Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Are there any other med. choices for Pudendal pain other than Opiates. I was on Tramadol but my hair really started to thin and I think it was the Tramadol. I am afraid of becoming addicted to Opiates. Are there any other pain meds. effective for nerve pain. Thanks

No, unfortunately, that's why people move on to surgery.

Some use antidepressants like Cymbalta, or benzos like Valium, or neuropathy meds like Lyrica/Neurontin. If those don't work then they try opiates.

There's a thread about possible addiction to tramadol - click here. I am now back on tramadol again, my doctors are all fine with that. For me, it does not make the pain go away but it does usually take it down a notch.

I've not heard of hair loss as a side effect with tramadol. Did you find that your hair loss stopped after you discontinued the tramadol?

Yes my hair loss stopped after taking Tramadol. I agree with you my pudendal pain did not go away it just took the edge off.

Hello;
I've been losing my hair like crazy and now I think I know why. Tramadol. I've been on Tramadol for 2 years. It does take the edge off and I've found Percocet, Hydromorphone and Vicodin don't really take the pain down as well. Also I need to take motion sickness pills and laxatives when I take the stronger meds. I can't stop with the Tramadol because I know I couldn't stand the pain, but at least now I know about the hair loss. It's a good thing that I always had a lot of hair to begin with.
Thanks for the info;
Doreen

Hope you don't mind me asking but how much Tramadol do you take and how often? I have 50mg and find it does nothing for me, but the one night I took 100mg I felt hungover the entire next day.

I am taking the slow release form of tramadol, on the recommendation of my local pain clinic. They tell me that they have found it more effective for long term pain management than the 'ordinary' sort. My usual dose is 300mg, taken as 150mg tramadol SR morning and evening. But I don't stick rigidly to this, if I am having a bad day I will take it up to 400mg (which is the daily limit) with ordinary tramadol 50mg capsules, if I am having a flare I will take it up to 200mg SR morning and evening, if I am having a good patch then correspondingly I take the dose down to a total of 250mg or even 200mg.

However I do always take something, whether I have pain right then or not, because the pain always does arrive at some point. The pain clinic are most insistent on this, they point out that it is much easier to control pain by having the pain relief already running when the pain arrives, rather than letting the pain get going full blast and then trying to rein it in. Also, a lower total dose is usually needed.

I am lucky in that I tolerate tramadol very well, I don't get constipated or have any other side effects. At the beginning it did make me feel as if I'd had two stiff drinks, and then I'd usually fall asleep. But, as with most side effects, this was short lived and the only thing it does now is take the pain down.


(Edited to correct my grammar)

Hi all;
I was taking Tramadol 50 mg. every 6-7 hours last year. Now, 150mg. in AM 150mg. noon and 100. night. The slow realease did nothing for me. Maybe last year when I was just starting this joy ride it would have been okay, but not anymore. My suggestion would be, take what keeps your pain down to a point you can stand. If you need more as time goes by, you need more. In this PN club we've joined, we all take more stuff as time goes by. I do not have any side effects from Tramadol, except now the hair loss. So glad someone brought that to my attention!!!! I'm sick of doing my hair when I hurt, so maybe a wig, blondish, would be something to think about.
Gotta go.
Have the best day you can;
Doreen