I live 150 miles away from the ER that I need to go to. My neurologist is out of the area for two weeks. This new TN pain hurt too bad for me to travel, but I didn't want to wait for the doctor to return, either. I called the clinic and asked to talk to ANY neurologist. A doctor called me back, we had a telephone discussion, and since he couldn't get in touch with my neurologist either, he prescribed for me with the caveat of getting in touch with my doctor later. He prescribed:
Ultram (tramadol) 50 mg 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. He sent me the medication via "next-day UPS".
The pain has not disappeared but this regimen has been extremely beneficial; the nature of the pain has changed from being a day-long, excruciating lancinating pain, often preventing speech, to a burning fire under my skin between my eye and nose, occurring mainly toward the evening when the medication has just about worn off. I can blow my nose again and if I am very careful I can wash my face.
My question is, does anyone else use Ultram? I've read others' accounts here, and I do not recall any mention of Ultram. I was previously prescribed a lesser dose of Ultram for other nerve pain, but it didn't work well. At this higher dose and combined with the prednisone it is working just fine for the TN pain. I am able to function during the day (I even was able to take my dog to get the stitches out from her leg amputation and get her in and out of the truck).
I am prescribed tramadol 50mg every 4 hours as needed. I haven't noticed much of a difference with it, to be honest. My speculation is that, for me, my docs are just sort of adding that onto the rest of my meds in hopes it does something. I do know that when I was on prednisone at the very beginning, that did seem to help significantly, as the general inflammation was reduced.
I hope you have much better luck and wish you all the best.
I tried tramadol before I even knew what I had and it did nothing for me though it could work on top of other medication. What doesn't work for someone may work for another!
Forgive me for not updating this topic or responding to the individuals who answered my question. My dog has turned out to have metastatic CA to the lungs, and that has kept me quite busy and tormented emotionally; do I have her put down or do I search out palliative measures to give her as many happy, comfortable days as she might have left? I have chosen palliation, and that involves trips to the vet for blood work and x-rays, and lots of attention to how she is moving and breathing.
Anyway, for me the bottom line has turned out to be: if I take the tramadol at night AND ibuprofen in the night and day, I have only twinges of the pain (the "tic" in tic doloreux) and am leading a normal life, whatever normal is. If I don't take them, either one, the pain breaks through and makes it necessary to change my activity. That regimen of prednisone brought things down to a very dull roar. I wouldn't want to take it again, but it did help.
I might or might not have mentioned this, but I had a monstrous scalp itching on the same side as the TN that nothing would solve. The prednisone made that disappear, so I figure it was all related as an MS relapse.
I had episodic sneezing fits, and that has disappeared also. Now the only associated issue is my eye on the TN side itches and feels dry, and if I absentmindedly rub my eye that sets off the TN pain. And that's the way it is, today, April 14, 2012.
I hope all of you as well have found the relief you are seeking. This is one club I hate to be a member of and hate being able to say, "I feel your pain", because that means there are a great number of hurting people in the world. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo, Stella
"strangely I have been on ultram / steroids for 24 hrs + for a different condition Haven't had to wear a pain patch in this time we will see! I think I will finish the ultram and see if can keep pain away for a job interview"
Stella replies: Well now! I hope this is a good relief for you! It definitely provided me a great degree of relief. I have taken one tablet earlier this evening and the pain is gone for a while. Good luck with your job interview.
Hi! I've been taking tramadol for over 8 years. I take the max amount, two 50mg four times a day or 240 a month. I've always taken that amount, in other words, I was never prescribed any less than that for pain relief. I have tn and gn and pn (LOL) and it takes the edge off, not much else, but it's a good standard, then I use another med if needed for breakthrough pain.
I have never once had any side effects or problems taking tramadol. My husband takes it for pain from spinal stenosis and he has never had a problem with it either. For him, he's noticed that as an added bonus, it seems to have some properties that work on his anxiety.
Hope you feel better soon. That doc you found was very nice to help you that way. Outstanding! Love Julie
I have been prescribed tramadol too, I am on 2x100mg 4 times a day with 2xsolpadol pain killers 4 times a day too!! and i am also on 2 amitriptyline at night time!! it takes most of the edge off everything, at first i could not function at all due to awful dizziness and drowsiness! but 4 weeks later i have just had 2 days of feeling normal!! which has been the first 2 days since Feb 13th!! but it seems a huge amount of drugs to be taking, and i do still get a few awful twinges through the days. its tough not to let it get you down or affect how you feel but I really am trying!!
Awww Chloe, I'm so sorry for your pain. I like the tramadol because it doesn't contain any tylenol. So at least that's one less med to worry about your liver about.
I'm so happy your getting relief! I hope you keep having good days!!! Love Julie
ME! ME! ME!....Just one excited ME TOO! Hope to share info with you soon. I relate to the details you discuss.I am experiencing much of same. I regret not being able to communicate right now but I am trying to deal with the immediate social and financial implications of dealing with ALL of this at the same time I am starting from scratch in life after divorce. Im down to day by day until social security accepts my claim which should be soon after a wait of several years. Ive come far trying to figure it all out too. Ive felt victorious in the small sense of the word as far as coping mechanisms and surviving (barely) with a promise to myself of remaining positive. Feel free to be in touch....I just am using every minute I can to find a solution on living arrangement emergency. Who could have prepared us for this??!! I just wanted to acknowledge you and send support and love!!!
I applaud your efforts and look forward to cheering you on as a real life friend...I truly understand!!!
Like Chloe and "Jujubeee" I, too, am concerned about the number and type of drugs taken. I spent the past week being pain-free, so I decided to stop the pain meds, even though I had experienced breakthrough pain before when I didn't take it as prescribed. Guess what? The TN returned with a vengeance within 24 hours, smacking me in the face when I least needed it. Because of her metastasized bone cancer, I had, not 15 minutes earlier, had to have my doggie I mentioned in a previous post PTS, and I was in the veterinarian's parking lot arguing with my ex-significant other who loved the dog enough to be there with her and me when she died, but who also had some point to prove about something to me afterward. I was right at the part of the story where I was telling him what a donkey he is when ZAP! It felt like someone had stuck a hot poker in the face space between my right eye and my right nostril. This tells me two things - one, that the pain medicine was working the way it should and I should not stop it, and two, significant emotional and physical stress can exacerbate the irritation of the nerve, producing excruciating pain.
So, Melinda Marie, I think I can relate on some level to the stress you must be experiencing. You are right when you say, " Who could have prepared us for this?"
That was Monday for me, and you betcha I took the tramadol when I got home. This is Friday evening, and since I'm being a good girl and taking my medicine, I'm back to being mostly pain free. I hope you are all doing well and are experiencing many pain-free days.