Tramadol is a prescription medication primarily used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. Here's how tramadol is used:

1. Pain Management: Tramadol is commonly prescribed to manage various types of pain, including acute pain (such as post-surgical pain or injury-related pain) and chronic pain (such as pain associated with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia). It is particularly effective for pain that is not adequately managed by non-opioid pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

2. Neuropathic Pain: Tramadol may also be used to relieve neuropathic pain, which is caused by damage or dysfunction of the nerves. Conditions such as diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia (pain following shingles), and neuropathic pain associated with conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury may be managed with tramadol.