Posted , 10 users are following.
I have no one in my life to talk to about this. It's been over 3 years that I been taking tramadol after 3 knee surgeries and it's ruining my life and don't know what else to do. Can't deal with this pain anymore. Anyone know anything that helps with withdrawals to be able to get outta bed and go to work?
2 likes, 29 replies
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richieboy22 kori13
Posted
5htp
Try to taper off the Tram real gradually
Hot showers
Talk to doc. If youre in pain , maybe something else can help
Just takes time ..what dose were you up to?
Dont worry youll do ok
kori13 richieboy22
Posted
Thanks for replying I haven't talked to anyone about my problem. I don't think I could even go to my family doctor and tell her this. I think my doctor and the office there will just see me as a drug addicted.
And as of now I been going back and forth from 10-8 pills to when I'm low 5 pills a day. I don't know how to do this anymore I feel so depressed
sm1970 kori13
Posted
Hi there! I just finished going through what you're going through, also due to many knee surgeries. I'm now down to 1/2 pill (25mg) a day. I promise it gets easier. When I was going through the worse of w/d's, I never thought there would be an end in sight. Please elaborate how much Tramadol you've been taking.
kori13 sm1970
Posted
I've never reached out to anyone to talk to so this is really weird to even talk about this with someone so thanks for all replying back. But I was taking almost or just about 13-15 50mg a day but just recently before I ran out the past few months been around 9-10 a day and I completely ran out last week and can't even think straight. I feel like I'm losing my mind
j68551 kori13
Posted
"Tramadol" here in Thailand called "Paindol" My case. Operation in Sweden which turned into a chronic post operative TKR infection three years ago. Lots of pain daily. Especially upon getting out of bed. With Tramadol I can work, write and travel. I am 67 and still work as a feature editor for Pattaya Today newspaper. I enjoy my work tremendously. I DON'T WANT TO RETIRE! I know Tramadol is BAD . But in my case it works. However, unless a lot of standing, walking is required I only take half a capsule 0.25 mg combined with one 500 mg paracetamol tablet with strong coffee - NO SUGAR! My recommendation: Lower you dose 50 % plus paracetamol. BTW in Sweden they prescribe Oxycodone "Hillbilly Heroin" Here in Thailand not allowed by Thai FDA!
melanie1973 kori13
Posted
Sorry to hear about you not been able to have any support .I used to take nine 50 mg a day I have slowly tapered myself down and am just on the one 50 mg .. taking good vitamins will help ..i have been going work myself and had to drag myself out of bed . .you have to be as strong as you can ..it will get better it's all part of withdrawal but you can do it ... how many you on? You will feel drained for about 4 days when you cut down but got to think to yourself it will get better ..be strong
j68551 melanie1973
Posted
"Nine 50 mg per day"... I am amazed when I see these high Tramadol dosages people take every day. No wonder there will be problems getting off Tramadol. BTW My friend from Helsinki (HEL) says Finnish Sauna and swimming can help. "Bangkok-Johnny"
melanie1973 j68551
Posted
Yes that's what I was on ..but now just down to just the one 50 mg a day and I take that at night ..just need to get off this last one now and then am free of the horrible drug been on them for over 9 years .. was thinking of taking half the capsule but think it will just prolong the withdrawals just have to think positive and just stop that one tablet and don't be soft and struggle for a few days ..yes doctors give them out like toffee ..thry should come with a big warning
kori13 melanie1973
Posted
How did you do it? Like get up out of bed and leave ur house to go to work? I can't even think happy at all. I don't know what to do right now. I feel really alone and depressed
melanie1973 kori13
Posted
I found out what vitamins to take but you have come off a lot and your body will be going crazy for the tramadol.. I know you feel tired all the time but you got to pull yourself through it ..my legs felt like they was dragging behind me ..but the more you are busy that's the best thing to be as staying at home your mind is always thinking about the tablet ..my mind was saying take a pill you will feel better but a big part of me stayed strong and did not take any apart from the one at night ..i know it's going to be a struggle but I got to do this ..sick of them controlling my life ..have you spoken to your doctor about it ? My doctor has given me tablets for my restless legs at night so I get some sleep ... these tablets because they have got opiates in them and a antidepressant in them they so tough because you feel like you breaking down all the time your emotions are all over the place ..you got to be strong
molinda_-molly- j68551
Posted
I took x20 @ day (on a day on a good day)
now im down 2 about 4 a day if my scoliosis/hip arthritis/ spasms/knees / neck/ head/+++more/ all hurt REALLY BAD I MIGHT take 1-5 more. But NEVER have i gone over nor up i have worked hard going from a certain death amount doctor hopping ( Missouri is the ONLY state that does not report to the controled drug database) so i am down 2 only x1 Dr x1 Rx a month! Pretty proud of myself when my appointment rolls around & I still have pills left! But im still addicted & have a long hard road ahead. :-(
sm1970 kori13
Posted
I was on 300mg a day & I decided to go almost cold turkey & went down from 6-8 pills to 1 1/2 pills a day. That was a bit extreme, but I stuck it out. It was one of the toughest things I had ever done, mentally & physically. The 1st 3 weeks was pure hell but & that's been since early July & I'm finally feeling almost normal. I thought about just dropping that last 50mg pill all together but I decided not to. I'll stick the 1/2 pill for about another week & then that will be it. Now, the only w/d symptom I get when I wean down is some mild anxiety, but it stays with me constantly for about 3-4 days. It's tolerable most of the time. The early evening can still be a bit rough. I'll get tired & lethargic but that's also manageable. Everyday gets a bit better & I feel so much more clear-headed again. Also, I've noticed that the horrible knee pain I thought I was experiencing really isn't as bad as I thought it was being on such a high dosage of Tramadol in a day. Of course, I have good pain days & bad pain days but still not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I would highly advise, however, to go see your primary doctor & explain what you're doing & get help. You don't have to go through this alone. There are relief options out there. I did take a lot of epsom salt baths & spent quite a bit of time with a heating pad. For some reason, those were the most comforting for me. If you can, take time off of work & find something else you can do; something that you really enjoy. Laying around the house can. E harmful & depression might sit in. Stay busy & stay focused. And when it's all over & said & done, the pride you will feel for beating this "addiction" will be so worth it. I am so proud of myself for sticking this out. You will be, too! It's definitely worth getting your life back. Best of luck to anyone also going through this. I'm on the last road... finally!
kori13 sm1970
Posted
That is so great I wish I was where you are now! I couldn't imagine how hard that must of been but I'm not strong like that. I thought I was a strong person but now I don't. I just feel like some drugie that isn't going to be able to survive this
sm1970 kori13
Posted
I felt, and still sometimes do, the same exact way. I know it's hard but I will tell you this: if you really want off of them, just don't do it. You're already cold turkey & if you stick through it, you will be recovered quickly than me. The 1st 3 weeks will be a living hell for you but it will go fast, especially since your mind will be in a complete fog. I work 10 hour shifts someday & going to work that 1st week was atrocious. Looking back on it, that week was such a blur. And believe me, I'm not the strongest person either. I've actually popped an extra Tramadol one evening last week because I was hurting. But it was actually ok. It didn't affect my recovery from this at all. I do know that I will NEVER live my life day to day waiting to take my next dose of Tramadol. I don't ever want to feel the way I did those 1st few weeks again. I've never taken a medication in my life priori to that the way I took Tramadol. I've had several knee surgeries & was prescribed Percocet & they didn't have the same effect on me. I would just stop them when I didn't need them anymore & that was that. I don't drink alcohol. So, by the true definition of an addict, I'm really not; however, I became addicted to Tramadol. My body needed it, craved it, wanted it. If I didn't have it, I would be a nervous wreck. Now, I have an entire prescription plus another 1/2 left & I go without. Now I can take 1 if I really need it & be completely fine. Even though I still need that 1/2 pill in the morning because now that's what my system is used to. I know it feels unmanageable for you right now, and I know exactly how bad you're feeling. Been there, done that. You can be strong, you just have to really want to be. For me, it was determination to get over those w/d's. My advice for you right now is to not fight it. Let it take over right now & it will finally let you have yourself back. The more you fight it, the worse you will feel. I promise it gets better.
Gerrymoo sm1970
Posted
Very well done, it's so tough so you must have great strength
melanie1973 Gerrymoo
Posted
sm1970 Gerrymoo
Posted
It's been one of the toughest things I've had to do. I'm now down to 1/2 pill (25mg) a day & next week I will drop it all together. I worry about the w/d's when I completely drop it. The worse of it is now is the anxiety. I have found that it last about 3-4 days then gets better. What I find strange is that I will feel better all of a sudden then a couple weeks later I'll experience the anxiety again. It's so aggravating. I'm just bound & determined to get off this med. I'm done with it! I'm stubborn so I can do it.
melanie1973 sm1970
Posted
richieboy22 melanie1973
Posted
you're almost home free!!1 good job!!!--just stay on the 50mgs for a week or so....then cut one in half and do that for a week---before long you'll be out from under the drugs spell ---and never go back to it -ever got it?
melanie1973 richieboy22
Posted
The tramadol does not break in half it's capsules so won't be able to just take half I don't think? Might try though ..yes cannot wait until am off this horrible drug been on them for over 10 years ..just want to be off them now i took them for my shoulder these tablets should come with a red warning on them
sm1970 melanie1973
Posted
I've been on the 1/2 pill regimen for about 2 weeks now & I had planned on stopping it all together next week, but for some reason, the past couple days haven't been so great. I've been more lethargic than normal & the anxiety has returned. I don't understand it. It's tolerable but still a horrible feeling. I don't know what else to do except keep moving forward. This, too, shall pass.
melanie1973 sm1970
Posted
sm1970 melanie1973
Posted
I am proud to say that I am Tramadol free now. It's been a couple of weeks & there's been twice early on that I have taken one, mainly because the anxiety just got to be too much. Now, it's still there but much more bearable. I still have the muscle tiredness & I much prefer that over the anxiety. My knee still hurts like hell but I'm just dealing with it in other ways, such as Tylenol arthritis. It helps a little but not enough to be pain free. I'm so happy to be free from Tramadol. It takes a long time to get through this. I started my Tramadol free journey back in July & still dealing with the slight w/d symptoms. Everyday is a new day & everyday gets better. Much luck getting off of them. Please feel free to reach out to me if you need advice, or just need to vent.
Annabee sm1970
Posted
Hi..
Kudos to you. 😊 I'm now done with Tramadol after being prescribed it for Lung Clots 5 years ago. 8 tablets a day. Until last month when I stopped because I thought I'd be stuck on this awful drug for the rest of my life . (Easy option) But it was harming my body..terrible constipation. Now withdraws. Oh my god I thought I was dying the first week. So much aching..confusion..no sleep. What helped me was clonidine for restless legs..carb snacks..warm baths..anytime day or night. And a totally clear schedule. Diary is wiped for the next 2 weeks. I know I have to keep this up..the hot sweats..cramps..at least the vomiting has stopped. Now sometimes when I rest I get that normal rest feeling..so just gotta keep going. Anxiety is bad at times but I know it's a withdrawal effect. I can't wait to be off this evil drug for good. I don't have any so alternatives to help withdrawal Is all i have Solpadol..and diazepam ..clonidine combined are the best so far. 2 weeks to go.!
sm1970 Annabee
Posted
Great job! Keep going. I promise it gets better. I went through the exact same w/d's that you're experiencing now. It's about 3 weeks of hell & then you start to feel much better. The anxiety & tiredness will linger but it is tolerable, just annoying as hell. Getting off this crappy drug is NOT easy. I remember there was a time that I would think back to when I wasn't taking this drug & wish I could go back to then. I was jealous of others not taking it. I honestly never thought I would be able to get off of it, but I did it. I'm on Lyrica & Naprosyn DS & those do help with the w/d's. I also had a cortisone shot in my back & that gave me a systemic effect & the cortisone actually helps with some of the systems. The cortisone has since worn off & I'm in pain but I seem to be managing it of, within the daily hustle & bustle of taking pain meds. Keep up the good work!
sarah828282 sm1970
Posted
sm1970 sarah828282
Posted
Hi, Sarah! Honestly, my best advice is to just let this crap pass through your system without any other supplements messing up your system. It takes time but there is an end. I think it's the best way. You have to let yourself deal with what you're feeling to move on. I am Tramadol free now & I started in July. Taper slowly!!! I was able to taper 1/2 pill at a time. I took my time with it. I would wait until I was completely comfortable with how I was feeling after tapering then taper down 1/2 pill again & repeat the process. It works so much better & the w/d's are much more tolerable that way. Anyway, that worked for me. However, I did find that caffeine made my anxiety worse so stay away from it if you can. I'm at the point where the pain is more tolerable than w/d's. Never again! Much luck to you & if you need anything, please write back.