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.

@donrealtesting

It might be easier to say that Cannabis is not a pain killer, it is more a pain blocker.

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The nurse who addresses my diabetes has been quite supportive of the benefits of medical weed
I have been trying different dosing for example during the day I want to be clear headed but not be in horrible pain that prevents me from life. I micro dose small amounts until I obtain the optimal effect. Gummies don’t work during the day and it could take between 20-120 minutes to take effect and depending on the types of food you ate I had no clue if I would be relaxed or really high. I can’t smoke due to COPD but I vape So I take small puffs until I know the pain is lessened and feel calmer. I used a low thc/cbd. At night before bed I take high thc and cbd to fall and stay asleep

I’ve had four back surgeries and getting older
The best guide for articles and information is the site leafly. My kids suggested it

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Hi Sherry, For sure there are many applications for cannabis. There just isn't enough research (being rejected by gov. in favor of lobbied drugs and competing products) in this country to suggest it works at for anything. We know that is a lie. In fact it helps so many things they would have too many studies to take on! Too much yes will have side effects, todays herb is so much stronger. Even when it was weak, a little did the trick for me. So even though its classification may change, we know it is stronger than many believe, research is needed. I have stopped taking even my CBD 20 to 1, in order to get off xanax. Even a small does sends me in orbit. The mix with benzos can be very uncomfortable.

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@donrealtesting

@erin123 Hi Erin,

I'd like to chime in on this. CBD is not addicting. There is not proof that THC is addicting, meaning you need to use more or have withdrawal. . You may have heard 100 year old propaganda that it is. There are issues that it can interfere with other drugs, like Benzos. That can intensify and sometimes diminish the effect of other drugs. So when you say worsening symptoms?, the key is to find out why this is happening. Are these symptoms caused from the original condition or ailment? Did they suddenly appear after taking the tincture? Are you taking drugs that interact with THC and CBD?
Cannabis does interact with your immune system, it can so micro dosing or reducing the amount is often helpful to make your system work. Meaning more is not always going to work better. Less can be more.
Kind regards Don

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Thanks for weighing in, Don. I am glad to know these are not addicting, but my question was more about the extent to which a regular user can build up a tolerance, since that's what Chris's earlier message indicated. Like I said, I found CBG so helpful that I'd consider taking it indefinitely if I could do it without having to increase the dose very much. But I'd like to know about other's experiences with how much they have had to increase their dose over time to maintain efficacy. I'm also curious whether there are any latent side effects that anyone noticed over time, which weren't obvious at the start.

In my case, I do take a mild immunosuppressant, Plaquenil, for auto-immune issues. For me, the worsening symptoms are my usual joint pain, GI issues, and nerve pain, which were lessened during the weeks that I used CBG nightly, but which felt even more intense than pre-CBG when I tried to taper down. (I stopped cold turkey after 2-1/2 weeks and had a moderate flare, then went back to the full 50 mg/night tincture dose to control the pain and tried to taper down to 25 mg a week later, which led to less of a flare, but still an intensification of symptoms.) But I know I'm sensitive to medications and have experienced withdrawal-like effects in the past, even with nonaddicting medications, so I may just be especially prone to this. Maybe it's some kind of central sensitization effect; I'm not sure.

Other than an intensification of symptoms with withdrawal, I haven't noticed any adverse effects at all during this time, but like Chris noted earlier in this thread, many of us lack professional help sorting all this out and have to act as our own physicians. So I'm just curious what kind of tolerance others have experienced over time, and whether others who had no side-effects at first ever had any later on (and what, if anything, to be on the lookout for over time). Many thanks to all for sharing! I am so grateful for this list. - E

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With two autoimmune disorders I live daily with muscle and joint pain.
I usually can make it to the afternoon and then I use a thc tincture under my tongue.
It takes the pain away and brightens the day. As we all know long term pain takes a toll emotionally as well as physically so that tincture gives me a much needed break both physically and emotionally.
And I would only buy from a licensed provider after getting a medical marajuana license.

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@erin123

Thanks for weighing in, Don. I am glad to know these are not addicting, but my question was more about the extent to which a regular user can build up a tolerance, since that's what Chris's earlier message indicated. Like I said, I found CBG so helpful that I'd consider taking it indefinitely if I could do it without having to increase the dose very much. But I'd like to know about other's experiences with how much they have had to increase their dose over time to maintain efficacy. I'm also curious whether there are any latent side effects that anyone noticed over time, which weren't obvious at the start.

In my case, I do take a mild immunosuppressant, Plaquenil, for auto-immune issues. For me, the worsening symptoms are my usual joint pain, GI issues, and nerve pain, which were lessened during the weeks that I used CBG nightly, but which felt even more intense than pre-CBG when I tried to taper down. (I stopped cold turkey after 2-1/2 weeks and had a moderate flare, then went back to the full 50 mg/night tincture dose to control the pain and tried to taper down to 25 mg a week later, which led to less of a flare, but still an intensification of symptoms.) But I know I'm sensitive to medications and have experienced withdrawal-like effects in the past, even with nonaddicting medications, so I may just be especially prone to this. Maybe it's some kind of central sensitization effect; I'm not sure.

Other than an intensification of symptoms with withdrawal, I haven't noticed any adverse effects at all during this time, but like Chris noted earlier in this thread, many of us lack professional help sorting all this out and have to act as our own physicians. So I'm just curious what kind of tolerance others have experienced over time, and whether others who had no side-effects at first ever had any later on (and what, if anything, to be on the lookout for over time). Many thanks to all for sharing! I am so grateful for this list. - E

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Hi Erin, Exactly most doctors will not even discuss it. I've been smoking for 50 years so I can say there is a small amount of tolerance that appear from using all the time to occasionally. Just like drinking you become a light weight if you don't do it daily. So yes there is a small immune effect. Much like melatonin, two ways to get around that is use less for a while then go back to regular dose, or increase the dose.
I believe our CBD receptors will only recognize so much in blocking pain. So I am not sure of the threshold in terms of the amount. I would stay with in min dose and max dose on label limits. Here is some results I found searching the two drugs interactions. Good to see you seeking information, and adding your experience for all to share in.
https://www.worldsbest.rehab/hydroxychloroquine-and-weed/

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@erin123

Dear Chris - I'm responding to this old post of yours, particularly your observation that "we use these medications, you will find that it takes a little more as our usage time lengthens.". Can you tell us more about what the curve of increased look like for you?

I'm trying to make good decisions about this therapy, because an experimenting for the last few weeks, I have found that pure CBG tincture (50mg dose, Lazarus Naturals) works well for controlling nerve pain and anxiety, but my body seems to react badly (with worsening symptoms) when I try to reduce the dose, even after only a few weeks.

I'm a bit worried about dependence, especially if I should expect to increase dosage steadily over time. If I took the same amount every day and got relief, I would be happy to take it forever, but I'm worried if I will have to keep steadily upping the dose to get relief, as I'm still in my early '50s.

Can you share, in the last 2 years since your post, how much has your dose had to increase, relative to the first 7 years that you described? Or any other concrete details about the rate of increase you've had to use to keep a steady effect? Many thanks!

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Good evening @erin123
Thanks for dwelling on my past. I do remember writing that post when I was facing the same issue. With cannabis, we are our own prescribers and are also responsible for appropriate dosages. It is not easy to always be on top of the pain "game".

Let me start by mentioning the impact of barometric pressure. When the BP goes below 30......it can mean that even if you take the same dose of 1:1 CBD/THC your body will have more pain than when the BP is above 30. This is one of the most difficult situations to deal with and may explain your "worsening symptoms".

Since you have asked about the need to "up the dose" to get relief as you grow older and your SFN (small fiber neuropathy) becomes more intense, I have been dealing with the same questions and issues. Here is a list of what I have experienced in the last year or so.

1. Five years ago, I had one hourly session of MFR (myofascial release therapy) every week with one therapist. Today, I have two hourly sessions every week and have two attendant therapists at every session.
2. Five years ago, I used just 1/4 of a tincture dropper of 1:1 CBD/THC in the morning and switched to a 1/2 dropper of 2:1 CBD/THC in the afternoon and at bedtime. Today I use 1/2 of a tincture dropper of 1:1 CBD/THC in the morning and a full dropper of 2:1 CBD/THC at bedtime. There may be other times when I want to be more aggressive about the THC because research is showing that THC has greater potential to control pain. So....I endure a bit of psychoactivity just to have an easy pain free afternoon. What I am working on now is fitting in more stretching exercises, especially in my feet and legs. Without the twice-a-week MFR for my feet I would have to give up driving.
3. In addition to Yoga stretches, I also have added exercises for balance and stability to avoid falls. And what works best is the 2-mile walk in the park almost every day that climate permits. It is quite different living in Minnesota than in California and Hawaii.
4. Because living with pain is just plain exhausting, I do find that now that I turned 80 this year, my energy level has diminished a bit and I even take naps more frequently.
5. I do want to mention another issue and that is this: for me, pain tolerance has increased at a certain level. What used to be a level 7 or 8 is now a 4 or 5. Simply put, I can now tolerate pain at a higher level. I know what it is. I am not afraid, and I adjust my behavior accordingly.
6. And finally, I have increased my practice of mindfulness and meditation. I find joy in every day. I am busy with my volunteer work with Mayo Connect which adds considerable value to daily living. My life partner and I have semi-adopted three 14-year-old girls. Last week was his birthday and they came over to cook dinner for him. We are thrilled that they want to share their precious teen time with us. We are also active grandparents for 4 grandchildren. We see them about twice a year and love every minute of our time together.

I hope this helps you. Please remember that everyone is different. Some folks just manage pain and discomfort better than others. You are only 50. I am 80. Let's hope the world continues to meet your requirements for ease and comfort so that you can enjoy your senior years.

Let me know if you have any questions or if I left something out. I am here for you.
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

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@bonnieh218

Please excuse me for jumping into the middle of this conversation. I’m considering trying to use CBD for my chronic head pain. Problem I have is I don’t know where to start, where do I purchase this so I know it’s coming from a reputable place and is not a fake? How much to I use to start with? A few years my Mayo doctor thought it would be a good plan for me, that’s all the information I got from them.
Thanks to everyone for your information and suggestions.
Bonnie

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I get some pain reduction and mellow uplift from Hennepen's CBD capsules. They cost the earth, but they are worth it to me. Liquid hyaluronic acid (NOW brand
)and turmeric help my osteoarthritic pain.

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@cantek

With two autoimmune disorders I live daily with muscle and joint pain.
I usually can make it to the afternoon and then I use a thc tincture under my tongue.
It takes the pain away and brightens the day. As we all know long term pain takes a toll emotionally as well as physically so that tincture gives me a much needed break both physically and emotionally.
And I would only buy from a licensed provider after getting a medical marajuana license.

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Can you tell me the name of the tincture you use? I have my medical marijuana license, but there are so many things to choose from at the dispensary, that I get confused. I’ve been using gummies for pain, but they take forever to act.

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