Does medical marijuana work for chronic pain?

Dear Chris @artscaping
I liked what you wrote. We have many similarities in our remedies. Absolutely, me too, when I "discovered CBD, the hunt was over. It made such a tremendous difference in my pain level, l I was quite relived! Nothing takes all the pain away, but now I can live with it most of the time. I say that because two days ago, out of nowhere, both my hands became numb. I did a routine that I saw for circulation, but it did not help like I had hoped. They are always a little "stiff". I have an exercise "ball" I squeeze which helps somewhat. Are you under the same impression that I am? Does this nasty disease get worse every year (or month), or does it level off at some point? I cannot imagine having to deal with this with an ongoing/uphill battle. Just to make things more interesting, out of nowhere I had to go to the Hospital ER for high Blood Pressure. Another Idiopathy circumstance. I was released the next day, but had to go back, same old, same old, 9 days later and stayed for 4 days. Doctors still don't know after a zillion tests. Three new med cannot even keep it down. Oh, I have already used my emergency pill!. I only mention BP because the two do interfere with each other in odd ways. I am not diabetic which does worsen the BP in that case.....Trying to think of what I can be THANKFUL FOR!
i have tried many kinds of CBD. ( At first it was because they never had the same thing twice). I believe Oregon has had it for about 12 years. When it really takes root, so much more is available and not as expensive either!! I have the tincture and use that at different levels of pain. My state has legalized Cannabis since 2018, but we are still limited as to the wide variety possible. Sounds like you are doing well with Both CBD and THC. In the 60's I smoked, got high, bit never sleepy. I thought this would help me sleep, but I am an insomniac, so any ideas there? I bought the strongest that this dispensary had, but it does not shut my eyes!! Big Problem!
Since I am under the weather, I will sign off now and look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes!!

Chris--thank you for your help on figuring out cannabis. I have just started using CBD and THC, with tinctures. The ratio of CBD/THC doesn't make sense to me without talking about the mg's, or dosage strength. The difference between 1 mg of THC versus 3 mg of THC is major regardless of any ratio with CBD. Can you discuss in terms of mg's? My results with gabapentin are unimpressive as well, and I am looking for a different form of help. Thank you so much.

Good evening @rebsue. Let me see if I understand what you would like me to say. If you buy a tincture that is a 2:1 CBD/THC then the manufacturer has placed 50% CBD and 25%THC in the tincture along with some coconut oil that isn't part of the active ingredients. Use the dropper which will be marked in ml, e.g. 25%ml, 50%ml, 75ml. Now is when you must be your own prescriber. When I first began, I filled the dropper to 25%ml....knowing that regardless of the amount I choose to use, it will be 50%CBD and 25%THC.

As your body adjusts to that small dosage, you can begin to increase the amount. It has been a few years now and I now use my basic 2:1 CBD/THC tincture at 75ml. All of this including additional ways to calculate are on the bottle and on the box. You can then keep a record if you wish that includes every increase in dosage and how your body reacted.

If you are using a licensed dispensary, they will have staff who are trained to help you. They also can have special cannabis pharmacists who will explain every change in the quantity you use. For example, I now use three different tinctures.......1:1 CBD/THC for daytime. 2:1 CBD/THC for bedtime and my heavy-duty topical balm which is 1:3 CBD/THC for acute pain and 3:1 CBD/THC for chronic pain.

I hope this helps. You may want to go to the Papa and Barkley website. They do a great job of explaining the ins and outs of making these choices.

I can make mistakes you know so let me know if you have issues or additional questions. Do you think this will be helpful for you and make it possible for you to give it a try?

May you be safe, protected, and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris

Hi Chris,
I have to go back to basics. The main fact in using Cannabis is that is really helps lessen the pain from Neuropathy. Since my state of PA has only had this product approved since 2018, it is very difficult to find a product and stay with it. Because there are very few growers here, we can seldom get the same product every purchase. The demand is higher than expected and for a variety of reasons, most of us are having to change products on a regular basis. Some Dispensaries have consultation available with an appointment. Perhaps you can try that and get better information? Best wishes!

My state of Montana just made cannabis legal one week ago. I have lots of family in Colorado and California who are helping me sort it all out--just need to find the proper dispensary here in my home state. I do appreciate all the help here! Thanks.

Good evening @fala, Oh dear.....I think I have failed you. Knowing the ratio of CBD and THC in your chosen medical cannabis is the best I can get and give you. Then you can use the mg or ml printed right on the dropper to make sure you are staying within the suggested or recommended dosage. You use the same ratio and then adjust the mgs.

When CA passed the recreational law we had the same problem. Products had to be able to prove that they met the regulatory rules. Fires in CA disrupted the growing areas by either infiltrating them with contaminants or totally destroying them. I casually met the owner of one of the dispensaries. He was older and understood what I needed for neuropathy. He became my guide and I am quite grateful.

At this point, you may want to stay with a particular strains....sativa or indica and then create your own dosage. I learned that way and was glad when the droppers were introduced and I could measure precisely.

May you be free, protected and safe from inner and outer harm.
Chris

@artscaping is aware I’ve had very good success using THC/CBD in tincture and vape form to cease my need for oxycodone/Tylenol 5/325. I was taking 6 daily for breakthrough pain from my main control from buprenorphine patch. I’m now using maybe one a month and still have my October prescription 1/2 full. But it took me a year of experimentation to get to where I am. What works for one does not always fit another. I use combos of 2:1, 1:2, 4:1 for vapes, a 10:1 CBD:THC tincture 1mi in AM and 1/2ml at 12:30 and 17:30, a full strength THC 1cc bedtime plus a 5:1 CBD:THC tincture and I use an RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) 4:1 CBD:THC 3x day. I no longer get a buzz from cannabis but being relatively pain free for the first time since 1988 is worth it. BTW the person who stated that specific types and strengths were limited in Pa is wrong as I live in Montgomery County and have a tremendous selection of same products week after week.

I've been reading these comments. It seems like medical marijuana helps people who have debilitating chronic pain - it muffles the pain so they can live normal lives again. I hope they will always be able to get it. Some people may call that 'addicted' but we know that it doesn't matter. If pot is the only thing that works for people who live in pain, they should have it.

I also know people who have adult children still living at home smoking pot all day every day, playing video games and getting fat. Pot makes them "not normal"; they don't have any medical issue that pot rectifies. Some of them go on to heroin - it seems that pot is a gateway drug for some people who are using it to make themselves not normal.

"Normal" in this case means: living in the mainstream of life with a profession, home, and friends, maybe a family as well.

Is that about right? Do those of you who use pot for chronic pain have jobs? Families? Homes? Friends?

I am curious, Peggy

I'm jumping in also please. I'm interested but I've been told by Noth in Arizona that you can't be on anything with the if you are taking pain meds. Is this true in Arizona?

Is this the same at the Mayo in Arizona?