I should have included a bit more about building up a tolerance to kratom, My experience is that it definitely takes more as time goes by. I started off with about 4 - 5 00 size capsules and now take 10 at a time. Yeah, that's a lot to choke down but it beats trying to take it without capsules - the taste is less than pleasant and you have to mix it with something like yogurt or chocolate milk not only to offset the taste but to enable you to get that much powder down (probably something like a couple of tablespoons for the amount I take, Erk!

I wish I could find something else that worked as well as I think that alternating with something else would probably offset the tolerance buildup significantly. But I can find nothing that is both legal and non-prescription that works as well - and trust me, I have tried about everything.

The good news is that my back is much, much better these days. The bad news is that I have foot, ankle and lower leg pain exactly like they describe on TV in the Lyrica ads - tingling, aching, numbness that also feels like you are stepping on a thousand needles. I have been on a "reverse diabetes in 30 days type diet for about 60 days". Not sure that it has helped much and I am wondering how permanent the peripheral neuropathy/nerve damage might be . . .

You know, I never realized how much sugar I ate until I cut it out. I don't use refined table sugar at all - instead I use coconut sugar and raw honey. BUT, then there are the colas and pies and candy and ice cream and on and on. And I KNEW better!

Ah, hypocrite heal thyself!