Fibro x 6 yrs. Taking Tramadol & Amitriptyline. Filled both 3 days ago and feel worse. Do I need something stronger or could I have been given a placebo? I hurt too much to stay in bed but that's all I feel like doing.
What pain meds do you all take that works for you?
Hi sheri55
Welcome to the forum, and I genuinely hope that you find it useful, informative and loads of fun! I have pasted you a link to our mother site, FibroAction which is packed with loads of Fibro information.
FibroAction
Both Tramadol and Amitriptyline are genuine drugs, so I do not believe that you have been given a placebo. Many members have complained that their pain killers do not work for them and need something stronger. I personally take Pregabalin, Nortriptyline, Metocloperamide and Co-Codamol for my Fibro and quite often it is insufficient. I also use a TENS Machine for the pain. It may help to discuss your situation with your GP or Medical Specialist to see what they can do to help you? I want to wish you all the best of luck with this.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken
Was on Tramadol for five years came off them about two months ago doctor wouldn't precibed them anymore due to death rate in American, more Americans die from Tramadol incidents than gun shot wounds. Anyway as I said, came off the medication and feel 100% better in myself more energy no mood fluctuations ( peaks and trough ) ok so the pain has increased but it was worth it now on co-codamol 30/500. I Rarely go to bed midday anymore and my relationship with my wife is so much better. I take vitamins now and I'm sure they have helped a lot, walking everyday I struggle but it's worth it have been on a diet stopped fatty foods that's helped with the IBS and so far lost three and a half stone still two stone left but will get there.
I take both of these pain relief too. Amitriptiline is really good for me. Give it time to work though, I don,t take tramadol very often ,only when I have really bad nights. Hope things improve for you soon, one day at a time is my motto. X
Hi, I'm waiting to a rheumo for a diagnosis of FM, but have just found out I'm B12 def and I'm also waiting for nerve decompression surgery- I won't bore you with all the details. But I'm currently on MSD, Zapain (co-codemol 30/500), diazapam, oramorph, gabapentin and amitriptiline. I've been on 30/500 and gabapentin for almost 4 years, and last year felt that the 30/500 wasn't so effective, so the GP suggested tramadol, which I at first declined because everyone kept telling me how much I would sleep etc, and with work I didn't want to risk it. After another month with really bad pain, I caved and changed to tramadol. I turned into a hyperactive fool, had 2-3 hours sleep max per night, could not eat and lost 1st in 4 week (I was 9st 4 starting), I then requested I went back to 30/500, and to be honest- personally- I noticed very little difference of the pain management between them. I had my amitriptline increased from 10mg to 25mg per night in October, and mentioned to my GP that I didn't notice any difference a few weeks ago, but now have realised I am sleeping more during the night, only waking every hour or so, instead of every 20 minutes- so I'm sticking to it!
I think that sometimes we have to accept that pain medication won't take all the pain away. It's to help bring down the pain from that high level, to a level that is more manageable, and it took me a long time to realise that, even though I kept reading it. If you don't have any pain problems and you have a headache, you take a pain killer, and you do so to take the pain away, unfortunately with chronic pain that's not the case. I find it harder with those around me as they know how much meds I'm taking and think I have no pain- they don't understand the pain is there constantly.
Sorry gone wwwwaaaayyyyy off on a tangent and you've probably fallen asleep!
Give the amitriptline several weeks to build up in your system and to start working effectively, you don't say how much you are taking, but if after a month or so you've seen little improvement you may need a stronger dose. As for tramadol, as i said 'personally' it did not work for me, but for others it is brilliant. We are all so different that one size doesn't fit all. But really you need to see your GP again if your pain is unmanagemable, have you been referred to a pain clinic? If not it would be best to ask for a referral as they are the ones who understand the pain far better than a GP- it was also there that I learnt why tramadol was not effective for me (they showed me different graphs with realese rates etc, and also I learnt to take my gabapentin around 5.30am for the school run at 7.40am, and my amitriptline around 6pm, instead of 9pm etc)
xXx
Hi
I find that co codamol 30/ 500 works better for me than tramadol. I work as striae nurse in a gp surgery and regularly here patients that say the same. I think its a case of trial and error and see what works best for you xx
Hi sheri55, there are many other medicines available out there. I'd tell your doctor how bad you are feeling. He may try something different or send you to a pain clinic. At first all I took was Soma which is a muscle relaxer. Then when they came out with Tramadol I gave it a try and it made me swell I tried Amitripyline years ago and all I wanted to do was sleep after just one small dose. Now years later I had to see the pain clinic doctor and go on a much stronger drug. But everyone reacts different to medicines. I hope this help's sweetheart and you find some relief and have a Merry Christmas!!!! xxx Mitzi
I dont usually discuss my meds for fibro as everyone is different.My pain has always been profound from day 1.After being hospitalised 4 times for severe uncontrolled pain i was prescribed Butrans patch to be used with /alongside tramadol 400 mg daily and Lyrica 600 daily,This however still couldnt control my pain and i was hospitalised again.Eventually i was prescribed The fentanyl patch at initial dose of 12 mcg,/1 hr to be changed every 72 hours.( the butrans was discontinued and all other meds remained unchanged.After 2 weeks the patch was increased to 25 mcg/1 hour ,and changed every 72 hours.This was my regimi e for about 16 weeks and it was increased to my present dose of 37 mcg/1 hr changed every 72 hours.I have been on this dose for about a year now.The plan had been to increase to 50 mcg/1hr at xmas last year,but because i had acute Tri Geminal neuralgia ,they couldnt increase the dose.I am not fully controlled at 37 mcg with other meds included ,but cruicially i havnt been admitted for pain ontrol for 10 months.The immediate plan is to increase to 50 mcg 1hr at my next pain clinic appt. In January coming.A lot of people would be wary of Fentanyl fearing addiction etc... My pain consultant who was an consultant anaesthetist told me from the first that i would never be taken off and that it would be for life.I gulped a bit and asked myself " can i go on in this level of pain ? And the simple ans. was NO! My fibro is profound,never flares ,and is there 24/7 ,and my baseline for a good day is 7, hense the multiple admits for pain control.I dont drink or smoke and have no addiction propensities however i did have to disclose at assessment the history of Alcohol / drug abuse in close family members.My risk was deemed low because i have always been tea total and ive never taken drugs except prescribed opioids at prescribed levels for past 13 yrs ive had severe pain.I also have severe backpain from disc problems wear and tear etc...I think that its vital to have adequate pain control for quality of life,and before the Fent. Patch my quality was dismal.Not everyone will have the same pain intensity that i have so perhaps its best to be guided by your Pain clinic and pain doctor who will work with your family G.P to get your pain better controlled.Now i no longer cry everyday because the pain is so bad?incidently i had 4 natural births with 8 lb babies and never cried! I must warn you that at no time except on im morphine injection have i ever been pain free and even then it took a large dose which would wear off in less than 3 hours.I accept that i will always be in pain given my history so far,Im greatful for the easing of that pain but im not under the illusion that i will ever be pain free.If i can manage 6/10 on the pain scale with 4/10 on a great day then thats better than the 13/10 i was suffering every day.Ive also had my house adapted as im unable to grip taps,ive had a stairlift fitted by my O.T. And i mobilise with aid of 2 crutches short distance and wheelchair long distance.Ive been housebound and bedbound to varying degrees for nearly 8 years .My primary diagnoss is Profou d Fibromyalgia and M.E. i hope this helps you to seek the releif you so desperatly need.Good luck
Opiods work poorly or not at all for 1 in 3 people, so you might be one of the unlucky few. However there are other combinations (both of drugs and doses) to try until you find one that suits.
I personally don't experience most of the tramadol side effects but it does take the edge off my pain. It also works to block certain neurotransmitters, in addition to the painkilling action. This is why it's the NICE approved treatment pathway for fibro. I've been looking into the various patches and they generally aren't prescribed for fibro pain due to its variable nature and the way the patches deliver a set amount over a set period (7 days for a BuTrans patch).
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