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Considering switching to medical marijuana for chronic pain

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Posted 12/14/2020 8:02 AM (GMT -8)
Hello

I’ve been on oxycodone for several years because of back or nerve damage from a auto accident. I have limited mobility and only get out for a short period once or twice a week. The oxycodone prescribed is very limited and not enough to handle the pain levels. With the very limited pain meds I get zero rest/sleep at night. One to three hours of sleep on a good night. Many nights with zero sleep. Not healthy.
I do notice when I get a good amount of sleep which rarely happens my pain levels are lower the next day.

I am considering switching over to medical marijuana for the pain and the ability to sleep.
You can’t have both.
Medical marijuana is legal in Connecticut but not allowed when your on a pain relief program.

Big decision because once I’m off the oxycodone if the medical marijuana didn’t work I would have to start from the beginning with my pain doctors which isn’t a option.

Has anyone who lives with high pain levels had success getting off oxycodone and using medical marijuana for pain relief.

With medical marijuana no more monthly doctor appointments, urine test and hopefully sleep.
I have no issue with urine tests and or the doctor appointment but at 57 yrs old it would be nice to make my own decisions on my pain levels.
Also Maybe with a proper night of sleep my pain levels will keep getting lower and I can work on getting some of my life back.

Thank you
Jim
Posted 12/14/2020 9:09 AM (GMT -8)
Jim, we've had members over the years try it, some said it helped with their pain & others said it didn't. It's a real toss up. Since it is legal in your state why not visit a dispensary & ask questions. Some people can't handle much thc because they don't want to be loopy. Others have said they couldn't afford it.

I am guessing you don't have to go through the process of obtaining a card? I've no idea of the laws in your state. What have you tried OTC to help you sleep? I went through many years of not being about to sleep more than 3-4 hours a night. I had a good friend suggest Tylenol Sleep Time, without the Tylenol in it & it worked well for me. She had been on Ambien for 13 years & was cut off cold turkey. This was the only thing that helped her.

Good luck with your decision. Sorry I can't be of any help.
Posted 12/14/2020 9:27 AM (GMT -8)
Thank you Susie

Getting the medical card shouldn’t be a issue.
Yes I’ve tried OTC products, they work but I find they can only be used occasionally. With me maybe once a month. If I use Tylenol PM more then that I have some issues in the a.m.

With my pain levels I’m alway tight and tense with the fear of the debilitating pain.
I am looking for someway to get at least some of my former life back.
Unfortunately the medical field isn’t doing it.

I don’t want to stop trying to find a way.
I know right now I’m just treading water and will eventually sink.

Thank you again for your post

JM
Posted 12/15/2020 1:07 PM (GMT -8)
I haven't tried it yet. I've had one discussion so far with my pain management doc about it. Failing discs and narrowing of the nerve openings is my issue. I've been using tramadol but it gives me insomnia! A t.e.n.s. unit has been a game changer for me and I wonder if you've tried it? Will they perhaps give you a trial period to try switching before they cut you off?
Posted 12/15/2020 1:16 PM (GMT -8)
My pain doc makes his pain patients stop opioids before giving them a medical mj card. I stopped, and found my hydrocodone hadn't been doing anything anyway.
I tried 2 kinds of mj but they didn't do anything for pain, only made me sleepy.
Now I have only tramadol, which doesn't do a lot for pain, but it at least raises my serotonin level which makes me happier.
Posted 12/15/2020 1:36 PM (GMT -8)
Afternoon Pitmom
Thank you for your post. Yes I’ve used the t.e.n.s. Unit before. It seemed to make things worst when used on my lower back. Truly everything seems to make my lower back worst. The only relief is ice. It’s short term but it gives me some relief. Even a heating pad seems to inflame the back.
Just thinking maybe if I did get some true sleep my damage may heal better?
Thank you again.
Jim
Posted 12/15/2020 1:42 PM (GMT -8)
Hello Alcie

Thank you for your post. Getting no sleep has been very difficult and I’m sure it adds to my pain levels. Right now without my pain medication I would be stuck in bed. I tried this year to live without them. Instopped taking them for several days but was unable to do everydays things. Cook,shower etc. I tried but ended up on the floor unable to get up. With the meds I’m very very far away from comfortable but planning my day ahead I get my Nora; things done. Thank you again jim
Posted 12/16/2020 7:41 PM (GMT -8)
Hi James

I was on tylenol 4 for break through pain.

I was lucky. Found a place where a good Neuro works with a good pain doc and there is an MMP doc also

My daily level pain is average 7. Use to be 4

Now I smoke, I get night hybrids. So I sleep most nights and my.muscles relax
We are always tense because of the pain

On bad days I stay on a gentle buzz
Takes the edge off
Helps the depression to

Hope this helps
Peace
Posted 12/17/2020 7:11 AM (GMT -8)
Thank you BNot Afraid

I’m getting strong pain meds but such low doses it’s very little relief. Pain levels get very high. A 10 if very common several times a week. When pain levels get that high like you said we tense up and make it worst. Right now I’m going nowhere , I use the term treading water and have had zero progress. Truly I’m going backwards. If I go with medical marijuana I can no longer get pain meds.
I need to make a choice. Right now I am lucky to get 1-2 hours of sleep every night so I think if I can get good sleep I will have a better chance to heal. I know it will never be 100% but I need to get more active and right now it’s impossible. Thank you very much

Post Edited (james860) : 12/17/2020 8:14:05 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/17/2020 8:29 AM (GMT -8)
Jim are you on an extended release medication & using the oxycodone for break through pain, I can't tell by your post? Have you ever been on muscle relaxers? If not, I would ask to try one. No doubt constant pain causes a person to tense up.
Posted 12/17/2020 9:04 AM (GMT -8)
Afternoon Susie

I use low dosage of oxycodone immediate release.
Very little relief but at least some relief even if it’s a very short time
I’ve had no luck with any muscle relaxers.
Zero relief

This has been a very long journey and truly little to no relief at all.

At this point I need to try something different.

Thank you
Jim
Posted 12/24/2020 5:00 AM (GMT -8)
Have you considered or tried Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)?
Posted 12/24/2020 6:36 AM (GMT -8)
Good morning

I will look into that thank you
Posted 12/24/2020 7:05 AM (GMT -8)
Hello Jim,
I am in the same boat as you and many others. I have degenerative disc disease and have already had fusion surgery which I would not recommend. I take opiates also which help me quite a bit. Without them I would not sleep either. No chance of MM for me as its not legal in my state.

Short rant here. The people who decide how much pain meds we can receive cause me much anguish. These so called experts do not live in pain. To say every person needs no more than 90 MME is just crazy. Some people are in more pain than others. I have always said that people who are in pain management should be exempt from all the hoops we must all jump through. If we have radiography proof of issues then please leave us alone. Who wants to live in pain everyday all day???

Best of luck to you Jim. My prayers are with you..

Post Edited (oceanfisher58) : 12/25/2020 5:27:02 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/24/2020 7:42 AM (GMT -8)
Thank you very much

I’m going to try MM
I’m going backwards now so maybe with real sleep my body can start to heal
Not sure but need to do something

Unfortunately we are just pawns.
The states are getting big money suing the big pharma and doctors get paid either way

Have a nice holiday and new year

Jim
Posted 12/24/2020 9:17 AM (GMT -8)
I always thought our country was about looking out for those less fortunate. We should take care of the elderly who live in pain. It is the right thing to do. I never would have imagined so many people are left to suffer in pain when we have meds which are engineered to stop pain. Having to resort to MM when we have been told for YEARS that taking recreational drugs is wrong makes me so angry.

I worked outside in the weather for forty years. I thought when the time came I would be taken care of by our medical community. I suffer from DDD so I knew before hand I would be in pain. I retired but instead of enjoying my life I live on the heating pad. I am fortunate enough to have access to opiates but as Jim stated they give you barely enough to get by.

I am so sorry for all of us who suffer NEEDLESSLY when help is available..

Post Edited (oceanfisher58) : 12/25/2020 5:27:21 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/24/2020 9:33 AM (GMT -8)
Very well said Oceanfisher58

The money comes first these days
They do put a lot of pressure on the doctors but they should stand up for their patients but they don’t
From what I’ve recently read illegal drug sales are up as is suicide
Again the money from the law suits come first

Be well

Thank you
Jim
Posted 1/26/2021 3:37 PM (GMT -8)
I tried Mj while on my pain medication which is buprenorphine. BTW buprenorphine work's well for me. It's not as good as say Percocet but close plus many doctors are prescribing it now
The Mj was street stuff and only made me hungry and drowsy
The beauty of buprenorphine is that it does not slow breathing and has much less tolerance issues
Mj may work but not for me

Glen
Posted 3/24/2021 3:45 PM (GMT -8)
I am just starting to use MM and also trying Robaxin. I had a spinal fusion / laminectomy (C2-T3) five years ago and the pain just keeps getting worse. It has severely affected both shoulder joints but I’m 75 and don’t want 2 shoulder replacements.

Have tried everything else I can think of til now. (Physical therapy, dry needling, stem cells, etc) I was so excited to try these. I was given CBD and THC oils. Using together or each alone gives me diarrhea. Anybody else having this? What did you do? I am desperate and figure there’s nothing else if these don’t work!
Posted 3/26/2021 6:49 AM (GMT -8)
Sorry to read you are having difficulties with the two. Unfortunately, when we try different things to knock back our pain it can be a hit or miss. Is it possible to try a different brand? I have no experience with either, but trying a different brand may be something to consider.

Good luck.
Posted 9/17/2021 1:23 PM (GMT -8)
I use buprenorphine for pain and it worked well for me. I am on a very large dose of 32mg a day. Addicts usually use 16 to 24mg with some doing 32mg
I've been on it for 13 year's so I slowly made it to 32mg
I had tried marijuana just to see if it offered help but all it did was make me feel clouded and hungry. I'm happy I did not have to stop my buprenorphine only to find out Mj did not work

Glen
Posted 9/17/2021 1:26 PM (GMT -8)
I use buprenorphine for pain and it worked well for me. I am on a very large dose of 32mg a day. Addicts usually use 16 to 24mg with some doing 32mg
I've been on it for 13 year's so I slowly made it to 32mg
I had tried marijuana just to see if it offered help but all it did was make me feel clouded and hungry. I'm happy I did not have to stop my buprenorphine only to find out Mj did not work

Glen
Posted 3/6/2022 6:29 PM (GMT -8)
I used it instead of painkillers for horrible back pain, arthritis, etc. NSAIDS didn’t touch the problem and I’m allergic to most opioids. Plus, the stomach and other side effects pain killers have affected me quiet badly.

If you microdose (small amounts every few hours), it greatly limits the brain fogginess and brings you up to a functional level. Some strains are less “heady” which decreases the spacey sensation even more. I’m not sure how much I can share about the types but there’s a lot of strains that can be more helpful than others.
Posted 3/8/2022 4:56 AM (GMT -8)
Hi sogood.
Unfortunately, if opioids don't work for you MM probably won't either. They're metabolized by the same system. I found that out when I tried MM. I get very little, maybe nothing from opioids. My doc had me try MM, in several different forms, and got nothing but a little tiredness at the highest dose. When I asked the MM pharmacist he said he expected that would be the case for me.
The transdermal route, cremes, is no better. Read the ingredients. The only thing that did anything was a pepper-like ingredient that causes heat - same as the OTC junk. It's a distractant. Might as well listen to music or go for a run.
So I take nice cheap tramadol. It does nothing for pain but raises serotonin, which makes me happier. I'm scheduled for another nerve ablation, which doesn't do much either. Maybe not hitting the right nerves, and it's not much fun.
Posted 8/6/2022 2:44 PM (GMT -8)
There are so many types of marijuana that maybe you might hit on one that works.
I'm thinking about edibles and may try them out.
My buprenorphine is working but only so much.
I'm also afraid of taking them during the day because I drive and don't want to get into a accident or DWI
May also help with sleep
Like I've said I have tried before but maybe it was not the right kind or I didn't try long enough.
So maybe or maybe not. Just pondering.

Glen
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