Tramadol

[nailit]

Are there any alternatives to tramadol?
I take tramadol for back pain and while it takes the edge of the pain it leaves me with a 'fuzzy' head for some time afterwards...feeling slightly dizzy and a bit disorientated.
Is there anything else that I could take that would help with the pain but without these side effects?
Thanks.

[murraymints]

sometimes amitriptyline is prescribed for nerve pain as an alternative

[Jackdaw33]

Codeine.

[dunnitall]

I ca only say from my point of view... pls try to do without these drugs. I am me....you are you...each to his own. IMO don't take drugs that will become addictive. It's easy to say tho, difficult to implement. Please resist if you can... ,honestly it does make sense xxx

[murraymints]

Codeine can be bad for constipation, nausea and dependency.. ie addiction...

[Sqad]

You must find out what the back pain is due to, which means a trip to your GP/orthopaedic surgeon.

Just to answer in a "blunderbus" way, assuming that tramadol doesn't work and if we are dealing with nerve pain, then my answer would be ...Gabapentin.

Lots of ifs and buts here.

[nailit]

dunittall, I really do try to do without if I can but sometimes I just need some relief from the constant pain.
Minty, Tramadol constipates me as well as Codeine :(

[murraymints]

perhaps ask for a referral to the pain management clinic ??

[jennyjoan]

Sqad - I was given Neurontin (sp) for trapped nerve. They helped me. Then I was prescribed Gabapentin -the side effects from those frightened me a bit - so I stopped taking them.

[nailit]

Thanks Sqad. Ive been prescribed Tramadol for years and it does work to a degree, Its just the side effects that get to me.

[Jackdaw33]

Try 600 mg Ibuprofen and see if that helps. Apologies to Sqad.

[douglas9401]

I used amitriptyline last year for back pain, seemed to work once we went up the dosage ladder a few rungs.
No problems coming off it either.

[nailit]

//perhaps ask for a referral to the pain management clinic ??//
Often wondered how these clinics work. Surely if youve got pain then its pain killers you need?

[murraymints]

it's about finding the best analgesia in the best combinations... worked for dad

[nailit]

Oh right, cheers minters.

[murraymints]

dad had both amitriptyline and Gabapentin it was a matter of finding the correct balance/ dose..