Please don't poke the bear!
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Used properly, you won't need to see a chiropractor...and it has helped me.
You learn to relax on it, do some yoga breathing, let your mind wander, and sometimes, all of a sudden, you feel vertebrae move/pop...it's painless...you also learn how to slowly regain vertical position by using your arms as you raise up...so that you don't do it all in one motion...not too good..dizzy
Been there done that I feel your pain. Twice the situation resolved on items own, twice I had surgery--lamiinectomy which helped. For me the pills didn't help. I've heard too many horror stories about fusion so I try to avoid it. YMMV. Best of luck in getting it resolved
It's a synthetic opioid and that's why it's prescribed so often. It's probably more addictive than the real thing but I've been in your shoes with spine issues and if you feel it's time to stop taking the med's then get your Dr. to get you into a pain specialist. It's him who got you there, let him help get you out.
Btw, it's not advisable to quit taking a prescribed pain med suddenly, if anything cut your prescribed dosage in half and wean off it. Not judging or making any assumptions but if you are taking Tramadol as prescribed it shouldn't be too tough to step down off it. I took it for many months and my Dr. Started stepping me down on the dosage and I responded very well. Ymmv and I wish you nothing but the best. Stenosis sucks.
Btw, it's not advisable to quit taking a prescribed pain med suddenly, if anything cut your prescribed dosage in half and wean off it. Not judging or making any assumptions but if you are taking Tramadol as prescribed it shouldn't be too tough to step down off it. I took it for many months and my Dr. Started stepping me down on the dosage and I responded very well. Ymmv and I wish you nothing but the best. Stenosis sucks.
I have sciatica brother and I feel your pain (literally). Sleepless nights and irratability. The lady of the house calls me "grumpy bear". Hang in there, and give us a shout if you need to.
I had cervical fusion with implants in 2000, it was either that or lose the use of my left arm. There's permanent nerve damage and I've had issues ever since but I really had no other choice, I looked into everything before accepting surgery. Pain med's were the only thing that kept me from losing my mind from the pain. There's certainly a time and situation for them and everyone has their limits. I've had the lamonectomy on L-4 and that was nothing compared to the neck surgery. Chiropractic helps to a point but when it's degenerative I just don't know that it's lasting. Pipe smoking and meditation was very therapeutic for both the physical and more so the mental aspect of my recovery as much as my doctors didn't want to hear it. My PCP was the only one who told me quite matter of factly that if it was helpful, continue in moderation. Tobacco is cheaper and less addictive than the crap they dish out, that I know for sure!
Interesting information, settersbrace - I wasn't aware of that. I have been on a very low dose of 100 mg daily of extended released tramadol (Durela) and it's a powder in a capsule. I really can't "reduce" -- I suppose I could take one every 2 days -- but I think I'm over the worst now. Slept a bit more last night after I checked in here, and didn't do too badly today. We'll see what the night brings (for those who care, it's 1AM here, but I don't generally go to bed until 5 and get up about noon -- I'm a true night owl!).
Thanks again to all -- I appreciate the support!!
Thanks again to all -- I appreciate the support!!
My kid brother is addicted to opiate pain relief as a result of his back and surgeries. He's in pain all the time.
He experienced more trauma to his back, which was already genealogically prone to failure, than my years of heavy lifting and hard work, which contributed to the deterioration of my lower lumbar.
The worst times have been spasms which came in waves and completely left me crippled.
Some of us can overcome these symptoms naturally with time and development of supportive muscles through exercises and stretches.
I sympathize with anyone who has constant pain and I don't judge them for becoming addicted to medicinal remedy.
He experienced more trauma to his back, which was already genealogically prone to failure, than my years of heavy lifting and hard work, which contributed to the deterioration of my lower lumbar.
The worst times have been spasms which came in waves and completely left me crippled.
Some of us can overcome these symptoms naturally with time and development of supportive muscles through exercises and stretches.
I sympathize with anyone who has constant pain and I don't judge them for becoming addicted to medicinal remedy.
Thanks, newbroom -- I agree with you, btw. I'm rather (read "very") frustrated that I'm told this stuff isn't addictive, it's a very mild dose, you won't have any trouble getting off it....... bah!!
My kid sister has lots of arthritis pain. She took part in a 'study' once that involved some one of the opiate derivatives and when the study was over...they left her high and addicted. Pharmaceutical companies and their facilitators may be a necessary evil, but using us as guinea pigs for their profit makes me hot.
Just to set the record straight, there is a great divide between someone who is drug dependent and drug addicted. If a person is in excruciating pain 24/7 they are dependent on the medicine to provide some relief. The drug addict is simply self medicating against what's prescribed and therefore abusing it. That is a direct quote from my Neurosurgeon.
Are you calling my sister a drug addict? I meant that the study made my sister 'dependent' upon the pharmaceutical she tested and when the study was over...a period of months...she was left w/o these meds or a prescription.
She said that she suffered more from withdrawing from this than with her RA.
I think it's possible to be both dependent and addicted -- in fact, they probably usually go together with this crap.
I was no referring to anyone specifically and certainly not anyone's sister so let's put that to bed. What I stated is medically a fact. Ask any doctor.
Doctors do leave people in the lurch and it's one of the reasons why so many people turn to illicit drug use sadly. I've seen the tragic side of it as I'm sure many on here have as well. I would again like to wish the OP the best in his own personal situation and let's all get back to some pipesmoking.
And Newbroom, read my ENTIRE post not just the one sentence.
Doctors do leave people in the lurch and it's one of the reasons why so many people turn to illicit drug use sadly. I've seen the tragic side of it as I'm sure many on here have as well. I would again like to wish the OP the best in his own personal situation and let's all get back to some pipesmoking.
And Newbroom, read my ENTIRE post not just the one sentence.
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Thanks, jkrug -- it has helped a lot! Tonight will be night #6 without tramadol and I think I'm over the hump!!
settersbrace,
I knew what you were saying and was just 'poking the bear' a tad. I said that my sister was left addicted, and your comment said that addicts abuse the medication.
I am an old hippie. I know that people will use drugs recreationaly, and that many can result in addiction from that 'abuse'.
mike
I knew what you were saying and was just 'poking the bear' a tad. I said that my sister was left addicted, and your comment said that addicts abuse the medication.
I am an old hippie. I know that people will use drugs recreationaly, and that many can result in addiction from that 'abuse'.
mike
I am a recovered opiate addict(sober 12 years) and like you said your over the hump. It will get much easier after day 5 and you start sleeping more. Good luck you have almost made it.
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