In pain, Tramadol not working, help?

Hi everyone,

At my last visit to the rheumy, I received a script for Tramadol 50mg. I was taking Darvon, however it has been discontinued here in the U.S, so my doctor gave me the Tramadol script. I can't take it at bedtime because it interacts with my Trazadone that I take for sleep, so I try to take it during the day for pain, but it doesn't work at all. I work several nights shifts per week, and the lack of sleep is really making my RA flare up something awful.  At this point, I just don't know what to ask for regarding pain relief! I can't ask for pred, because my rheumy is treating for osteoporosis.

What does everyone else take for pain? Currently I'm only taking MTX 8 pills per week, and I've already tried the Plaquenil (had eye issues) and can't afford the Enbrel co-pay.

I really wish the Tramadol would have worked because it didn't give me that weird medicine head feeling.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Dee,

Thanks! I'm at 50mg, and I did try to double the dose but it really made me feel wired, wide awake almost as if I had had too much caffeine.

Hi Dee,

No, thanks for your help. I took the Darvon for a couple of years, and my doctor is fine with giving me whatever for pain management, addiction has never been an issue.  I just thought I would see what others take and what helps besides pred. It is crazy about the Tramadol!

No worries, take care!

Hi Momto, I haven't chatted wth you for ages! Shame you can't take the prednisone that always works.

But I was on a pain patch for about 7-8 months last year while I was going through a rough patch. I had two different types both worked really well for getting rid of background pain. One was a fentenyl base , durogesic or something the other was a norspan patch. I had to change patches as I started to get migraines on the fentenyl. I'm told you can get a rebound from the opiates if you're prone to migraine. No migraines on the norspan.

When I was on tramadol I had the 50mg as BT meds and I was on a slow release style morning and night but I kept getting severe muscle cramps...

Didn't like them as much as the patches.

Maybe you could get a referal to a pain management clinic?

Sorry to hear youre having trouble.

Best wishes, golitho

Hi i'm on 200mg Tramadol Twice day Helping but yes as other said puts a fog over pain,i did get Relief from a Patch called Norspan However after a few months developed nasty rash to site but it did work for a while

Hi Golitho!

I'm so happy to hear you are doing well!! This is what we hope for when we have RA isn't it?! I'm so glad the humira is working for you, that is one I have not taken, and of course I love pred!! I wish I had some of that right about now!!  I think my downfall was when I decided to go back to work..I work from 10pm until 7am, and since it is a homeless shelter we aren't really supposed to sleep...that means I don't catch up on my sleep and it just seems to snowball through out the week. Lack of sleep for me always makes me have horrid joint pain! I like the idea of the pain patch and have another call into my rheumy. If I don't get any results with a call, I may just have to make another appointment. One time I asked him if he ever hears of lack of sleep increasing joint pain in his other patients and he said yes! I'm sure he will understand my predicament, since on Tuesday nights I work, and Weds I don't have the opportunity to sleep at all until bedtime.

My daughter has been complaining of her knees hurting for so long, and a couple of weeks ago she woke up with her knee so red and swollen she literally could not put any weight on it, and it was terribly painful for her..by the time we got her into the doctor that afternoon it had subsided and he said her knee was fine! I made an appointment with a sports medicine doctor since she is in cheerleading and he knew a great deal about RA. The minute he found out I had it, and she had had a swollen knee, he decided to test her as well.  To even think she may have what we have brings tears to my eyes, it is such an awful thing to have Golitho...for me it was life changing and nothing was ever the same again. But then I'm an adult and I've lived much of my life, she has not.  Although, you are so right, it is critical to get treatment right away as opposed to waiting and having joint damage.  Right now we are monitoring her very closely, last night she was feverish (no cold/flu) and fell asleep on the sofa after school, so it looks like a call to the pedi rheumy is in order. I had not thought about giving her the fish oil supplements! Of course I am looking for any treatment that is not the toxic stuff we must take on a daily basis.  I think that is one of my worst fears...is that she will be forced to take meds such as MTX, but surely they don't give those horrid pills to children.

Our local rec center offers pool exercise classes, and I have thought about that as well. I really need to do *something* if you know what I mean!! I may look into that since I'm pretty sure I could do that! Great idea!

No saga at all! Keep in touch:)

 

Jay...I noticed in your list of meds you have Domperidone listed, do you have Gastroparesis by chance?

Hi Kiss...Yes, it is frustrating when a drug that works is no longer on the market. I did get in touch with my nurse at the rheumy's office and all he would give out is Vicodin, which when I take it can't keep my eyes open for the life of me, and a two month supply of pred, which he rarely gives out. So for now I will take what I have, but when I go for my visit in March, you can bet Iwill be more persistant in asking for something that works better.  I really wish they made pain medications that didn't make me fall asleep or loopy,and the Darvon was perfect.

Hey Jody,

It is nice to hear from you, and yes I post here every now and then.  Although not to the extent that I used to, life and work has just been too hectic.

Keep in touch.

Hi Jody..

Life is busy here! My oldest boy is now out of high school, and preparing to move out on his own very shortly. My other two are doing well, and as far as my daughter is concerned, we are watching her closely right now for more signs of RA. She went to a few physical therapy sessions here recently, and the therapist feels it is orthopedic in nature. Fingers crossed.

I work several nights a week at a homeless shelter and this is of course a busy time, with the cold temps and weather. My RA has started to flare with my work schedule, since there are days when I don't get to come home and sleep, my joints really hurt on these days.   However, I do have a script for pred, and that keeps me plugging along.

I hope the Humira kicks in and does well for you, I know that sometimes meds just run their course.

*mom*

Hi Jody,

How is the Humira working? I actually barely get by on just the MTX, that is why I'm on pred and pain medication right now.  I would love to start back on the biologics, but I work with a diverse population of people where colds, flu and sometimes TB are common place. I just can't risk squashing my immune system, because I would get sick much easier than I do now.

That is so wonderful for your son, congrats to him!

Yes, both boys are doing well. They both had to do time at their dads, but it looks like most of the teenage craziness is behind us, thank goodness! No one said parenting was easy eh?

I don't have a facebook, and have never really had the desire to obtain one, but my daughter has one and she loves chatting with her friends.

Please do re-introduce yourself, although I have never been able to figure out the rule requring people to introduce themselves on the message board.

I miss hearing from the old gang, yally, ducky etc I hope they are all doing well!! I'm glad you came back to the board!

Hopefully the Humira will kick in soon and you can get some relief, I know it is miserable!

Hang in there and let me know how you are getting along.

Hi guys,
Been a crazy busy week..first chance I've had to get back here. Started a new baby two weeks ago, and another today..brings me up to four full-time kids, and one part time. Three of those are infants..yikes! I live on diaper mountain! :)..
I had a couple really tough days right after I started the Humira..I don't know how long it will take to kick in, but thankfully, I'm not near as bad as I was at the beginning...boy that was tough! The rhuemy said that I could take the shots weekly for a bit until I get it worked into my system, so that is an option. But, this Friday would be the day to take the second bi-weekly shot. If I can hold out until then, I will. Golitho, how long have you been on Humira? Do you remember how long it took to get working for you? I am sooo hopeful that it will make a difference for me..the Enbrel was so good for so long..I'm hoping for that again! Have also heard that some feel Humira worked better than Enbrel did..that would be great! I'm with you on the sickness, stuff, It's really weird...I do home daycare, and it seems that there is ALWAYS someone sick with something! But, I was sicker, more often before I started RA treatments than I am now. My husband gets sick way more than I do!
Mom, as far as the Enbrel co-pays, did you ever check into the Enbrel assistance program? I had it the whole time I was using Enbrel..and my co-pays were only 10.00 a month. Now I have Humira payment assistance, and from what I understand, the Humira, plus my plaquenil will be a combined total of 5.00. Love it!
As far as the "old gang" goes, yes, they are all doing good..I hear most often from Yally and Ducky, and CaMama is on as well. Once in while Raven messages, and Bear pops up from time to time. Oh! Erin is on too.. It's nice to keep in contact, that's for sure.
Well, guess it's time to sign off here...morning comes too early..:)
Take Care!
Jody

Hi Mom and Jody, the humira took about 2 months to fully kick in for me. I was on it for a couple of years then had my ovaries removed in a cancer scare and it stopped working, we don't know whether it was the shock of the surgery, the anaesthetic or the lack of estrogen but I was swelling up and in a horrendous mess. So got pulled off the humira tried remicade and had an allergic reaction, then tried Orencia for about 10 months but nothing worked as well as the humira, so I asked to go back on the humira last November and thank God its working again.
I feel great, I'm managing my symptoms, have to be careful not to overdo it, but I'm back teaching, I can walk on the flat, I attend a weekly water based physio class. I feel really strong and in much less pain than before. Still have bad days bt overall I'm good.
I'm just enjoying each day now, not taking them for granted like I was. I had such a horrendous 12 month period.
You sound like you must be in need of that humira to work fast with all those new kids, Jody.
Can't you get vaccinated against TB, Mom? You should talk to your specialist, I feel so much healthier now I'm not in bad pain all the time. I'm sure my resistance is much better than it was. I didn't even catch a cold in the last 2 years!
Best wishes, golitho