Treatment of low back pain is intended to reduce pain and to restore mobility and muscle strength in patients with chronic conditions. Tramadol may be beneficial in some cases because it possess both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties for relief for sciatica.

Tramadol is a type of narcotic-like oral pain reliever that is often prescribed to treat chronic low back pain. It was approved by the FDA in 1998 and acts centrally (in the brain) to modulate the sensation of pain.

Its mechanism of action is similar to acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol. However, Tramadol is a stronger pain reliever than acetaminophen and has a weak narcotic effect when used in conjunction with other modalities for sciatica and/or chronic low back pain.

Technically it is a narcotic or opioid pain medication, but it is different from typical narcotics in that patients do not build up a tolerance with extended usage as in cases of sciatica which is sometimes caused by a herniated disc. Therefore a very low incidence of addiction is indicated.

With other narcotics used to diminish the symptoms of chronic low back pain, neck pain, and sciatica, there is a general tendency to escalate the dosage of the medicine with time and a strong chance of addiction. The narcotic effect of tramadol is not as strong as the narcotic agents in other common pain medications, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Oxycontin and Percocet (Oxycodone).

Tramadol is a therapeutic option for the long-term treatment of moderate to severe chronic lower back pain. The absence of severe adverse events on respiratory and cardiovascular function coupled with the low incidence of constipation offers further advantages.

Tramadol hydrochloride is a synthetic centrally acting analgesic with a novel mechanism of action. It has a weak affinity for opioid receptors binding preferentially to the m-receptors but also inhibits both norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) neuronal reuptake and facilitates its release. The dual mode of action has prompted the classification of tramadol as a non-narcotic centrally acting analgesic that is very effective in treating chronic lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and herniated discs.

My conclusion regarding Tramadol is that it seems to provide long lasting relief from chronic pain while at the same time minimizing the possibility of addiction.