pain
"I've been on pain medicines since I was 8, for degenerative disc disease. Starting when I was 24 and after surgery for herniated discs (L3-L4, L4-L5) I went through quite a few medicine trials before I found Ultram. This one worked great until my L5-S1 herniated and the last epidural I received triggered severe sciatic pain. After a visit to the ED, I was given Dilaudid 2mg intramuscularly and sent home with a script for the oral 2mg 1-2 tablets as needed. Between Ultram, Gabapentin and Dilaudid (alternating Ultram during the day and Dilaudid at night), I can still keep working for a little while longer until the next spinal surgery. Ultram does not replace Dilaudid, but I found it keeps me alert and pain level within my pain tolerance range."