Does medical marijuana work for chronic pain?

Posted by mmoss @mmoss, Mar 27, 2021

Does Medical marijuana work for chronic pain. Looking for alternatives to Vicodin.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

I use THC/CBD 1:1 25mg/25mg tincture 3x daily for breakthrough pain instead of oxycodone. My main pain control is buprenorphine patches and you can read about it here. I have spinal OA, spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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@joycemarie

Please explain why you worry about Voltaron It is sold over the counter, and my physician advised that I mix it with what is straight CBD oil as a topical where I have arthritic pain as well as residual pain from shingles..

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I am allergic to any nsaids esp aspirin. I get the same reactions from external use of any nsaids.
Irregardless of what a doctor tells you. Everyone is different and doctors tend to go with manufactured medicine rather than my natural.

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@hurtinforcertain

I am allergic to any nsaids esp aspirin. I get the same reactions from external use of any nsaids.
Irregardless of what a doctor tells you. Everyone is different and doctors tend to go with manufactured medicine rather than my natural.

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That’s why there are homeopathic doctors available too. I too cannot take NSAIDs due to their action on my blood pressure meds. I have spinal OA, chronic pain syndrome and PN and take no antiinflammatory drugs.

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I am 83 and in good health except for pain. I take three tramadol a day as well as Tylenol twice. My pain is from spinal stenosis, lumbar and cervical, and nerve pain at L 3,4 and 5 I for which I've had ablations a year apart but it does wear off. I have mild neuropathy in my feet from L5 I'm told (for another discussion) I also have on bone knees. Before going to bed I take .25 Ml of a 1.1 ratio CBD/THC tincture, which helps me fall asleep. My feet burn a bit so I stick them out of the covers and it subsides after about ten minutes, or the tincture takes over, I'm not sure which one. I would like to quit Tramadol and have tried to reduce it but in the end it seems to be what works for me. I would like to use the tincture during the day but even at the that low dose I find it makes me a bit high after an hour and I am afraid of falling. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions that might help me?

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@jenatsky

I use THC/CBD 1:1 25mg/25mg tincture 3x daily for breakthrough pain instead of oxycodone. My main pain control is buprenorphine patches and you can read about it here. I have spinal OA, spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/burning-mouth-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350911

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Hello everyone, I live in Western Australia. CBD oil is strictly managed here, and can only be dispensed by certain doctors. I had a back fusion 4 years ago on L4?L5. Unfortunately the surgeon chipped a bone which pierced my L5 nerve. I had another surgery 3 days after the first one for the surgeon to rumage around and found the chipped piece of bone. Since then I have had nerve pain running down my left leg ending in sharp shooting pain in parts on my foot. Another surgery 2 years after the first (by a different doctor) said the first surgery was a botch, and I had terrible scar tissue happening and there is nothing to be done but manage the pain. I am under the care of a very good pain specialist. I am on Physeptone 15mg per day, 250mg of Lyrica as well, plus Celebrex for arthritis. This manages the pain fairly well, then every 5 months I have pain injections which really help for about 2 months. Yes, I have tried different strengths of CBD oil, but does not help me. My advice to anyone with chronic pain is find a good pain specialist! I also trialed a Neural nerve stimulator which did not work. Every time after injections I cut back a tiny bit on Lyrica and the Methodone (Physeptone) but it never lasts. So my advice, is try things BUT only on the advice of a good pain specialist. Eat well, and exercise as much as you can.

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I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome in Oct 2022. After several ankle sprains that left me w chronic ankle instability. I tried lidocaine patches but I got allergic reactions, tramadol would knock me out and half dosing left me groggy so I don't take it anymore I need to stay alert to care for my family. I started trying different strains of cannabis and found that the critical plus strain takes the edge off enough so that I can function. I take a gummy of this strain that is 5 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBD every 4 hrs. I also vape granddaddy purple kush on rougher days and it works really well for me. I learned certain terpenes of the strains are just as important as the strains. I've had success w both indica and sativa strains. Sometimes the pain causes me to dissociate so I stay away from opiods because sometimes I can't recall if I took my medicine and learning that prescribed opiods overdose deaths continue to increase I fear many of those are accidental. So no opiods for me thank you. Cannabis has been really effective in taking the edge off of my never ending crazy making pain and allowing me to function and returning to my life.

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@jacque45 thank you for sharing your situation down under. Fortunately here in the U.S. CBD is not considered a controlled substance so no regs. Many states have strict rules on what can be included in the making of CBD. THC is still illegal under federal regs but many states have recreational and medical programs too. You offered us some sound advice.

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@jenatsky

@jacque45 thank you for sharing your situation down under. Fortunately here in the U.S. CBD is not considered a controlled substance so no regs. Many states have strict rules on what can be included in the making of CBD. THC is still illegal under federal regs but many states have recreational and medical programs too. You offered us some sound advice.

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I have sciatica pain on the right side plus lower back pain/strain and was taking Tylenol for it. Someone introduced me to a pain ointment with CBD in it. It also contains some CBN and CBG. It’s quite effective. Most days I no longer need the Tylenol.

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Hi there,
I have had three herniated discs in my back for the better part of 30 years with one pushing in towards the spine. I have had two Radio Frequency Neurotomy procedures which give you 12 to 16 months of relief and allow a reduction in the need for pain killers. This procedure burns the nerve endings in the lower back (In my case) using probes. I take 0.5ml of CBD oil at 220mg/ml with terpenes every morning. In addition to this I take Paracetamol 500mg/Codeine 30mg x 2 every four hours, tramadol 200mg slow release and occasionally oxycodone 5mg as required (I only take this when I have a flare up of pain). I have noticed a slight improvement as I only started medicinal cannabis March 2024, whereas I have taken the other medication for years. I only take CBD in the morning, so I am able to pass a roadside drug test. I take 0.5mg/ml of THC of 25mg/ml CBD 25mg/ml in the afternoon and on some days and I can go without pain killers for a short while. But the pain can creep up on you if you don't take the other meds before any pain starts to return. It definitely reduces pain.

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@veebeemee

I am 83 and in good health except for pain. I take three tramadol a day as well as Tylenol twice. My pain is from spinal stenosis, lumbar and cervical, and nerve pain at L 3,4 and 5 I for which I've had ablations a year apart but it does wear off. I have mild neuropathy in my feet from L5 I'm told (for another discussion) I also have on bone knees. Before going to bed I take .25 Ml of a 1.1 ratio CBD/THC tincture, which helps me fall asleep. My feet burn a bit so I stick them out of the covers and it subsides after about ten minutes, or the tincture takes over, I'm not sure which one. I would like to quit Tramadol and have tried to reduce it but in the end it seems to be what works for me. I would like to use the tincture during the day but even at the that low dose I find it makes me a bit high after an hour and I am afraid of falling. Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions that might help me?

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I would look for a CBD product for taking in the morning. I am taking 0.5ml of 220mg/ml CBD with terpenes, it is not as effective as THC/CBD, but it will tie you over if you need to drive somewhere. I take the THC/CBD in the afternoon when I no longer need to drive.

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