I've been taking about 10-12 Tramadols a day for almost a year. I sometimes get nervous about taking that much cause its soo many. I got in a car accident a couple years ago and have constant back pain. Everytime I stop taking the Tramadols my back just flairs back up and I'm in constant pain. I'm not sure if I'm the right person to give you any helpfull info but just wanted you to know that your not the only one. Good Luck.

Hi, I too take Tramadol for chronic pain but only take one a day. I am a qualified addiction specialist/therapist and so researched this drug extensively before accepting the first script. I can tell you that this drug is a synthetic opiate in the sense that it triggers the opiate receptors in your brain. The larger the dose obviously, the harder any withdrawl. Besides all the things that go with addiction, your health may be at risk because of things like adrenal exhaustion to do with tramadol as it also triggers adrenal recepters etc and most on it know how it messes with your energy levels. One of the best health websites I have found in terms of being able to get an overview of your general health and therefore an indication into how the tramadol may be affecting you, is diagnose me .com where you do a very extensive questionairre which is evaluated and then reported back to you to keep. Everything is covered in this and you pay, but the cost is not huge and is really worth it.
Maybe try to pull back a little on the tramadol a little at a time and look into complimenting it with some pain management stuff to increase your tolerance to pain because as you rely soley on the drug, you will decrease your ability to cope on lesser doses. I know that chronic pain unseen by others is often hard to deal with I am in a similar boat. get emotional support from others who 'GET IT'.
regards, R

Does anyone have any problems with an irregular heart beat taking tramadol? I take two a day 50 mg for pain but I have a horrible time with skipped beats with my heart. I have been to a cardio doc & they can find nothing wrong with my heart.

I have been taking tramadol now for 3 years. I have severe back pain and knee pain. I'm a waitress and this pain gets in the way when I need to make money. There have been times I stop taking them for a week or so and I experience pretty serious withdrawl symptoms. I feel vertigo and sick to my stomach. At night my legs will not relax and I am very snappy with the ones I love. I just want to feel normal again

3 more years and you may have more serious issues than just pain from knees and back - like liver and kidney problems. If I were you, I'd think about that first.
For me, I stopped smoking by simply acknowleging that I was hurting my lungs. I was a pre-mature baby, born 3 months early, the surfactin had not been built in my lungs - I nearly died, mu lungs tried sooo hard to keep my body alive, and vice versa...knowing this, I feel sorry for my lungs, and do not torment them with smoke anymore. But it took a very counsious decision to stop.
I do not know what you can do for the withdrawl symptoms, but they will subside, and they will only get worse the longer you stay on the pills.
Maybe seeking an accupuncturist for that pain?

i was taking 100 mg twice a day and ran out one night. It is difficult to experience just how horrendous you feel when you are withdrawing from this drug. I have never before experienced anything like these symptoms. My arms would not stay still, i had goosebumps, felt cold while also feeeling too hot (very wierd) and a feeling of being totally uncomfortable in your own skin. it was intense. however i really believe if you gradually reduce your dose the affects should not be too severe. i have reduced from 100mg 4* a day to 100mg once a day and feel i can now reduce this further. speak yo your doctor, they should advise you on how to reduce your dose. i am only 24 and there is no way i am going to let this drug get the better of me. i aim to be totally off it within one month. woop, woop!

Based on what you have posted, regarding your hypothyroidism, my mom is under that condition as well and I must say that she also have a low pain threshold that when i gently touch her arthritis, she feels it as if I was breaking her knee. I came to think that pain sensitivity is somehow related to the thyroid status.