOL.  Now based on ya'alls experience I know different.  She is an old woman in so much pain and it is helping her pain but I did make sure to tell her that her doctors explanation of the medication is not accurate and she shouldn't take any more at all than necessary because it is as addictive as any other opiate.  This is a case where opiates can be very helpful to someone with a chronic condition but where the doctor totally misinformed her.  Is it so much to just have the truth?

[IwillDoThis]

duh I used to be a paralegal, thanks for the reminder.  I am so scrambling to find out about this procedure, I hadn't even gotten to the process of checking on doc.  I know just how to check on the malpractice and I think we'll research this procedure further.  Of course this happens when I have to be at airport at 6 am tomorrow and be gone for two weeks.  AH the best laid plans.  The doc NOW is rushing it (after letting walk around with compression fractures since december when we first complained, his office couldn't seem to get her scheduled and take care of this before) so I think a few more days and gathering our research might be prudent.  

[texaslady68]

You can always google the doctor and find many websites with reviews from patients rating his performance.  You can also check to see if he has had any malpractice complaints filed on him.  Not sure which website.

I always recommend getting 2nd opinions when it comes to procedures of such a delicate nature.

[IwillDoThis]

Okay just because the info is overwhelming.  Based on MRI she has two spinal fractures - her doc who has already told us he's given her a nice non-addictive pain pill called Tramadol (NOT) and this doc is saying there is a "magic" procedure called vertebroplasty - she's in/out a little cement in the fractures and ba-da boom.  NOW the top results on google say it is sham therapy, lots of risks.  Here are my concerns:   he is uninformed about the tramadol and he didn't even bring up the risks.  Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of this?  Thanks guys

[ImDONENoMore]

Tramadol is an opiate and we need to stop saying otherwise.

Now that being said, given your boyfriend's Mom's condition, and her age, I think it's more important for her to get pain relief than to suffer.  I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but I think we have to treat each situation individually.  I hope she continues to feel better.   And continue to watch her dosage.   :)

[texaslady68]

IWill,

I absolutely agree with you on this topic. I recently dealt with it myself.  I went to the doctor last month for my monthly back visit and I told him that I had quit narcotics and did not want anymore and if there was anything I could take that was non addictive, I would try it.  Well, you guessed it, he prescribed TRAMADOL. If it was not for me coming home and telling members of the forum, i probably would have had the script filled.  

I then began doing my own online research and was shocked at what I found.  First, they are harder to withdraw from, and just like with our devil pills, you eventually take more and more to get relief.  Some kids are able to use them to get high if they take 500 or 600 mg.  

If she needs them, the I am all for it if she plans on staying on them forever so she does not have to deal with the withdrawal horrors.  

[allmymarbles]

It is only recently that doctors have been more generous with pain medication. Formerly they concentrated so hard on addiction that they deprived patients of drugs that were designed for pain. I had a serious accident some months ago and the doctors and nurses actually were concerned that I was not taking enough pain medication.

[IwillDoThis]

Absolutely agree.  Opiates are so important and give relief to so many.   I'm not worried about her as she takes a little as she can of anything for her condition and I've seen it get so much worse over the last year.

I have nothing against medication.  I just wish there were better education given to patients, full disclosure  - that's it, my gripe.  She is a 74 year old woman in so much pain and she is getting relief for the first time in months.  

As in all things - balance is key.

[10356]

Hi Iwilldothis. Considering your bf mom's age and pain level If the Trams are helping her this would be a good thing. she may become dependent but in her situation the pain probably is not going to improve. as long as taken as directed and she is capable of monitoring her own intake. I agree with you whole heatedly that her Dr. should have informed her that this med is addictive. It is a synthetic opiate with a antidepressant effect this is why it is so hard to get of off. Many Dr. only read the small amount of info the Big Pharma give them and that info does not include it may cause dependence our addiction. My own Dr. who I respect very much tried to offer me this when I first got clean for pain I had to Educate him. He was very surprised. take care. lesa

[allmymarbles]

Obviously you do not want the old lady to suffer  pain. Since what she is taking is not an opioid would it be possible to switch her to an opioid for a while and then switch her back to what she is taking now, and then back again, and so forth. I am thinking of a way to keep her from serious addiction, yet adequately medicated, so that she will not have to raise dosages. I have wondered about this approach many times. You might want to ask your doctor.