does anyone take marijuana

[vivikin]

I have had chronic pain for nearly 4 years now and take various medications, a few people over the last few months have asked me if I would try smoking pot I have always said no, but I wondered if anyone had any opinions on this or information on whether it would actually help. sorry in advance if this is not a question for this site.

[Loopy-fifi]

I have tried it,obviously as a teenager as most people have,lol,but I did try a couple of years ago to see if it would help.I also have a very poor sleep pattern because of my condition,so I thought it would help with that too.

It did ease my pains,but my brain was still doing overtime so didn't help with my sleep whatsoever .

It may help,I think other countries use it for medical purposes.You shouldn't feel bad for asking,I know how it can feel to want to try just about anything,so if it works for you,fair play

[vivikin in reply to Loopy-fifi]

hi thanks for your answer

[Hidden]

Hello

Believe me I have suffered from Chronic Pain for over thirty years and never tried. I discussed it with my GP at the time, this was when the trials were taking place and the Pain Clinic was doing tests with the pure medication by mouth, my GP said He was awaiting results, and that was it I forgot all about it.

Personally I may try it in the future, the medicinal medication of it, will wait and see.

I do not know what the tests result were

All the best

Bob

[vivikin in reply to Hidden]

hi Bob I did look it up online and there is an article about trialling it and the results weren't very positive. I feel the same as you and will wait to see if in the future it is available medicinally, I am seeing my pain specialist early in the new year so may ask his opinion on it.

thanks for your reply.

kind regards

Viv

[nedd]

I would give it a go. But pain clinic very dismissive.

I do not want to get off the street though. A friend is a copper and he is really anti dope saying it can be very destructive.

I had a mate years ago who to my amusement used to make her chap a cake that she doctored when he was in a strop. Said it worked a treat.

[vivikin in reply to nedd]

i thanks for your reply

[Bananas5]

There used to be a shop in Amsterdam where you could buy coffee and happy cake. Very popular when staging through the airport. They have changed their laws now and it is much harder to get.

We have talked it with the pain clinic and while they couldn't prescribe it they aren't anti.

David gave up smoking some years ago but would be more than happy for me to cook with it. Rather like mixed herbs in the casserole.

Like many drugs used it is addictive but so are the opiates and as you never get better that should not be a concern.

I have a young friend back in Australia who was one of the unlucky ones who had a severe reaction to it. He will never be able to lead a normal life.

So there are pluses and minuses and I would be on the plus side every time.

Pat x

[vivikin in reply to Bananas5]

Hi Pat I was going to ask my pain doctor when I see him early next year on his thoughts on it, I too used to smoke and would not take it that way, and im not sure I would try it, but never say never.

thanks for your answer

kind regards

Viv x

[Maggiet]

I asked for cannabis spray the last time I was at the pain clinic. I have small fibre neuropathy a and fibromyalgia. I was told that it could only be prescribed for MS sufferers, but research is ongoing into using it for other conditions. I do know it's used for pain in cancer sufferers. I said that was a shame that it wasnt more widely used and I suspected that perhaps some pain sufferers made interesting cakes. 'No comment' said the pain nurse with a smile! I doubt you would get a Dr to prescribe the spray - called Sativex - off licence. Good luck xx

[vivikin in reply to Maggiet]

Hi thanks for that

kind regards

Viv x

[earthwitch in reply to Maggiet]

I've heard of GPs happily rescribing sativex for things other than MS - I'd say definitely worth a try discussing it with your GP. You've got nothing to lose. Its not got all the same ingredients than the outside-the-law version, but if you've not been used to that you wont have anything to compare it to.

[Maggiet in reply to earthwitch]

Wow, that is worth knowing. I'll ask next time I'm in. I gave up smoking tobacco cigarettes 5 years ago so as well as not wanting the illegal stuff, I don't want to be tempted back to ciggies. Thanks for the info.

[vivikin in reply to earthwitch]

thanks x

[Mistee]

I tried space brownies once when I was a teenager (for recreation rather than pain) and if I remember correctly they didn't taste much different to regular brownies but they just about knocked me out and I swore I'd never touch the stuff again, but after accidentally leaving my prescriptions on holiday a few months ago, I tried smoking it out of desperation, it didn't do a great deal for the pain I've got to say but it did relax me and helped me to sleep.

Not something I could do on a regular basis though, it made me wretch when it hit the back of my throat and the taste and smell was gross too but then I'm a non smoker.

[katwilson04]

Hello. My Doctor told me about a month ago now, that he is allowed to prescribe this, but it comes in a mouth spray form. How effective it is i have no idea though.

[Hidden]

I've been smoking it for years with no ill effects but I have been lucky enough to get Sativex on prescription,it has to be prescribed by hospital not GP and I collect from the hospital pharmacy when i collect my Ketamine which cant be prescribed by a GP either. My pain consultant refered me to a doctor who is using it for MS patients but he is happy to prescribe for pain .Its worth a try it really helps me especially in the evenings .

[vivikin in reply to Hidden]

hi thanks for that, do you mind me asking in what form do you take Ketamine? I have had 3 Ketamine infusions which i have to go into hospital for each time, but did not know you could get it on prescription or how you take it.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know as im seeing my GP tomorrow and my pain specialist on 6th January

kind regards

Viv x

[Hidden in reply to vivikin]

My ketamine is an oral solution 50mg/5ml which i take 4 times a day I believe this is a high dose but your pain clinic can advise on dosage it is only available from the hospital pharmacy and is prescribed by my pain consultant .Your GP will not be able to prescribe it.Hope this helps

[vivikin in reply to Hidden]

thank you I will ask about this

[mr-flibble]

I use herbal Cannabis but not by smoking it, I suffer with OA in both neck and knees, the neck pain was left effectively untreated for 20 odd years the knees are basically shot as I only have 15% of the cartilage left in both, the two types of OA and the length the neck was left untreated was a significant issue once Id had a double knee OP. Post OP I'd get bouts of incredibly sickening pain as soon as I tried to stand up, it would feel like when I'd been hit in the spuds, the sickness would build and build until I couldn't stand it anymore, just getting to the loo was upsetting as hell, the pain can get so bad I am physically sick, all I can do is rest as normal pain killers didn't touch it, (this is a significant symptom).

It wasn't until 3 years later did I get to see a neurologist who clocked it with two simple questions. these were have I any long term pain issues, I do the neck, and whats the oddest thing about the sickening pain?, it goes through normal pain med's like they aren't there, nothing will stop it, I was informed this was normal with neuropathic pain as the neurones don't reacted to opioid pain medicines or any normal pain med so what I was saying was true, what happened was over time the the neck pain had hyper sensitised the pain receiving part of the brain and the double knee OP was the finally straw, effectively my pain system was feeding to many signals for my brain to cope with so it went into spasms and thats when the neuropathic pain would start up.

The problem is theres only a few med's that can treat neuropathic pain those being The tricyclic groups, I.E the Triptylines, or Gabapentin and Pregabalin, The last two are epilepsy drugs and they reduce the brains activity thus reducing sensitivity but these made me really unwell, and the Tricyclic med's only help with my neck pain so I had no deference until recently, I was looking for a way to control it on the web and I found some info from the US where medical Cannabis is in use, I tried smoking, it worked but u can't stay stoned all day, anyway it dawned on me pain med's can be skin absorbed so I got some high strength herbal Cannabis and ground it up soaked it in rubbing alcohol and left it to soak for a week, I then decanted it into a spray bottle and used it on my knees when the next flare was coming, and bingo, for the first time since 2008 I had managed to stop a flare from progressing, OK I had to rest for a few days but it worked, since then I've not had one major attack, I still get the warning signs and I need to rest up for a day or two then I'm good to go!. I also don't get stoned as I apply it to the point where the pain is being generated, it also works on the neck as well!.

This country is so backwards when it comes to Cannabis in general, I don't want to see it legalised for recreation but I di think we are allowing people to suffer for a political point scoring exercise, right now Cannabis pain spray Sativex is produced and sold from the UK as a medicine but the home office and Cameron say it has no medical use so won't allow pain sufferers access to it even though the home office has granted GW Pharmaceuticals the only UK licence to grow and process medical Cannabis in the UK, (maybe the donation of £5 million to the conservative party helped them get it?) . Its a bloody disgrace and its also the mother of Oxymoron's.

It's why I don't vote now there's no point, I also don't give two hoots about the law, I'm in pain and I will not suffer one more day due to political prejudice and double standards. If Cameron had to suffer the levels of pain I do daily he'd not be such a arrogant and heartless k***b, as it is the law here is a total joke as it now allows anyone who's not a UK citizen who's been prescribed Cannabis in their own country the right to bring it here in an form and up to 90 days supply and then use it here and the Police or customs can't do a thing while if we tried it we could face a sentence ranging from 5-15 years, now is it me or does that sound ridicules or is it just me?

[vivikin in reply to mr-flibble]

thanks so much for taking the time to give me so much information and as for the government I totally agree

[Hidden]

There is medical marijuana but very few places will prescribe it. I have been "breaking the law" for over 3 years now and since then my activities of daily living have gone way up, I can always get to sleep, and I can always get quick relief from very severe pain. I don't seem to have any side effects, but I don't use during the day. I tell my Doctors I use. I take a lot of lot prescribed meds too, but marijuana has made more difference than anything else and as a result I have got fitter and have a much better quality of life because I am more active. Be careful: NEVER USE SKUNK, it makes you paranoid. Much easier to get, but not good for you. Also bear in mind if you drive you can lose your licence on a roadside drug test.

[vivikin in reply to Hidden]

hi thank you so much for the info

[probe]

I was told today by the Pain Consultant at our meeting today, that the Walton Centre is the only licensed clinic on Merseyside able to prescribe medicinal cannabis. He didn't suggest it as an option, preferring to rely on a slow increase in the Dosage of Pregablin, until I prompted him. Fortunately, I have never had any untoward reaction to Cannabis. I've used it in moderation for several years off and on, so I'm quite lucky. Obviously I also enjoy, some relief from the chronic pain due to my spinal operations. It's the only thing that works. Only thing is I have to be referred by the GP, which I suppose could take a while, from past experience.

[probe in reply to probe]

I also have found that quite a number of the Surgeons are sympathetic to the moderate use of Cannabis. On the issue of Skunk, I can understand the remarks of Bowbells, it has built up a certain reputation. If you've never smoked dope, then you should initally only use a small amount of skunk in the joint...............so you don't "lose" a few days......................lol Everything in moderation, my Mother used to say !

[vivikin in reply to probe]

hi thanks for that, and my mum used to say exactly the same

[mr-flibble in reply to vivikin]

No worries vivkin, And I'm in agreement with you probe but that said strong weed can feck you up all be it fro a short while if your not use to it but like u say like strong alcohol just take less to be on the safe side, one thing that does get me is the b*****y Daily Mail reefer madness term Skunk, Skunk is just one strain of plant, its quite an old one now, its a bit like calling all spirits "moonshine", the other thing that gets me is THC is the psychoactive ingredient that gets you high, normal street weed is between 12-15%'isn on average but Sativex comes in at an incredible 51% yet is said to be absolutely "safe", the other thing that irks me is how Sativex is taken, you eat/swallow and you run the risk of really messing your head up if your not carful as your liver converts delta 9THC to delta 11 which is much more hallucinogenic, you'd be better off using herbal Cannabis in a vaporiser instead of spraying flipping Sativex in your mouth, you run the risk of going on a whitey, trust me it won't kill you but it don't half make thing interesting for an you or two its best avoided.

But that said as for mental health Cannabis does not cause long term psychosis or schizophrenia, the levels have not changed its just another false hood spread by the anti mob that won't lie down and die, Ironically they're using CBD cannabinoid rich strains to treat schizophrenia.

Lastly the biggest cone job is that although Sativex is allowed for MS sufferers you'll find it almost impossible to get as its so b****y expensive at over £500 a bottle, it works out to be about £15 per spray, not bad for something that only contains about £40's worth of weed which would last the average MS sufferer a darn sight longer.

[Golfislikelife]

Hello Vivikin,

Yes I use it regularly, chronic pain and swelling from Milroys disease.

Next week I will be able to use it with a prescription .

It works!

Peace,

Kent

[vivikin in reply to Golfislikelife]

thanks

[Linzimanchester]

Hi there, Sorry for the delayed response but your question on cannabis has just caught my eye, I had a spinal cord stroke three years ago, I spent 6 month's in hospital as a result of my SCI I have been left with chronic back pain which worsens as the day goes on, Since leaving hospital I have smoked one maybe two joints a night I find it of great benefit, it allows me to sit back and relax for the evening, it DOES NOT act as a PAIN KILLER, It certainly takes the edge of, I find it reduces my spasms and RLS and relaxes the tension in my back, I take my prescribed medication for the pain Oxcontin, Pregrabalin and napraxen, What I would suggest to someone that has never tried it and was interested in seeing if it made a difference to there individual pain issue's would be just give it ago, I think most of people these days knows of somebody that smokes and can get hold of it, I would tell them of your interest in trying it, the reasons why, and I'm sure they would be able to assist you, Hope this is of some help to you, and if you wish me to go into further detail just let me know, Linzi X

[vivikin in reply to Linzimanchester]

hi thanks for your comments x

[m1a2c3]

that's a good question , and I would also like to know if this works too , I have been told that its great for pain

[nedd]

Could be a communal experience if we all tune in at 8.oo tomorrow night and had a sing song.

youtube.com/watch?v=HKil3s3...(Not working as expected?)

Tis the reefer song with words.

Not as good as the real thing though. But singing does have a sort of power to zone you out.

[naturagirl]

Marijuana, cannabis was used in the old days effectively for all kind of health problems. You can make brownies from it, you don;t have to smoke it, providing it is not illegal in your country as it is here in Australia. ir is so effective that the big pharmaceuticals 'convinced governments to make it illegal in their country.