Not Medical Advice: Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever, used to help relieve moderate to moderately severe pain.
It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain.
There are many different forms, strengths and brands of tramadol. The extended-release form of tramadol is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. This form of tramadol is not for use on an as-needed basis for pain.
Some forms and brands of tramadol start working quickly to ease pain. Others release the tramadol they contain more slowly over several hours to provide a constant and more-even pain control - these are called 'modified-release' and often have 'XL', 'SR' or '24hr' after their brand name.
Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. It can appear suddenly or build slowly over time, ranging from mild and intermittent to severe and persistent.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) indicates that acute pain, left untreated, can lead to chronic pain. Check out some tips to how to manage chronic pain at Healthline.com.