I think Ultram Cures AS

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I doubt anything could cure AS. I mean that was just a temporary thing. It's not a good idea to take a pain reliever longer than a doctor advises, if you do you get some horrible side effects. I was on ibuprofen for longer because of severe pain and I'd take the pain over the side effect anyday.
I actually might look into Ultram/Tramadol though because I still have some very severe pain. I'm considering taking codeine. It's only for one day a month but it's horrible.

Yes that's completely true, when I stopped taking it, the symptoms came back. So I guess "treatment" is more accurate than "cure."

I had to stop taking it, just as everyone said, because it's addictive. But also because I was building up a tolerance, I had to take more and more to get the same effect. Honestly, if it had kept working, I would not have minded being addicted in the least.

But what ever the ultram/tramadol was doing, when it still worked, it allowed me to overcome my problems. Whether it was AS or treating anxiety or whatever, it made me feel better. I really think I was onto something. I finally felt I'd gotten what I wanted all my life. Peace inside my skull.

I keep telling my doctors hoping that some one can research this effect, but it's not like they have a hotline to the research centers, and the Dr.s don't really believe me...



Actually, there is one other thing that creates a very similar effect. Marijuana. lol

Fascinating. This sounds a lot like me actually. I've thrived on extreme experiences and strong drive to have extreme sex for my entire adult life. I won't go into the details of my sex life, but as far as experiences I used to love hitch-hiking cross country. I went across America several times and Europe, I loved the adventure feeling.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if I consider that a bad thing. I consider my adventures the greatest thing I ever did in my life. I wouldn't trade them for almost anything. My problem is that even at my highest point I find it so hard to make friends I get lonely...

And there's also the inevitable crashes I have of depression etc... I could do without those.

Anyways I think I fit the bill of what you're saying.

I've had a repeat prescription for Tramadol for years since I had shoulder surgery which didn't entirely work. Sometimes I felt a 'comfortable floating' sensation after taking it, and others I noticed I became more irritable.

I don't think it had any effects on my AS, but, it's highly-addictive, I took 3x50mg a day for a year and was completely addicted to them, if I did not take a tablet my brain began to itch/crawl.....as soon as I discovered this I resolved to break the addiction, which I did my slowly reducing my dose over about 3 months....

Ultram's supposed to be a non addictive pain reliever. When I took it, I didn't notice that much of a difference, it made my headache disappear. I felt much better when I took Percocet. If I felt the same way while taking Ultram as I do taking Percocet I'd run to the doctor begging for prescriptions since it's supposed to be a safe, non addictive alternative to stronger pain relievers. The only problem is: tolerance. Another unfair thing about life: tolerance builds and drugs stop having an effect.

Hmmm - you just explained the first 45 years of my life, thanks

Notice how people with AS are all saying they have more energy or drive when they take opiates

This is known as a paradoxical effect

On one occasion, I drove about 1200 miles in one day and started the day with a migraine

I took a high dose of a codeine based analgesic so that I could see where I was going at least (twice the recommended dose)

I planned to drink coffee to counteract the effects of drowsiness only to find I ended up with more clarity and alertness

I continued to take it throughout the day with no drowsiness

At the time I thought it was because it was working on the headache, but I have found that nearly all medication has a paradoxical effect on me

My current way of getting endorphins into my system is 99% pure chocolate

And yes, I am addicted to it

I hear ya it's a paradox. It's like taking a stimulant.

This is a very interesting thread. This does make sense.

According to Wikipedia, in addition to pain relief, tramadol also is used for:

diabetic neuropathy
postherpetic neuralgia
fibromyalgia
restless legs syndrome
opiate withdrawal management
migraine headache
obsessive-compulsive disorder
premature ejaculation

The above things have something in common: how the brain reacts to fleeting sensory impressions, either real or imaginary. The OP's experience might be due to there being a link between sensory issues of AS and social function problems (lack of empathy, expressiveness, and projecting energy).

I function better socially when I'm running and working regularly. Maybe that has something to do with endorphins.

Agreed.

You don't know how fast your tolerance to opioids will rise or exactly how addictive they'll be for you until you've been taking them for a while.

And once you've made that choice, you've already set yourself up for a lot of pain, not to mention all the ways in which addiction can affect a person's life and the lives of those with whom they interact.

I've had it before. I don't notice any difference between it and vicodin/percocet/codeine/any other opiod. Good for you though.

I actually still have an expired bottle. I quit taking it because I have epilepsy and it's a potential seizure trigger but now may be the time for some experimentation. Maybe what you were feeling were the typical relaxation effects of an opiod rather than anything specifically meant to fix AS. I notice that if I take something like valium, my eye contact gets better, but I'm not going to walk around on valium all day.

Mmmhmm. Whenever I didn't feel like doing gymnastics but still had some pain meds lying around from an old injury or something, I'd just take a few and could stay up pretty much all night dancing. I still had the "dozy" feeling that I gather most people feel like on opiates, but I always feel like dancing.

You guys with the mild paradoxical effects are lucky--if you get those strongly enough you'll end up paranoid, manic, and quite possibly in need of a night in the psych ward. One mom in my AS group had a little boy who was prescribed a drug like that, and he literally ran around the room all night. She wouldn't let them try Valium to bring him down, and I don't blame her.

Have I read this right?

Why would I be lucky to end up in the psych ward?

Something else I have noticed is the paradoxical effects seems to have thresholds.

A small amount of something may have a paradoxical effect.

A large enough dose of heroin would still knock me out.