21 replies to this topic

[clan998]

I'm 6 weeks post opp now and the back is getting better.

I've stopped taking the morphine after 3 weeks and thankfully not too many withdrawal symptoms . Im struggling more with the Tramadol

I'm down to 1 now from 8 a day but cant seem to get rid of the last one ! I find myself taking one just to finally fall asleep at night.

During the day im busy its not so bad ...but at night ...I cant sleep , real achy , feeling anxious,  itchy . I take a couple of paracetamol for the symptoms it eases things a bit but just cant sleep ! But if I take one within a hour I fall asleep !

Im going to see doctor again but was wondering if anyone else had similar experiences with tramadol or similar medication ?

Cheers Rich

[PEAKUNDER]

PM me your landline number and I will tell you my experience coming off this after my spinal fusion.

[HEZI]

Hi.
  Is it the pain that is stoppinig you getting to sleep ?.are you waking in the night ?,  There seems to be a lot going on! .As you heal you do more and by the end of each day you have often pushed that bit futher than before, hence be uncomfortabl after
  The fact that you have been able to drop from 400 mg a day to 50 is good and does not suggest a chemical depandancy..It is definately  worth havig a chat with the GP, There are plenty of alternative drugs.
It is a horrible drug and in my  experience it doesn't agree with a lot of people.I took 50 mg .,couldn't stop puking or stand up and that is not uncommon.

[clan998]

HEZI, on 02 February 2012 - 14:06 , said:

Hi.
  Is it the pain that is stoppinig you getting to sleep ?.are you waking in the night ?,  

Ive been real lucky i think the cronic pain I had before was gone immediately after surgery ... I had the post operative surgery pain for 2 weeks but no I ache a bit after physio or after pushing myself a bit . But the pain I feel is nothing that cant be managed with a couple of paracetamol.

I  feel really anxious , just on edge at night my mind is wired ! If that makes sense ? As soon as I take one I sleep eventually . Makes me wonder if it is in my mind ?

[tt82]

Been on Tramadol twice now and never had any issues with it. Either taking of or coming off it. It may be pychological, My mindset is that I don't want to become relaint on painkillers so I try and get off them asap, I look on pain as a good thing as it is your body telling you there is a problem, when you get that pain you know to back off instead of carrying on with the pain masked and possibly end up hurting or injuring yourself.

[HEZI]

It  makes sense,  i have come across post op Ortho patients using very little post Op analgesia because they have been in severe pain for so long that they can cope with the surgery .There is a great deal of Psycological involvement with long term pain as the cause is also debilitating. have a chat with Gp. The sedative effect of Tramodol is well documented,which is probably what it is doing.. you may just need an alternative.It is still early days so dont get too hung up about it .

[Raj]

I was on tramadol after a spinal issue caused by a car accident.... It was easy dropping from 5 a day to just the 1... but it took awhile to get rid of it totaly. Just like you, i needed it to get to sleep, otherwise, i was finding it hard....

As daft as it may seem but if you drink a strong caffinated drink about an hour or so before bed, it helps. Tramadol acts to prevent norepinephrine reuptake, and as you taper off, caffeine will help counteract the effects of the reduction of the norepinephrine

Also, try do a few exercises, get your body going and keep your mind going till your in bed in tends to help ween off the last pill...

I spoke to the GP and he offered substitutes for tramadol, but be vary carfull,as some can be more addictive then tramadol.

[clan998]

Thanks for the advise , it was good to have a chat Jeff.

I saw the doctor today and since they dont come in anything smaller than 50 mg ( I was thinking reducing to 25mg for a week ) we agreed that we would stop the repeat prescription for the tramadol. He did suggest taking a priton for the itchiness which might also make me sleep ??? He was talking about other pills as a substitute but I declined them dont want any more pills .

Ive a probably 10 - 15 left which im thinking off just binning the remaining pills and going for it.

Jeff and Susie suggested making a plan to stay awake at night .... since I cope ok during the day while Im busy and just seeing how it goes .

The general concenscence is that it will probably take 2 -3 days for it all to finally get out of my system. If I can get over it during the weekend the lack of sleep wont affect my work on monday !

I will do my exercises tonight Raj and the cafine normally would keep me awake .. But ill try that .. pepsi or coke for me then ... Ill be climbing the walls tonight lol

Edited by clan998, 03 February 2012 - 14:38 .

[GazT4R]

Piriton - anti-hystamine. Hay fever, allergic reactions etc hence for the itching sensation. Also can have a drowsy effect hence his suggestion of it no doubt.
You can get own brand antihystamine very cheaply, just check the ingredients of Piriton and check the own brand has the same (I begrudge paying for the name when it has the same thing in, Nurofen being the prime example of paying for names).

Edited by GazT4R, 03 February 2012 - 16:46 .

[Redbrick]

clan998, on 03 February 2012 - 14:36 , said:

Thanks for the advise , it was good to have a chat Jeff.

I saw the doctor today and since they dont come in anything smaller than 50 mg ( I was thinking reducing to 25mg for a week )

If you want 25 mg chop one in half, I do this with my hayfever tablets, 1 a day would wear out by 7pm so I take 1/2 in morning and 1/2 at 6pm.

[clan998]

Ive just been to the chemist to get my priton .... sorry Gaz I would normally do the same thing . I wont pay for the branded hay fever pills when you can get the same stuff for £0.39p for a box of 30 !!!!   I just didnt have time .

The chemist suggested cutting one up .... Ive just tried it .

I feel like a drug dealer separating the white powder into two little piles with a blade I guess Ill be ok as long as I dont start sniffing it up ?

Tbh id rather reduce it down for another week than try going cold turkey ( bit of a chicken me ?!?!   )

[RobbieH]

clan998, on 03 February 2012 - 14:36 , said:

I will do my exercises tonight Raj and the cafine normally would keep me awake .. But ill try that .. pepsi or coke for me then ... Ill be climbing the walls tonight lol

Ok, I know we are both cyclists so how about getting some turbo sessions in. Non-load bearing so shouldn't do any harm and get you back into the groove so to speak. Just don't try a "Sufferfest" session quite yet LOL.

tt82, on 02 February 2012 - 18:48 , said:

I look on pain as a good thing as it is your body telling you there is a problem, when you get that pain you know to back off instead of carrying on with the pain masked and possibly end up hurting or injuring yourself.

Problem with us two wheeled types is pain is something you learn to live with. Witness riders at the end of a hillclimb or long distance time trial (12hrs for example). Not a pretty site

[GazT4R]

Glad it's not just me .

I mean £2.79 for twelve Nurofen 200mg Ibruprofen versus 0.19p for twelve 200mg Ibruprofen. Someones taking the piss.
I even had one daft cow telling me they work better, erm it's the same thing. No they're Nurofen, they're better. Ok love, off you go.

[Lord B]

I think a lot of pills are a rip off, I always used to tell Ella to take the painkiller prescriptions when she was giving birth cos they were free , I survived popping them for my knee when working B4 eventually deciding I would have to get it looked at when they didn't always work, and after MRI and seeing consultant, he asked how I managed to walk and kneel down.

I find I sleep better after a pint of coffee or can of coke B4 bed, people always said I was mad, perhaps there is some logic to it

[clan998]

RobbieH, on 03 February 2012 - 17:22 , said:

Ok, I know we are both cyclists so how about getting some turbo sessions in. Non-load bearing so shouldn't do any harm and get you back into the groove so to speak. Just don't try a "Sufferfest" session quite yet LOL.

The physio did say I could get the bike on the turbo and do some gentle cycling. I will sort that tomorrow and report back on how that helps .

Im in two minds now to go cold turkey with lots of caffine or reduce my intake to 25mg .

Edited by clan998, 03 February 2012 - 18:41 .

[GazT4R]

I lurvvvvvve coffee. Never have a problem sleeping.

You using Ella's painkillers, I use our Ella's skin cream for my dry skin/excema .

[tt82]

GazT4R, on 03 February 2012 - 17:34 , said:

Glad it's not just me .

I mean £2.79 for twelve Nurofen 200mg Ibruprofen versus 0.19p for twelve 200mg Ibruprofen. Someones taking the piss.
I even had one daft cow telling me they work better, erm it's the same thing. No they're Nurofen, they're better. Ok love, off you go.

There was a study that suggested that for some people the brand names do work better then cheap supermarket items, Not sure why or if it's just a placebo effect but I'll stick with the cheapo items for now.

[Nunchukhamster]

If you think the markup on human drugs is bad, have a look at what vets make.  As an example, dogs get conjunctivitis, same as humans. A vet will charge approx. £12 for a tube of cream to treat it.  The cream contains exactly the same ingredients as the human version you can buy from a chemist for about £2.  

Cookie, you're not the only one, I usually drink Pepsi Max before bed, in fact I usually have a bottle beside the bed in case I'm thirsty during the night.

[Mrs Goggins]

GazT4R, on 03 February 2012 - 19:07 , said:

I lurvvvvvve coffee. Never have a problem sleeping.

lord b cant sleep if he doesnt have his pint of coffee or coke - i remember what he was like when doctor told him to lay off the coffee for a week - poor boy - u would think hes had his bestest toy taken away from him           

[Raj]

So how you getting on? you bouncing off walls with caffine?