Sciatica pain both legs, Tramadol gives insom... - Pain Concern

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Sciatica pain both legs, Tramadol gives insomnia. What else is good to try?

Dhurting profile image
18 Replies

Tramadol insomnia, 3 different occasions, up for 30 hours, just started it 2 weeks ago...I can't take it anymore. ...I'm stopping it . 50 mg at 1 pm, only one tablet. What else is out there to help with nerve pain, sciatica from the hips down to feet, both legs ache, right heel burns.

Tramadol did help with pain about 40 percent . I can't take the insomnia, it is literally driving me insane, no more. I have follow up with pain doctor Monday, I'm wondering what I should ask to try next. ..sleepy, I don't mind as side effect, or a little bit high, as I would take when I'm done for the day.

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Dhurting profile image
Dhurting
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18 Replies

Hell Dhurting, I've been taking Tramadol for about 3 years now so I just wanted to ask have you tried taking it at night time. With these strong medicines have to play with them a little as in try taking at different times and see what works best for you. Hope this helps, if ever you want advice on Meds jus give me a tinkle 🤣🤣

Dhurting profile image
Dhurting in reply to

Yess, I started them at night as prescribed, couldn't sleep, so I thought to take earlier in the day, 1-2 pm,so it would wear off some so I could sleep....No dice, pain was reduced, but can't sleep at,all which is no good. I didn't take any yesterday and slept fine. None today either , but I feel pain increasing again , sciatica, hips to feet, both sides☹☹☹...I'm wondering what else there is out there...Gabapentin and Metaxalone have not decreased pain either

Yvette49 profile image
Yvette49 in reply to Dhurting

Do try a McTimoney chiropractor, I have sciatica and went to one on Thursday, they work very gently on the whole body, posture etc. My hip was showing totally different level to other side, it may take a few visits, but I am hopeful.

madge1979 profile image
madge1979

I have a wonderful Sports injury Therapist who’s treating me for tendon damage with Great success ..... A friend told me that he’s in agony , hip to ankle with

Sciatica Pain ...he’s on very high dose Painkillers. With no success.

I suggested seeing my Sports Injury Therapist .. one hour Of deep muscle Treatment ..... ITS GONE !

Luv Mx🌹

Tig387 profile image
Tig387

I take Amatryptaline and it really helps me to sleep, I take 2 hours before bed but some do get bad side affects, luckily I've not been affected by any side affects on amatryptaline, tramadol or gabapentin. Good luck.

Emma2017 profile image
Emma2017

I take pregabalin and tramadol together. However pregabalin on its own helps with nerve pain. At first it made me extremely drowsy but that gets better with time.

I have also had numerous steroid injections, the last one 5 weeks ago actually really helped quite a bit.

Sciatica is as a result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. For most people, that will be at the spine end of the nerve. My personal choice would be treat the problem not the symptoms. I would be banging on the door of a good neurosurgeon to see what could be done.

Barbola profile image
Barbola in reply to

Would a neurosurgeon be better or an orthopädist spine surgeon?

in reply to Barbola

I had a fantastic operation by a neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Not all orthopaedic surgery is about nerves but work to free-up your sciatic nerve is.

Emma2017 profile image
Emma2017 in reply to

I have had 3 ops by a top spine surgeon and technically the ops were perfect as can be seen on the MRI but I still suffer from severe sciatica, albeit slightly better than before. Sciatica can be present without anything pressing on the sciatic nerve.

in reply to Emma2017

That would seem to indicate that your sciatic nerve has been damaged. Sorry to hear that.

Barbola profile image
Barbola

I take .50 mg Tramadol mid day most days and a muscle relaxant Cycobenzaprene at bed time bc of muscle cramps in the legs....let us know if you find something that helps with the pain since Tramadol, in my case, only dampens the pain 50 % but it elevates my mood a bit. Good luck!

Of course i have a very small supply (16) of Percocet saved if pain becomes unbearAble but doctors dont want to prescribe it.

Ps: i cannot take any NSAI like Ibuprofen Naproxen etc. Bacause two years ago Meloxicam put me in Hospital with kidney failure.....i reacted badly to Meloxicam. Dont take that one.

Alanjones profile image
Alanjones

Gabapentin is excellent for nerve pain, I'm on 300mg twice daily (10 am and 10pm) Amitriptyline 25mg one hour before bed. I sleep perfectly but I must have a nap in the afternoon, and I restrict my driving to local trips only.

Tramadol gives me horrible insomnia too, I take it only in the morning now, if I take it later than 2pm I will be awake all night . I find that pregabalin helps with nerve pain down my legs and I take a small dose amitriptaline to help me fall asleep.

Good luck with finding what works for you 😊

Itsallinthehips profile image
Itsallinthehips

Yeah tramadol after 2 is a big no no for trying to sleep unless you have other things that help sleep (cannabis for instance if your in a country it’s legal) I stopped it last year as after ten years it was doing nothing for my pain (didn’t do much at the beginning either) I’m yet to find something to replace it or help with pain.

If it helps with your pain I would take only in the morning or ask your doctors for something to help you sleep at night

Mohammed1985 profile image
Mohammed1985

I have been on tramadol for 14 years nearly and yes I believe it does

Have you tried pregabalin or gabapentin for your sciatic pains ?

Barbola profile image
Barbola in reply to Mohammed1985

Thank you for input .... i will ask my nephrologist if i am allowed gabapentin bc i am already not permitted any NSAI like ibuprofen etc

Tramadol does not interfere with my sleep but some days is not good enough to kill pain and i have to take a Percocet. The first steroid epidural starts kicking in after 2 weeks but i need two more shots.....it sucks. Mohammed im surprised the Tramadol still works for u after 14 yrs u must have increased dosage?

Ph77-65twz profile image
Ph77-65twz

Got sciatica bad ! But not both legs I m so sorry for you I m on 50 mg Tramadol no anti inflammatory because of my heart medicine it’s an absolute nightmare get these terrible cramps in my leg so so painful !

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