NeuroTalk Support Groups - A case for cannabis

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/)

- - A case for cannabis (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/194448-cannabis.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachbum65 (Post 1016528)

I have very little experience with marijuana ,as I understand that it is physically not addictive as the pain killers I take.

Maybe—maybe not. First, dependence is not addiction. Dependence is physical; addiction is psychological. There is no question that pain patients can become dependent on opioid pain medications. However, less than 3% of pain patients without previous history of abuse or psychological issues become addicted.

Painkiller Addiction: A Smaller Risk Than You May Think

I don't know the cannabis addiction statistics of chronic pain patients, however...

Quote:

Research has shown the overall addiction potential for cannabis to be less than for caffeine,[19] tobacco, alcohol, cocaine or heroin, but slightly higher than that for psilocybin, mescaline, LSD.[44] In a survey conducted by NIDA in 1994, epidemiologist James Anthony found that of those who tried marijuana at least once, about 9 percent eventually became addicted. While this is not negligible, it was still lower than other drugs which were evaluated. The corresponding figure for alcohol was 15 percent; for cocaine, 17 percent; for heroin, 23 percent; and for nicotine, 32 percent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabi...tion_potential

Cannabis can also cause dependence.

Quote:

Dependence on cannabis is more common amongst heavy users. Researchers have demonstrated that heavy marijuana use can lead to increased tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop.[45] One study with 500 heavy users of cannabis showed that when trying to cease consumption, some experience one or more symptoms such as insomnia, restlessness, loss of appetite, depression, irritability, and anger.[37] Cannabis Dependence has been recognized as a clinical entity in the DSM-IV.[46] Prolonged marijuana use produces both pharmacokinetic changes (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted) and pharmacodynamic changes (how the drug interacts with target cells) to the body. These changes require the user to consume higher doses of the drug to achieve a common desirable effect (known as a higher tolerance), and reinforce the body's metabolic systems for synthesizing and eliminating the drug more efficiently.
Ibid

So while opioids present a greater dependence risk, cannabis may present the greater addiction risk.

In the case of chronic pain patients, who may need pain medication for many years—if not for life—this may all be academic. I think it comes down to choosing the lesser of evils.

Long-term effects of cannabis
vs.
New research shows effects of long-term use of opioid therapy

From a much broader reading of what's out there, I'm inclined to agree with you that cannabis addiction and/or dependence MAY be preferable to opioid addiction and/or dependence, but that will have to be each individual's personal choice—there are many other factors that enter into it (side effects, efficacy, cost, etc.)

And I encourage anyone contemplating/faced with this decision to do much more research than presented here, and have discussions with their doctors before making their decision.

You hang in there too.

Doc

I actually do smoke pot a bit recreationally. I have TN and I find that it makes the pain worse. When I am high I tend to really focus on that pain. Others say it helps. Guess it depends on the pot and the person

Sad but our government is broken at every level

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachbum65 (Post 1016288)

I'm not a pot smoker but I have read that it relieves nerve pain. So when it got so bad I couldn't stand the pain anymore I smoked it. I will tell you that it killed my pain for 5 hours but I was so high I didn't like that feeling at all. But I understand how this marijuana plant can help people in cronic pain it does work. It would be great if there was a way to take away the high and just have the pain relieving properties, the world would be a better place for us PNers.

It is the only drug classified as a schedule 1 on the list of illicit drugs that shouldn't be there. Only because the government has no way to control it. If God put it here it has a purpose unfortunately the controversy of deception continues. Once the government decides they can put money in there own pocket then the coffers it will happen until then we suffer. The consequences will be similar to DWI and many will suffer the laws when it does become legal.
I suffer i pain every day but with that being said, "why complain" so many have it so much worse. Make the most out of each day. Increase your faith in God and go to a good church and feed the spirit. You will feel better keeping your mind occupied and living in the spirit. It works better than drugs and there are no side effects :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 25yrsnstillfighting (Post 1016760)

Well, God also made nightshade and poisonous mushrooms and rattlesnakes...but I do agree with you. I would certainly like all if us who need lifetime pain management to have more choices, and more information. I personally do not get a lot of pain relief from faith. I assume God uses all suffering for good, but I am not intellectually capable of a "feel-good" faith. I have tried but this is not the forum for that!

Sometimes I think my PCP, the only doctor I see these days, is a little pedestrian, but he has promised to work with us on this and he did sit both of us down last year when we switched to time release morphine and have a long conversation about this being for the rest of my life. Since I am 51 that could be a long time, with a lot of incremental increases which have to be made as slowly as possible so that I don't run out of options before I die. I make an effort to remain mentally sharp.
That is one thing that worries me about MM. I remember, faintly, making some dumb choices in college "under the influence". Not sure if that was the drug or the age, but mental clarity and focus are a concern I would have.

Most people are just taking a puff or two to take the edge off of the pain. It is for medicinal use. At least that's what I've read here and on other forums. And the MM is not from the '60's and '70's. It is what is in today's world. They are not doing this to get high. And even at that it does not work for everyone.