What if you need the tramadol for pain?

[BeTheBean]

Hi,
I am reading that I am likely addicted to Tramadol, though I don't feel like it physically.  I take 150 mg in the morning for fibromyalgia.  Up until about 3 months ago, I only took one dose.  Lately the Fibromyalgia has gotten much worse and I take 100 mg in the afternoon.  I try not to take it in the late afternoon or evening because I have trouble sleeping.  So what does everyone do to relieve pain, once they are off Tramadol?  Tylenol does not work, and I cannot take any aspirin products (Advil, Motrin, and others) because of Stage II Chronic Kidney Disease.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

[jekorb]

Thank you so much for your heartening post; it gave me hope.  I've been on Tramadol 50 mg., 8-9 per day for colitis, which I'm sure I could probably get the relief I need from Bentyl, but my addiction gene lying within me caused me to eagerly start back on Trams about 15 mos. ago, following the death of my mother.  I have prayed and prayed for the strength to walk toward withdrawal and I seem to be getting a little more resolved every day.  Another poster named Kimmie has helped me a lot.  When did you go through w/d?  It must have been recently.  I am so frightened of the 4, 5 or 6 days of agony of w/d, I almost crumble when I think about it.  I am SO proud of YOU!  God be with you always and may He listen to my prayers.

[mareke]

I used to take Tramadol for pain. It’s addictive if taken every day for more than about 6 weeks. Your body gets used to it and then you feel bad if you stop taking it so you take more and tell yourself you need it. Tramadol can actually cause pain by the way if you have certain conditions. I took it for arthritic pain and it made me sleep longer and more deeply meaning I woke feeling more stiffness and pain so I took more Tramadol to relieve the pain. I also put on weight and was much less active which in turn led to more pain. I was on Tramadol for 6 years and am glad to be off it. Getting off it involved about 4 days of discomfort and after that I was 90% back to normal. These days I exercise for an hour a day and take Tylenol with codeine and sometimes Ibuprofen with codeine and this provides enough relief because the exercising I do and sleeping less mean I feel less stiffness and pain. In my case I would say Tramadol caused as much pain as it relieved because of the way it changed me. If I was in pain all the time I’d go back on Tramadol but I’d be a much wiser person the second time round and I’d only do it as a last resort.

[familystone]

I never knew tramadol was addictive.  In fact a friend of mine who abuses pills went to his dr. for pain, but she thought he was "drug seeking" and only prescribed him tramadol.  He didn't even fill it and was mad because he was hoping for vic's.  Why/how do you become addicted to it? Do you get high off of it?  You learn something new everyday.  Especially on this forum.

Thanks

[avisg]

I Had to find alturntive ways to handle my pain which I did. It took some time but my pain lelvel is now lower then when I used the tram.Plan can be controled without it .