Cannabis can work for RLS

[tens-or-bust]

I've suffered with RLS on and off for some 40+ years. I have dealt with it quite successfully using a home made TENS unit, the link to the building of which I has posted on here, before.

Recently, I was able to get into the medical cannabis program in my state for my spine issues. Was never a user and, frankly, frown upon those that were. That feeling has since changed as I have reaped the benefits of using cannabis on my pain. This is truly a miracle plant the surface of which we have only begone to scratch.

Last night was the first night in some time my RLS was acting up and with a vengeance. Both legs were on fire, so I felt this was a good time to try using cannabis for my RLS.

I do not smoke the flower. I have a vaping pen "kit" that I have assembled. There is the power supply part to which I can attached one of two cartridges. One is a 1:5, that is 1 part THC to 5 parts CBD. The other is 1:1 so about equal parts of THC and CBD.

The 1:5 can be used during the day as the "high" affect is minimal. However, with the lower amount of THC the analgesic affect is lower, too. With the 1:1, the pain lowering capability is much greater but it does make you tipsy for about a hour or so. I only use that one when I'm ready for bed or I know I'm done for the day.

First, I tried the 1:5. I take two 2 second puffs on the vape pen with about a minute between. That's it. That's all I do. After about 3-4 minutes the RLS was greatly reduced. My jerking stopped and only some residual tingles were left.

I then switched out the cartridges and took two puffs from the 1:1. The left over RLS tingles stopped completely as did the leg pain. Again, all this happens in mere minutes.

I few more puffs on the 1:5 may have also done the trick but I needed the pain reduction benefit of the 1:1 to go to sleep at that point. I do not get RLS during the day.

People with all kinds of issues are suffering needlessly when help, in the form of a weed, can make them well for next to nothing in $$ and with no side affects of any kind.

[Hidden]

Glad cannabis is working for you. Welcome to the dark side

[tens-or-bust in reply to Hidden]

I don't look at it that way at all. I tell anyone who will listen I use it "legally" for my pain. I have nothing to hide. The ones on the dark side are the zealots in power who do the bidding for big pharma.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

Now you are talking!

I was making a tongue in cheek reference to your past frowning on us poor cannabis users

[tens-or-bust in reply to Hidden]

Are you using it now for your RLS, I wonder? Do they have a medical cannabis program where you are?

This week is the 48th anniversary of Woodstock. Various estimates as to how many were there... 200 to 500 thousand... not to mention all those that were stuck en-route due to traffic and never made it.

There was no violence over the entire 3+ days. Hot as can be and then it poured. Little food to eat. How was that possible?

Estimates are some 90% were, to some degree, stoned.

Perhaps, instead of bombing the middle east into submission, we should be dropping joints.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

lol Maybe drop some joints in Ireland on your way past, (wrap well its a bit wet here).

I tried cannabis in my late teens /early 20's as I was big into 60's US culture and the hippy movement. I didn't like it as I mixed it with alcohol and was sick or took too much and got paranoid. I found LSD a much easier drug to use!

Fast forward a couple of decades and chronic pain as a norm I was lamenting to a colleague at work who then suggested I try cannabis. He grew it so gave me some and boom pain eased but not only that so did my RLS, (which I only thought was bad, how I wish it was at that level again).

I ended up being a daily user for some years and credit it with being able to keep working and functioning a lot longer than I would have without it. I became unable to access it and my health started to suffer and suffer. Long story short I am retired sick from work and lost a beloved career - all for the want of cannabis.

I am able to get addictive drugs and drugs that can cause psychosis and compulsion disorders easily from my GP, you know the drugs with all the terrible side-effects that are only marginally better, (often worse) than the original complaint but cannot access a drug whose only side-effect was to make me relaxed with no chance of overdose or physical addiction since the government label it as a product of no medicinal value.

The last part I find strange considering Big Pharma can grow cannabis and produce Sativex, (charging around £100 for something that can be made at home for £5), and synthetic cannabinoids like Marinol can be dispensed. Its almost like the governments are protecting Big Pharmas profits, but surely they wouldn't!!!!

Cannabis used recreationally would be a HUGE improvement over alcohol but sure alcohol is harmless or the Governments would ban it:

economist.com/blogs/dailych...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh how I wish I could find some. Is impossible for a woman of my age to find someone who could help me

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Most towns have a pub where the smoking fraternity congregate, might be worth checking it out! Also maybe let it slip to some friends that you would consider trying it - you'd be surprised who is using it.

I gave a fella a lift to a family gathering of his and was invited in for a cuppa. So there I was in a house in rural Ireland with a large group smoking cannabis in an area where people have been shot and ordered out of the country for using said drug.

At that time I was a youngster of some 30 odd years and was at least 10 years younger than the youngest one there - one was a Dr, there were business people teachers and a variety of other 'respectable' people. Since I used to roll my own cigs, (no one knew I ever used cannabis as I like my knee caps intact), I was asked to stay to help roll joints

What a mad experience!

[tens-or-bust in reply to Hidden]

I see now this is mostly a UK forum but interesting you are using the same "lingo" we use in the states. Your phrase "since the government labels it as a product of no medicinal value" is exactly the same as how cannabis, here, is classified as a Schedule I drug "with no medicinal value" even though thousands of case studies prove otherwise.

In fact, the US government has one of the first ever patents on part of the cannabis plant for medicinal use. Double standard if ever there was one.

There is a bill in congress now to change cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. That one may fail but there will be others and one will pass. That will open the flood gates for research without fear of prison and from that will come cures beyond our wildest dreams. So many people have suffered and died who did not have to.

There is no question big pharma is preventing cannabis from becoming mainstream. They are running scared and rightly so. Half of what they make can be done away with. Not only for people but for pets. Times they are a changing and the genie is out of the bottle. There is no going back. I'd expect the US to be fully legal in less than two years.

Back to Woodstock: The police did not arrest the kids who were smoking pot because they had no way to transport and house them. If we all lit up perhaps the law would just have to give in and, maybe, join us.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

There have been smoking events throughout the UK & Ireland where people protest the ridiculous and draconian laws around cannabis have all lit up in defiance and people have tried spreading cannabis around in the hope of making it widespread and therefore unstoppable.

Momentum is building and I know of many very anti drugs people who are opening their eyes to the potential of cannabis. It just can't happen quick enough.

Not all law enforcement is against cannabis. In the UK some police chiefs spoke out that they think it is no on their list of priorities, (alcohol would cause them much more problems), and in the US there is LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Just discovered its active in the UK too. The times they are a changin' as Mr Dylan said.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Several months ago I was an inpatient at the Buderim Private Hospital. I believe I've already informed you why. A certain psychiatrist admitted me for 3 weeks to supervise my withdrawal from Siffrol.

Unfortunately what he neglected to inform me on admission was that he had no intention of replacing it. Hence I am still taking it.

But that's not the story. It's about gaining information from unexpected sources.

A fellow inpatient and I decided to go shopping so we ordered a cab.

The cab driver was telling us the story of he and his wife being Grey Nomads and were about to venture on their round the country trip. I asked him where his first port of call was going to be and his reply was Nimbin. (THE 'go to' town in Queensland to purchase weed.

Ah ha I replied, I wonder why you're going there?

His wife suffers from MS and the medicinal marijuana is the only way she has found to be successful in reducing her fits from approx 15-20/day to sometimes zero.

I asked if he had heard of this certain med having any affect on Parkinson's patients. Definitely he said, his sister-in-law has Parkinson's and within 20 minutes of consumption her shaking is gone, her head is still, she can walk unassisted and she is without pain.

Am thinking about taking your advice and maybe I should go to the pub.

Just sayin'.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry I forgot you had told me. I suffer with ME nad that really does a number on my memory and concentration along with the chronic lack of proper sleep, (sometimes I cannot remember where I am or what I am doing and it can be very frustrating).

Cannabis can be very good for RLS and insomnia however I urge caution in those with a mental health problem as sometimes it can make things worse.

If possible stick to higher CBD types and always uses as little as possible giving yourself breaks to make sure things aren't getting away from you.

Take care.

[tens-or-bust in reply to Hidden]

There is a video on Youtube that shows a Parkinson's patient who can barely talk, shaking all over being given cannabis for the first time. Within minutes (there is a timer running on the screen) he stops shaking completely and is talking normally. You'd never know it was the same man.

youtube.com/watch?v=zNT8Zo_...(Not working as expected?)

[Cantstopwontstop in reply to Hidden]

Ask. Tell friends you need help.

[Ikeeptrying in reply to tens-or-bust]

How did you assemble a vape pen kit. I'm very interested and want to try it for my RLS but have no idea how to go about it.

[tens-or-bust in reply to Ikeeptrying]

webtfg.com/penkit.jpg

Well, if you have a medical cannabis program where you live you need to become part of it. In the states, we need to have a "recommendation" from a doctor to sign up. There are certain "ailments" each state will allow. Different from state to state. Mine was a herniated disc in my spine. Parkinson's or epilepsy or cancer... most all states that have a program will cover these.

Then, after you get your certification from the state you can visit a "dispensary" to purchase cannabis. Kind of like a drug store although the one I use looks more like a bank. Teller style windows where you go up and order product. All very strick and secure.

I chose to go with the vape pen. I could have purchased flower for a pipe or bong or cookies or candies laced with cannabis. They have oils and tabs for under the tongue, as well. It is all up to you but there is a registered pharmacist on duty to help you select based on your condition. The vape system seems best in that you are not inhaling all the carcinogens you get from smoking (burning) leaf like with a regular cigarette. It is also very convenient and easy to use. Turn it on, push the button and inhale for instant results. It cannot be any easier. You really do not use that much. My cartridges are lasting me for months and cost around $50 to $60. The pen you recharge every couple of weeks using a USB connection on your computer. It's really very cool.

The kit in the picture shows the pen with the 1:1 cartridge attached. The other cartridge is the 1:5 for use during the day, if I need it, for my back pain. I keep everything stored in one of those hard eyeglasses cases.

[LotteM]

Hi. I am taking pure CBD oil (5%) to help me fall asleep and get at least several hours less disturbed sleep. I also tried cannabis-oil, aka "weed"oil, or Rick Simpson-oil (google him, he used it dor cancer), with more or less equal amounts of CBD and THC. The cannabis-oil gave me strong heart palpations, already when I took one drop. And continued to do so for 3 consecutive nights, and also when I tried again about a week or so later.

In sum, cannabis (oil) may not work for everybody, but one should definitely give it a try.

I do realise that may be easier said than done. Ad I live in NL, cannabis (oil) is not legal, but also not hard to get.

[tens-or-bust]

I'd be very leery of using these so-called CBD oils.

In the US everybody is marketing CBD oil with no testing being done, no results being supplied. CBD oil is made from hemp. That's how they try and skirt the THC issue. Hemp has almost none. The legality of selling it is still in question. The sellers say "yes, it is legal to sell" the DEA here in the states says it is not. Any end product from the cannabis plant is illegal and that includes CBD oil.

Certainly, anything that makes your heart race cannot be good. I tested my blood pressure before and after using my vape pen. It went way down after taking two puffs but came back to (my) normal after a few minutes.

If anything, CBD should have a calming affect.

I'd be careful of what you are ingesting. It is not organically grown, it an be full of chemicals, pesticides, bugs, who knows what.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

You are right to be weary - CBD extracted form industrial hemp is nigh on worthless - it needs to be from the proper cannabis sativa/indica. CBDbrothers appear to be a good make.

[LotteM in reply to tens-or-bust]

Hi, I looked around quite a bit and bought certified, tested and organically grown CBD-oil. It's called Medihemp.

[tens-or-bust in reply to LotteM]

There is a company online called Endoca who appears, from the videos at least, to have their act together. I believe they have their test results posted there for their products or you can email them for the results.

[Joolsg]

I'm jealous. Here in London, England, cannabis laws are still draconian. My son was arrested, aged 17 for possession of a small teaspoon amount. As he was a minor, they didn't send him to Court but he had to attend 2 counselling sessions at the police station and it stays on his record for 2 years.

We know cannabis, if organic and the right strain can help MS and cancer and many other ailments yet drug companies and their behind the scenes lobbying stop access to it.

In the meantime, I'm being pumped full of oxycontin and pregabalin ( Lyrica).

It is mad.

How strange that the USA is more liberal than socialist Europe in this.

[Hidden in reply to Joolsg]

You think London is bad, come to rural Ireland - if the boys with the woolly faces don't shoot you or chase you from the country the cops and courts will lock you up! Hopefully in time the absurdity of the drug laws will be seen and changed.

Mind you as long as we can get addictive poison that ruins lives why would we need the relatively harmless cannabis!!!!

[tens-or-bust in reply to Joolsg]

It's called democracy. Government by the people, for the people.

Some US states have changed their cannabis laws via their own legislature... their elected representatives taking the initiative to bring forth a new law and some states have done it via citizens referendum. Get enough signatures and it goes on the ballet in November for all in that state to vote on it whether the government wants it or not. Michigan is in the process of doing that now.

Just stamping ones feet in protest does not cut it anymore. Find out how the process works where you live and get others motivated to force a change in the laws.

States here in the US are reaping millions of $$ from taxes on cannabis and all the things that go with it. When the state to the left and right of you goes legal all that money goes over the border. That can have a big impact for cash straped towns and cities and there is push-back to "join the club" or get left behind.

BTW: Other nations are not happy with the US going legal. They know it will be a problem for them in their own country. After all, look at all the things that got exported from here. Mini skirts, rock music, long hair (or was that a British invention re: The Beatles), personal computers, iPhone.

Yah, you gotta watch out of us.

[Joolsg in reply to tens-or-bust]

Indeed. Sadly, our central legal system doesn't allow for such ballots. We have one political party that wants to make cannabis legal but not enough people voted for them.

I think, however, Mary Quant ( a British designer) was the first person to design the mini skirt but certainly, you gave us rock & roll, long hair and Apple computers and phones. For that, I thank you!!

I think I will be visiting our neighbours in Amsterdam for their delightful waccy baccy (Cannabis) soon.

[involuntarydancer in reply to Joolsg]

Jools, I have heard that Barcelona is a better place to visit to experience a variety of cannabis strains.

I recently took a trip to Amsterdam and found it all a bit bewildering, not to mention extremely grungy. It wasn't helped by the fact that I have difficulty smoking - it really hurts my lungs - and wanted to use a vaporiser (I stood out like a sore thumb in the 'cafes'). And it really wasn't worth trying the edibles that are available - they did not seem to have any effect whatsoever. The art gallery was amazing though ...

I have finally harvested my first batch of home-grown (illegal) cannabis and am quietly proud of the product. It is called sensi-skunk and is not hugely potent but very effective at inducing sleep which is what I wanted it for. At least now I don't have to rely on my poor daughters scoring for me. I would love to find a strain that actually helped with the RLS but even the benefit of getting me to sleep is huge.

[Joolsg in reply to involuntarydancer]

Well done for growing your own successfully! I'm now inspired to follow suit. I can't smoke either so vaporising oil would be my preference too.

Hopefully UK will see the light soon and legalise the cannabis oil with THC. I have friends undergoing gruelling chemo for cancer and cannabis oil would help them so much.

I'll put Barca on the weekend break wish list and hope hubby surprises me.

Jools x

[involuntarydancer in reply to Joolsg]

Yes; I have a couple of family members undergoing chemo and I believe cannabis would help them. Am between two minds to offer them some of my not insubstantial stock but because it is illegal people often respond askance and I don't want to freak them out.

I usually take my cannabis as an edible. I make it into coco-canabutter and then mix it into a spread that I order online made of hazelnuts, dates and cocoa powder (a healthy version of nutella which has no sugar - other than that provided by the dates). It lasts much longer as an edible. It can take up to three hours to reach full potency but if I time it right it hits just as the insomnia would otherwise kick in.

There are downsides to growing your own. I planted too many seeds and have a shrubbery of foliage in my bedroom now. The plants grow really big. I ended up getting a little grow tent to ripen up the buds (felt like such a druggy amassing all the paraphernalia). They did develop in the window but I got fearful of them being spotted from the outside (we live near Lansdowne Road rugby stadium and there are big crowds and a large police presence on rugby days). Also the smell is very pervasive which makes me paranoid when people call to the house. The children think it is hilarious. I think I have cured them of any tendency to take cannabis recreationally - they associate it too much with RLS.

In spite of all this, I am going to keep at it. I have three other strains waiting for their turn in the tent. I live in hope of finding a strain that helps with RLS symptoms as well as insomnia. We are moving to a house with no garden so it will also provide my gardening fix once there ...

[tens-or-bust in reply to involuntarydancer]

Give Cannatonic created by Resin Seeds of Spain a try. It is sold for medicinal use at many dispensaries in the US. Offers the 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC that is sought after.

BTW: there are systems to vent and scrub the air in your tent or grow room to keep you under the radar. Check out the videos on YouTube, too. Much useful information there.

Good luck with your garden. You are a brave soul.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

The rest of the world wasn't happy with Harry Anslinger and Nixon who demonised cannabis creating the fictitious 'war on drugs.'

Believe me many will be glad the worlds 'policeman' has finally gotten its act together. The route of many problem with drugs lie with successive US administrations bullying the rest of the world, (particularly Latin America) into following their ways. If we all adopted drug laws like Portugal there would be a lot less suffering and drug problems!

Democracy, from what I can see is only available to those who can afford it! I've yet to see a country that truly follows a democratic line. The following is well worth a watch:

imdb.com/title/tt5347158/

[tens-or-bust in reply to Hidden]

You mean Nixon's War on Blacks and Hippies.

The difference between then and now is back then the majority of the US agreed with him. The tide has now turned and the majority of US citizens want cannabis to be legal (again). That is now taking place, albeit state by state, but eventually the feds will have to come on board.

I still feel democracy, with all it's faults, is the best system in the world.

[Hidden in reply to tens-or-bust]

Well Anslinger started the war on the blacks/Hispanics, Nixon got his knickers in a twist over the hippies and their protests over Vietnam.

Good to see the various states taking action, fair play to them. This is one time when the world should follow the US's lead.

I can't say I agree with you on the democracy front - I've yet to see a decent one among all the countries purporting to use that system.

I would say a benign dictatorship would be better and more honest, (especially if I am said dictator ). Personally speaking I'd like to see Communism getting a fair run without all the interference like in Cuba and Venezuela - can't say it failed when the world placed crippling sanctions like in Cuba or the CIA got mixed up with the rich like Venezuela.

[LotteM]

Gosh. I've always known the Netherlands is liberal in their attitude towards cannabis (and that with the Dutch cannabis known for its increasingly higher THC fractions.

But what you describe about CBD-oil, Jools and Raffs,.....

And you're right, Jools, so much stuff is far more potent, dangerous and addicitve too. We only have to name alcohol....

[tens-or-bust in reply to LotteM]

Two things to understand about cannabis that I have come to learn.

First, isolating part of this very complicated and intricate miracle plant just does not work. You need to use the whole plant to produce extracts that can be used for vaping, eating or smoking or the benefit is lost.

Big pharma is trying to find a way to capitalize on cannabis by filing patent after patent... but, they cannot patent the whole plant. So they isolate one molecule and claim that now belongs to them.

It does not work that way and there in lies the amazing beauty of the plant. This is a gift from God that all of us can (should be able to) take advantage of without having to pay someone for it.

Second, people are searching for higher and higher levels of THC as if there is more "potency" to be had. Not true. Higher levels of THC just make you "higher". THC levels back in the '70s were around 1-2% and people got high with no problem. A good mix of THC to CBD for medicinal purposes today is around 6-7%. It produces a mild high for sure but the pharmacological benefits are substantial. Again, the correct combination of the whole plant.

The day will come when we will all have cannabis growing in our gardens right next to the tomatoes and zucchini. We will grow our own medicine! The talk around the water cooler will be about the latest strain someone is trying for their particular ailment.

How soon we get there depends on us. Do we sit back and let our glorious "leaders" tell us what to do or do we go out and take back what is rightly ours and has been for thousands of years.

Up to you.