Misc Whats good for pain and sleep?

[Slow_Mobius]

Hello all! I'm a previous thread lurker but now a member so I can finally get involved in some discussions.

Anyways, I've had problems with pain in my lower right back for years and have been to a ton of doctors etc. Without over elaborating, I was prescribed tramadol to manage the pain, and while it does help, withdrawals are just way too much for me. From my reading, it seems to affect people dramatically differently, with some saying that its not much of a drug with no withdrawals, while others say it's the worst drug they've come off of. I naively became addicted this past semester but am currently 4 days clean of the drug and now I'm just feeling energy sapped from the snri withdrawals.

I really really really want to stay off the drug, because I'm a computer engineering major and last semester was especially hellish on the drug. Still, my performance in school will suffer if I don't have something for the pain (stomach can't handle NSAIDs, Tylenol doesn't cut it). I've tried oxy several times (took oxy two nights to help get off trams) but I dont see myself getting a script and I don't want to trade one addiction for a worse addiction. I also have really bad insomnia for which I take ambien, but I get a tolerance really fast and my insomnia is really really bad.

So, does anyone have experience with different drugs for treating chronic pain and insomnia? For sleep, I've tried benadryl, doxylamine, melatonin, trazadone, amitryptaline, and cyclobenzaprine but couldn't tolerate for various reasons. Seems like the docs have pretty much given up on my problems, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience dealing with these issues. I don't want to go back to the trams/ambien unless I have to, and even then id almost rather buy oxy off the street just to deal with pain when it's really bad. I'm afraid Docs are wary about handing pills to college kids with back pain

 

[Slow_Mobius]

Also worth mentioning: I used to smoke weed but really shouldn't anymore because of drug tests and friends who have had legal issues. Im trying to deal with my problems without hurting my career

 

[burn out]

try kava, kratom and valerian. id say kava is your best bet if youre looking for pain relief and muscle relaxation without withdrawal. valerian would be more for sleep and kratom is a wonderful painkiller but it is addictive. you should be able to use it once or twice a week safely.

 

[David Wooderson]

Hello all! I'm a previous thread lurker but now a member so I can finally get involved in some discussions.

Anyways, I've had problems with pain in my lower right back for years and have been to a ton of doctors etc. Without over elaborating, I was prescribed tramadol to manage the pain, and while it does help, withdrawals are just way too much for me. From my reading, it seems to affect people dramatically differently, with some saying that its not much of a drug with no withdrawals, while others say it's the worst drug they've come off of. I naively became addicted this past semester but am currently 4 days clean of the drug and now I'm just feeling energy sapped from the snri withdrawals.

I really really really want to stay off the drug, because I'm a computer engineering major and last semester was especially hellish on the drug. Still, my performance in school will suffer if I don't have something for the pain (stomach can't handle NSAIDs, Tylenol doesn't cut it). I've tried oxy several times (took oxy two nights to help get off trams) but I dont see myself getting a script and I don't want to trade one addiction for a worse addiction. I also have really bad insomnia for which I take ambien, but I get a tolerance really fast and my insomnia is really really bad.

So, does anyone have experience with different drugs for treating chronic pain and insomnia? For sleep, I've tried benadryl, doxylamine, melatonin, trazadone, amitryptaline, and cyclobenzaprine but couldn't tolerate for various reasons. Seems like the docs have pretty much given up on my problems, so I was wondering if anyone has any experience dealing with these issues. I don't want to go back to the trams/ambien unless I have to, and even then id almost rather buy oxy off the street just to deal with pain when it's really bad. I'm afraid Docs are wary about handing pills to college kids with back pain

I've been n a similar road and damn near feel like I'm the ghost of your christmas future

Stop!
Stop what you are doing right now and get away from your life for you to gain some perspective of the situation.

I know what chronic pain is, it is never ending, nerve fraying but what you are about to take on is so much bigger than your current problem.
I said out loud almost only to become an echo in my mind for the future "I don't care if pills are addictive, my pain makes me wish for death, I'll trade some relief for some bullshit".
I had allot going for me at the time like you do now, and I lost it all, I had zero intentions n becoming a junkie, I had standards and a future, but it didn't matter.

One day I was all there and running at 120%, then boom I wasn't in control of myself and damn near rigged everything to make suicide the only option.
You never want to have to hear "hey you would be luckier if you were a crackhead as it is much treatable"

I suggest you find a new doctor that will look to fix the problem that causes pain in your back.
Anything other than what you are considering because if you think tramadol is bad, you are in for a wicked wicked ride.

Have a sit down with your folks or relatives and tell them what the deal is, what you are considering, and I bet there will be some positive change to your situation.
Anything than what you are considering.

May you have a merry christmas and if you need someone to talk to I'm available.

 

[Shankar96]

I would ask your doctor for a benzo for sleeping - if you are benzo-naive and have no tolerance to benzos, as low as 0.25mg Xanax should be able to knock you out easily for the night. However, as Im sure you know benzos can be addicting so that is something to consider. I've tried ambien and it's a drug that has some particularly interested effects on me - and falling asleep isn't one of them.

As for the pain, I wish I had more expertise to be able to comment on that - I would do what David Wooderson posted above.

Best of luck to you - I hope you can find relief soon. And also, maybe try switching to a doctor that doesn't deal primarily with college students. Mine has problems prescribing medications too - I had to go through three doctors before mine would finally prescribe some Lorazepam.

 

[tricomb]

Cannabis

 

[sekio]

if your stomach can't handle NSAIDs then maybe you should try combining them with gastric protective agents, e.g. arthrotec, or trying alternatives... some people respond better to certain NSAIDs than others.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

"I don't care if pills are addictive, my pain makes me wish for death, I'll trade some relief for some bullshit"

This is EXACTLY what I've been thinking David. I've seriously thought about just flushing the trams I have and calling that quits, but do you think it's possible to keep some around just to take when it gets bad? Part of what got me addicted was my naivete to the addictive potential of opiods.

I've taken diazepam twice and both times it just knocked me out. I also didn't feel high--just relaxed and tired--so I don't see that being something I'll abuse. How do you even get a prescription for benzos? It seems like they're pretty common, but I can't imagine straight up asking a doctor for a drug.

I'll look into kava and valerian. I've had kratom tea twice, and both times it gave me a very mild relaxing buzz. That might be something that I give another try. Natural and/or supplemental remedies are things I haven't really explored and might actually be ideal since I'm looking for something that's not very powerful.

I really appreciate the help, and right now I'm thinking I should've sought your opinions sooner rather than trusting my doctors.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I've tried a lot of different nsaids and they all gave me aweful stomach aches. Right now I can somewhat tolerate meloxicam while I'm also taking omeprazole, but even then it doesn't do much for pain relief. I almost wish I never experienced real pain relief in a pill

 

[sekio]

The best option may actually be figuring out what is causing the pain, rather than trying to mask it.

It's probably best to hold onto some tramadol for days when the pain is real bad though. And seriously, look into Arthrotec, it's got some black magic prostaglandin that helps your gut protect itself.

 

[namnoc16]

Have you tried muscle relaxers? They help with some pain caused by muscle tightness and rigidity and many will help you sleep. I'm sorry I'm not trying to trivialize your pain I myself am on pain management and not sure what degree of pain you are in. As far as pain killers after tramadol the rest are pretty heavy duty along with a heavy duty dependence so be careful!

 

[mysafehome01]

OP can you elaborate on what part of the world you're from. If you already mentioned this then I'm sorry I didn't see it.

I can maybe help if you're from the UK/ Europe.

Also Doctors are there to help, don't just disregard them all as pill pushers.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

What exactly is wrong with your back

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I'm from the US. I tried cyclopbenzaprine which is a muscle relaxer, but it didn't do anything for the pain and I felt like a zombie every day. I'm just starting to get sick of going to doctors since I've been going over and over again for the exact same problems. I've also received a lot of different explanations for an underlying cause... So I don't know if anyone really has any clue. The last specialist I saw was very confident that I would improve dramatically and quickly with physical therapy, but my 4th time doing a physical therapy regiment with my third therapist was ultimately useless.

I'm intrigued by kava and valerian, and I was surprised to see that their long term safety has been studied extensively with positive results.

 

[Whosajiggawaaa]

heroin. but not in the interests of harm reduction.

id have to say a gabergic like gabapentin with a benzo.

 

[namnoc16]

I'm from the US. I tried cyclopbenzaprine which is a muscle relaxer, but it didn't do anything for the pain and I felt like a zombie every day. I'm just starting to get sick of going to doctors since I've been going over and over again for the exact same problems. I've also received a lot of different explanations for an underlying cause... So I don't know if anyone really has any clue. The last specialist I saw was very confident that I would improve dramatically and quickly with physical therapy, but my 4th time doing a physical therapy regiment with my third therapist was ultimately useless.

I'm intrigued by kava and valerian, and I was surprised to see that their long term safety has been studied extensively with positive results.

I feel for you man I've done the doctor world tour myself and have been to over a dozen different docs and specialists. It's amazing because each one had totally varying opinions on my condition but one thing they all agreed on was I have no disc left between my l4/l5 and I have degenerative disc disease. Then some doctors tell me I have a herniated disc as well though others have said no.Some told me I have arthritis and the specialists said nope. To me t doesn't matter what the verdict is because no matter what name they put on it I'm still in pain.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I feel for you man I've done the doctor world tour myself and have been to over a dozen different docs and specialists. It's amazing because each one had totally varying opinions on my condition but one thing they all agreed on was I have no disc left between my l4/l5 and I have degenerative disc disease. Then some doctors tell me I have a herniated disc as well though others have said no.Some told me I have arthritis and the specialists said nope. To me t doesn't matter what the verdict is because no matter what name they put on it I'm still in pain.

Same story. Arthritis, herniated discs, fibromyalgia, spasms.... the list goes on. I've never received the same diagnoses from two docs. One physician even thought my pain was just a physical manifestation of stress from school... even though I've had the same problem years before going to college.

 

[burn out]

heroin. but not in the interests of harm reduction.

id have to say a gabergic like gabapentin with a benzo.

this guy thinks tramadol withdrawals are too hard to handle and people are recommending him benzos? What has happened to bluelight?

 

[BeachBum4u]

I'm from the US. I tried cyclopbenzaprine which is a muscle relaxer, but it didn't do anything for the pain and I felt like a zombie every day.

Personally I take Flexeril at night only, in conjunction with my regular pain meds. I realize this is the same drug you mentioned but I'll only take it at night, because one of it's biggest side effects is that it makes one seriously tired! I kind of use it as a sleeping med now, since I tried all the one's that are typically prescribed, Ambien, Lunesta etc. I'm not sure if what you're saying is that you've taken it at night but it makes you a zombie the next day? It never really had that effect on me. Seemed to get used up during the night, for me at least. Sorry, if I missed the boat here but I'm trying my best to help you. Good Luck!

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I was taking the flexiril at night, but had a major hangover into the afternoon. Its just hard to tolerate that with work/school

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to look around for herbal remedies like kava and see if that helps. Just from reading around and what everyone has said, I don't want to go down the benzo/opiate road. Being in a technical field, I have a tendency to discount alternative medicines, but the research I've read from primary sources have a lot of positive results.