Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Chronic Back And Neck Pain
Question: Hello I have severe back and neck pain now for over 5 years. My MD has been prescribing Tramadol for the past 4-5 years with the same doseages, but now he has stated that the medicaiton, not previously classified as an opioid, is now classified as one! He now says he cannot Prescribe it anymore, and he sent me to a Pain clinic. The pain clinic will not Prescribe this for me anymore.
It is a miserable situation for me to have to abruptly stop this medication for my pain.
I have a Friday appointment at a Pain Clinic and also a Med Marijuana clinic.
It is a source of great trauma, stress, pain, and misery to have the status quo with the Tramadol which has helped me manage this pain for the past 5 years, now abruptly changed.
Is there a Doctor that can help me. I know there is an Opioid epidemic in this country, but for legitimate pain needs, I believe I should not be treated in this way
It is a miserable situation for me to have to abruptly stop this medication for my pain.
I have a Friday appointment at a Pain Clinic and also a Med Marijuana clinic.
It is a source of great trauma, stress, pain, and misery to have the status quo with the Tramadol which has helped me manage this pain for the past 5 years, now abruptly changed.
Is there a Doctor that can help me. I know there is an Opioid epidemic in this country, but for legitimate pain needs, I believe I should not be treated in this way
Brief Answer:
Look for a substitute
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting the question.
I have gone through your medical history in detail.
It is very sad that tramadol has been classified as an opiod and you cannot get it prescribed anymore from your doctor.But,I do agree that it is a very effective and a safe analgesic medicine which can be used safely for years without having much side effects.
But,if you doctor cannot prescribe it to you anymore and if the laws in your place are stringent enough,then I would suggest you to get a substitute for tramadol.
Etodolac and piroxicam are equally safe analgesics and can be used as effective medicines to reduce pain.I have seen many patients having effective pain control with these medicines for long periods of time.You can talk to your doctor about this and get it prescribed.
May be a Med Marijuana doctor can offer you some help.
I hope the answer was useful.
Feel free to ask me any follow up queries that you may have.
Thank you.
Kind regards.
Look for a substitute
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting the question.
I have gone through your medical history in detail.
It is very sad that tramadol has been classified as an opiod and you cannot get it prescribed anymore from your doctor.But,I do agree that it is a very effective and a safe analgesic medicine which can be used safely for years without having much side effects.
But,if you doctor cannot prescribe it to you anymore and if the laws in your place are stringent enough,then I would suggest you to get a substitute for tramadol.
Etodolac and piroxicam are equally safe analgesics and can be used as effective medicines to reduce pain.I have seen many patients having effective pain control with these medicines for long periods of time.You can talk to your doctor about this and get it prescribed.
May be a Med Marijuana doctor can offer you some help.
I hope the answer was useful.
Feel free to ask me any follow up queries that you may have.
Thank you.
Kind regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I am in a very difficult situation. I already have cut back from 200 mgs of Tramadol per day from the 400 mgs I have been taking for the past 4 years. My Doctor says that due to "new regulations", he in New York state cannot Prescribe any more of this medication to me. I am feeling anxious and shaky, not able to perform my work. I cannot believe I should have to suffer like this. I should be allowed to taper off the medication gradually, that I have had legally prescribed for a very long time.
This is detrimentally affecting my life. The "Pain Clinic" my General MD referred me to will not taper me off the Tramadol either, because they found some marijuana in my system. I told them and have an appointment to get an Rx for Medical Marijuana on Friday of this week. The marijuana I took is legal in many states, and I only had some to take care of the pain I am experiencing. I would not have done so, but I did not know that would worsen my predicament.
There must be some higher doctor or specialist that may Prescribe the Tramadol for me and taper me off it. It is cruel and inhuman to do otherwise. I realize there are new regulations due to the Opioid epidemic, but also legal users of a drug such as Tramadol for many years, should not now be abruptly tortured in withdrawal and ruthlessly be 100% cut off from the medicaiton that helped me and worked for me for the past 5 years.
Please advice me who can allow me to taper off on the drug gradually.
I am feeling quite despondent and desperate in this situation.
This is detrimentally affecting my life. The "Pain Clinic" my General MD referred me to will not taper me off the Tramadol either, because they found some marijuana in my system. I told them and have an appointment to get an Rx for Medical Marijuana on Friday of this week. The marijuana I took is legal in many states, and I only had some to take care of the pain I am experiencing. I would not have done so, but I did not know that would worsen my predicament.
There must be some higher doctor or specialist that may Prescribe the Tramadol for me and taper me off it. It is cruel and inhuman to do otherwise. I realize there are new regulations due to the Opioid epidemic, but also legal users of a drug such as Tramadol for many years, should not now be abruptly tortured in withdrawal and ruthlessly be 100% cut off from the medicaiton that helped me and worked for me for the past 5 years.
Please advice me who can allow me to taper off on the drug gradually.
I am feeling quite despondent and desperate in this situation.
Brief Answer:
Family physician
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I totally agree with your views and I do not support such abrupt withdrawal of tramadol that you have been used to for so many years.In fact,it would be dangerous for you if withdrawal symptoms set in.
I would suggest you to consult your family physician and have a word about this with him. He would be the best person to advice you regarding this drug being prescribed for you.
In my opinion,an orthopaedic or a neurosurgeon might be in a position to prescribe you the drug in tapered doses.
Thank you.
Family physician
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I totally agree with your views and I do not support such abrupt withdrawal of tramadol that you have been used to for so many years.In fact,it would be dangerous for you if withdrawal symptoms set in.
I would suggest you to consult your family physician and have a word about this with him. He would be the best person to advice you regarding this drug being prescribed for you.
In my opinion,an orthopaedic or a neurosurgeon might be in a position to prescribe you the drug in tapered doses.
Thank you.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
