Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group

I have neuropathy in my feet and legs from Sjogrens as well as degenerative disc disease which causes me to have neck and back pain. I use THC/CBD gummies to help with my pain. This is not medical cannabis, they are not prescribed as I live in a state that only very recently allowed medical cannabis and they haven't set anything up for that yet. I have purchased it at recreational stores in Michigan, Oregon, or Colorado. We used to drive to Colorado every summer to stock up, but now that Michigan has it, we get it there.

I'm not sure what doses they use in medical cannabis. I use 5mg at a time. When I have a bad night, I sometimes take a 5mg gummie in the middle of the night. helps me sleep.

That's a lot of Gabapentin you take! I take only 100 mg of Gabapentin 3x daily. I'm so sorry you have so much Pain! I hope you are close enough to a state that has recreational cannabis, a real help to be able to get it legally, even though in my home state it is still illegal. there are always a lot of older folks in the parking lot when we go. You drive up, call into the shop and give them your parking your spot number, a budtender comes to the car with a menu and you order what you want. You usually have to pay in cash.

Am I terrible to use marijuana, perhaps my rheumatologist would be shocked? It really helps with my pain.

Thanks! I know! I think the amount of gabapentin is too much. And my symptoms seem to increase and then he prescribes more. It does help as if I skip a dose or take it late my feet start buzzing
I do have a medical marijuana card! So I do use it and it definitely helps. 5 mg is about right. I use those and flower/ vape occasionally. I live in Ct. - they just legalized recreational but I already am able to get it. Finding different strains help with sleep, pain. There needs to be more information out there about dosage.
Thanks👍🏼

I wish there was more info on usage of cannabis for pain. It really helps me, but it would be helpful if they started sharing some research results. I think until recently, it couldn't be used to research because it is still illegal federally. I'm sure someone is looking into it! I am sure there are probably side effects that we don't know about.

So what kind of doses and what form are you given when you go the medical cannabis route?

Maybe we will hear from some suffering people who have more info on using cannabis.

Do you mean psychiatrist ? No, I see a neurologist and a psychologist. Why do you ask?

I posted this as reply. However, figured others might be interested in the services of PM&R/Physiatrists.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians, also known as physiatrists, treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

PM&R physicians are medical doctors who have completed training in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), and may be subspecialty certified in Brain Injury Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Pain Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and/or Sports Medicine.

Specifically, PM&R physicians:

Treat patients of all ages
Focus treatment on function
Have a broad medical expertise that allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime
Diagnose and treat pain as a result of an injury, illness, or disabling condition
Determine and lead a treatment/prevention plan
Lead a team of medical professionals, which may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician extenders to optimize patient care
Work with other physicians, which may include primary care physicians, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and many others.
Treat the whole person, not just the problem area

Hi Cathy-
I can't believe I reaad this! I have a toe on my left foot that starts to fire up in the afternoon and is like an ice pick stabbing pain. Up all night and nothing helps. Now this week I have 2 toes on my right foot doing it- I want to amputate them! FYI- I have had ideopathic bilateral neuropathy in both feet for about 10 years. I take 3300 mg gabapentin, cymbalta and klonopin ( 1 mg at night ) . Nothing helps with the toes. Luann

I posted this as reply. However, figured others might be interested in the services of PM&R/Physiatrists.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians, also known as physiatrists, treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

PM&R physicians are medical doctors who have completed training in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), and may be subspecialty certified in Brain Injury Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Neuromuscular Medicine, Pain Medicine, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury Medicine, and/or Sports Medicine.

Specifically, PM&R physicians:

Treat patients of all ages
Focus treatment on function
Have a broad medical expertise that allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime
Diagnose and treat pain as a result of an injury, illness, or disabling condition
Determine and lead a treatment/prevention plan
Lead a team of medical professionals, which may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician extenders to optimize patient care
Work with other physicians, which may include primary care physicians, neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and many others.
Treat the whole person, not just the problem area

Thank you! I printed this out to use when I go for my appointment with my new physiatrist. They are also called pain management doctors. I have neck pain that has been ongoing since the end of May (join the club). I’m hoping he can help, but I’m going to PT first. PT worked for me when I had neck pain on my right side. I haven't had neck pain for almost 2 years. My rheumatologist told me the physiatrists use chiropractic, nerve blocks and shots. I’m glad I have now other things that might help.

This is very helpful, I always wondered (and must have been too lazy to look up) what their role was. Opening this up to everyone on the site, how have your experiences been with a physiatrist? Are they hard to find or are they scheduled so far out it's impossible to see them in a reasonable amount of time?