Oh Bunny,
I sympathize with you over the back issues. My spine is getting so bad that it's getting extremely painful to drive. I even get numbness in spots when I sit down.
For the constipation, have you tried miralax? It's pretty safe unless you have kidney issues (even then at low dosages it's ok). I used to give it to my son and he had really bad constipation issues nothing else would fix besides miralax.
I hope you feel better soon.

OMG my life is being ruled by this subject! Yes I take tramadol amongst a whole host of other stomach binding medications! I have tried so many different things, firstly I would suggest you take some lactulose and some senacot at night time (lactulose softens and senacot causes movement). There is a discussion on the Fibromyalgia discussion board, if I remember rightly, about the benefits of magnisium for constipation. Obviously I try to follow the usual dietry advice about eating fruit and fibre, fruit, veg etc. but to be honest I just end up a big bag of uncomfortable wind! (might as well totally embarrass myself here!) lol. The other day it was so bad my partner said to me 'I don't think you had better go out today lover!' lol. Anyway hope this helps some and I have made you smile, you must be in agony with your spine you don't need the added pain of constipation compacting in that area. Take care :-) x

I take the tramadol also. I had a problem in the beginning. After about a month it got better. I also used the miralax. Going to sound gross but if it gets to bad you may what to invest in a enima. If you go to the hospital and it is to bad they will give you one in a heart beat. Due to the plaquenil I am pretty evened out now. Good luck on the back i have the arthritis in my neck and mt lower back. I understand how you feel. My thoughts are with you.

Hi bunny! I do have lower back issues and hip pain. All I know is that anything with Codine will cause tummy problems and constipation. I s there a drug you can take that does not have Codiene?
Take Care
Sylvie

Hi bunny103. My back is also a wreck. I've also had some fusion surgery and now problems in other areas. I also take tramadol and to keep from having stomach issues, I always take Flax Seed oil pills. I swear by these keeping my digestion running properly. Constipation is something I never have a problem with and I believe it is from the Flax Seed. If I feel myself starting to get a little constipated, I will just take an extra Flax Seed for a day or two. Hope you feel better.

Hi, I can't help with the tramadol issue other than to echo what other peopel have said about trying a stool sofetenor and a laxative e.g. movicol. (I have the opposite problem even on codeine based meds as I have colitis!)

But could anyone claify- I have HORRENDUS spine pain, its probably my worst symptom after the fatigue rendering even walking difficult most days- but everything I have read has said lupus does not cause arthritis iin the spine/neck and therefore it must be caused by something else?! Anyone know anything about this?

I really wish I could take Tramadol but can barely take it at night so I have to stay away from it during the day or else it will knock me out. I also have pain in the spine, and it hasn't seemed to progress but its staying the same rather. It is mostly stiffness and I do get the pain in the lower back. When I wake in the morning it seems to be worse. What helps me also is light stretching to loosen up the muscles of the back so you aren't so stiff.

Xphoenix, I have also read that Lupus doesn't ordinarily cause pain in the spine, but I think its more common than that. I have it and a few others have it in this group. Anklosing Sponylitis is also another possibility, there are less severe versions of it you can develop called "undifferentiated spondylitis", sometimes occuring with autoimmune illness but doesn't progress like Anklosing Spondylitis does. Back pain and stiffness is common with it, but you rarely see the fusing of the spine like in AS. Antiinflammatories and muscle relaxers are a good help. I take Methocarbomol on bad days and it does help with the pain some. Hope this helps.

Thank you Alison- Its a relief to know I'm not the only one with back pain (though horrible for everyone else!). I will look into the Ankylosing Spondilitis, thank you. I take a combination of Paracetomol, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Acupan, and Dihydrocodiene when things get really bad- but unfortunately all of these upset my colitis (causing bleeding) so I can't take them as much as I need to!
Hopefully it will calm down once I get on some lupus treatment (if thats what I need!) Thank you xx