Cannabis. A fork in the road.
 

I live in Colorado where cannabis, both for recreational and medical purposes has recently become legal. For two years, I have suffered from debilitating PN and like many others, I have submitted my person to science in many ways for all of the testing associated with ruling out underlying causes. I am glad I did it. I have earned my PN badge. It’s not something I ever wanted but there it is. Also like many others with PN, the underlying cause in my case is unknown. I don’t have cancer or HIV and I was told that unless I changed my lifestyle dramatically, I will never be diabetic. I have been tested for everything that the best neurologists can think of and my Peripheral Neuropathy was determined to be idiopathic in nature, aka IPN.

Since the onset of my symptoms, I have educated myself, poured tens of thousands of dollars into it and devoting myself to making it all better to ultimately improve my now diminished quality of life. I have been prescribed the typical: Gabapentin, Klonopin, Lyrica, Cymbalta (in that order) and recently compounding cream. I have tried countless OTC supplements & creams, literally countless. I have three shelves of them and routinely go through them to box the ones that I am sure haven’t helped to make room for the new ones that just arrived. I use devices like The Rebuilder and Anodyne, I even own a traction device. I have built an arsenal of the things that help a little but I am nowhere near where I need to be, having my condition managed so I can go on with my otherwise happy, successful, great life. I recently ran into a snag with my insurance covering Lyrica (which isn’t all that great IMO) and while that was being sorted out and I was spending the usual countless hours researching PN in my endless search for relief, I came across a reputable study on cannabis and then the pain relieving components of the plant. Then I read another study and another, all posting positive results in the area of treating neuropatic pain. Why haven’t I tried this?

Everyone is different and what works for one, may not work for another so I don’t know how long this thread will travel but I am at a point where I will try anything and today I am trying CBD, the organic, pain relieving component of the marijuana plant. There are no psychoactive properties, there is no high or smoking but rather just the pain relieving benefit from the plant. If I am willing to put all of these lab-manufactured chemicals in my body, why not try something that grows from the earth? It is legal and available here and there is research to support it so I am going to give it a shot.

I'll post back with my experiences, positive, negative or neutral.

There are a couple of issues to think about.

1) If you take anything sedative...RX wise, you will get increased sedation if you use MJ.

2) If you take opiates, your doctor may test your urine at visits and if you test positive for MJ, you may lose your RX for the opiates. Some doctors are strict about this.

Beatle... You've laid out the most rational and persuasive argument for weed! Call it cannabis or whatever you want, I've considered the same things and agree. It's not available legally to me, but I've lead the most insanely "straight" life and I would light up in a minute if it releaved my pain! Please... let us know how it goes. I'm really curious. Thanks for posting

I do not know anything about weed, so I am a little stupid on the subject, but if you take it as a medicine is it still inhaled like a cigarette? And if so, isn't that very dangerous to lung health?? Sorry if that is a stupid question.

While I do not know much about weed, I cant imagine it is much worse than all these drugs being shoved down our throats, but I would not want to inhale smoke and cause more problems.

Thank you MrsD, really good points.

I do not take sedatives or opiates and the product that I am using (well, starting today) is CBD, not THC. It is a lab-tested medical product that has been on the table for me for a while.

This isn't for everyone. I am in a unique position to try it, because of where I reside and I have researched it. I want to give it a fair shot just as I've given everything else and if it doesn't work, I plan to shelve (or box) it like all the other things that didn't work and move on to the next thing, whatever that is.

I neglected to mention that I have also tried acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy, trigger point therapy, A.R.T., yoga, meditation, energy healing and Ayurvedic medicine.

I know of some neuropathic (and other chronic pain) sufferers benefiting from smoking MMJ but what I am trying is CBD in the form of a transdermal patch. No smoke and no high whatsoever. I do not want to be high. I want to be healthy.

CNN has aired three documentaries on MMJ in recent months profiling several cases of chronic pain sufferers including small children with seizure disorders being treated here with CBD after pharmaceuticals have failed. There are also several studies supporting its use for neuropathic pain. There is data out there, just Google CBD and neuropathy.

Marijuana is a federally illegal drug but Colorado voters passed a law to legalize and tax it and the federal government said it will not interfere.

Again, I don't know how or if it will work for me but I am desperate and open to it. By the way, nothing could make me higher than Cymbalta!

Thanks for your post, I am very curious to hear how it goes. I have been reading a lot about it too lately, and have some acquaintances in the scientific field working on some of the end products. I have SFN, and want to try it for pain but almost more for nausea which I get with flairs of my autonomic neuropathy. And like you, I do not want to get high. When I was in the hospital earlier this year for intractable nausea, they did give me a cannibinoid, but a doctor did tell me that since I had not been a regular user of marijuna, it may not be effective for me. But that was one product and one doctor, so I'm still curious what's out there that could be helpful. Look forward to hearing of your experience

Awaiting your results and comments. I have watched the CNN reports and find them promising...in certain situations.

I can pretty much bet that Hell will freeze before Virginia legalizes MJ...even for medical use :wink:

Thanks for taking the time to post your background and newest trial. Again, I look forward to hearing how it goes. But please be careful when using in conjunction with other medications, as interactions may not be listed online (because they may not have been tested).

Good luck

It can be but doesn't have to be. It can be gotten into the body in any way/method something can be gotten into the body—inhaled, eaten, drunk, sublingual, suppository, injected, transdermal....

Two recent threads here.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread193628.html

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread194448.html

Doc

This is very interesting topic. Like others here, I'd very much like to hear how you go with this.

I for one don't care whether pot is legal or not here, if it works I'd take it regardless. That said, small personal quantities are usually considered ok by our law enforcement, they turn a blind eye.

Mother Nature provided pot, no doubt for medicinal purposes.

I had the same concerns as Stacey re: smoke impacting lungs. Wondering if a few hash cookies with morning tea would do the trick.

Looking forward to hearing how this goes.