MMJ and Nerve Pain

ataxian said:

I have ATAXIA (Late on set).
Medical Cannabis is the most effective for me.
Ambein C was making me sleep walk.

Vicodone was making me mean.

Prozac made me feel like killing myself?

UCLA PHD's?

No Meds!

Just Cannabis in my case works best and no side effects!

ATAXIA that I have effects my GAIT and SPEECH.
I use a cane just so people know I'm not drunk!

My mind is clear just my motor skills are a bit messed up!

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I had the most fantastic and vivid daydream the second time I took Ambien. It was in a hospital post-op for a big surgery so I had it on order if I needed it, but it's one of those drugs on the list they don't tell you that you actually have access to unless you ask for it (because of high abuse potential...)

Anyways, so I might have let it dissolve under my tongue instead of swallowing it... and I might have just had my Dilaudid shot a few minutes into feeling "something"... but I ended up seeing myself in third person, from a sidewalk, rolling down the street. I was in this 10-12 foot wire frame model of a Trojan horse that I had built out of pipes... but here's the thing, it actually doubled as a fuckin' moonshine distillery. Oh, and did I mention it was on wheels and I was driving it down the road? Yeah, cruisin' down the block in my pony, on the way to my best friend's place to show him what I made.

Fade to black, open eyes, 7am. Still in the hospital.

I was on Roxicets (oxycodone + low-dose acetaminophen) for one of the seven surgeries after I was released and it kept me up all night, made me irritable, and the constipation was the worst I've ever felt. That was, I believe, the second surgery... The third one was the same deal, up until 6 or 7 in the morning, sleep some, wake up miserable in pain, take pills, get bitchy and easily frustrated, shut myself in because I'm frustrated, sleep, act like nothing happened, repeat. Finally got taken off of that and onto Norcos which are working much better, although they're a bit weaker. With medical cannabis I've been able to stay at a relatively low dose of up to 2 5mg pills per day, as well as Cymbalta and a few other non-narcotics. So far so good on the antidep, I had a bit of nausea at the beginning but it was easily taken care of and my doctors are happy that I'm able to keep it at low doses for so long. I will occasionally get flareups that can only be managed with pills but it feels like they are starting to become fewer and farther in between. The Cymbalta was for general pain, not for depression, by the way. It's just about finding the right combo for you.

Glad to hear you're off, ataxian, sounds like they weren't doing you any good

Quetzalcoatl said:

only be managed with pills but it feels like they are starting to become fewer and farther in between. The Cymbalta was for general pain, not for depression, by the way. It's just about finding the right combo for you.

Glad to hear you're off, ataxian, sounds like they weren't doing you any good

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I think too I changed my diet completely and detoxified so the medication had weird effects.

Once my new way of eating became a way of life Cannabis was the only thing that did not give me side effects.

For others the MEDS were ok it's just me being over sensitive!

I just want to say that even getting totally ripped on wax/oil is not touching much of the pain... moving, physical exhaustion, and overwork will negate MMJ.

On the bright side, I mind less when I'm stoned.

Enchantre said:

I just want to say that even getting totally ripped on wax/oil is not touching much of the pain... moving, physical exhaustion, and overwork will negate MMJ.

On the bright side, I mind less when I'm stoned.

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You know, I always felt that the narcotic "painkillers", when they worked at all for me, didn't really kill the pain. As you described with mj, they just make you care a little less that you are in pain. Of course, after 18 years on a variety of the damn things, narcotics don't even do that for me anymore.

I'm in the middle of the culmination of a 2 year taper off all of the prescription painkillers I have been on, which now just make me sick. But the doctors had me on them so long, I couldn't just stop anymore than a heroin addict could - they said i could die (isn't that fun?)

If it weren't for the MJ, I couldn't be finishing this as fast as I am. I'm now dropping 5mg/day of methadone every 5 days. 2 years ago, I was at 80mg a day. 2 weeks ago, I was at 25mg. Now I'm at 10mg and will be at zero in less than 2 weeks.

Anyone else reach a point where narcotics weren't just useless, but just made you actively sick? And if so, did you ever find any other prescription (non-narcotic) med for the pain? I already tried gabapentin - and it almost killed me - tried a dozen other anti-epilieptics and anti-depressants, all no help and HIDEOUS side effects.

There is a new class of nerve and cancer pain drugs, in which I know of only one medication actually available, though more are coming. It's been around in the U.S. since 2004. The brand name is Prialt, drug name ziconotide. It's made from cone sea snail venom, and is supposedly 1000 times stronger than morphine by volume. It has MAJOR drawbacks - has to be administered in hospital by IV once or twice a month, and a surprising percentage of people have died from it.

But my doctor is recommending I seriously consider it once I recover from getting off all the narcotics.

Anybody used Prialt, met anyone who has, or spoken to a doctor about it? I'm really wary of any treatment that I can't find a single prior user of. I went ahead with a Medtronic e-stim implant in '04 without meeting anyone else who had tried it, and after 6 months it stopped helping the pain, and now the implant itself is a major pain site. Don't want something similar with Prialt. Or worse, drop dead from it.

so i herniated a disk in my neck, compressed some nerves, and had surgery last monday. I only used pain killers in the hospital, and took one muscle relaxer the day i got home.
Been using the solo alot but i can keep a clear head and actually live in reality, instead of the cosmos like the narcotics made me.

This injury is what actually led to me start using mmj, and just keeps impressing me with all that it helps

Been using so much mj since stopping all narcotics that i can barely vape anymore. Even thru water & ice, percs & small pulls , hacking after every pull. Any advice?

arf777 said:

Been using so much mj since stopping all narcotics that i can barely vape anymore. Even thru water & ice, percs & small pulls , hacking after every pull. Any advice?

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Are you staying hydrated throughout the day? Drinking lots of pure water helps alot. I find I go through these periods when it is hot out, and I am not drinking enough.

In the meantime, perhaps try low temp through water until you start feeling better and always have a glass of water nearby.

Taking a break for a few days is a good idea if you can as well, but I imagine that would be hard?

Tweek said:

Are you staying hydrated throughout the day? Drinking lots of pure water helps alot. I find I go through these periods when it is hot out, and I am not drinking enough.

In the meantime, perhaps try low temp through water until you start feeling better and always have a glass of water nearby.

Taking a break for a few days is a good idea if you can as well, but I imagine that would be hard?

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Unfortunately, the meds have so damaged my stomach I haven't been able to drink water in years- it makes me vomit. These days I can only drink carbonated items with real vanilla (a natural anti-emetic) in them, but no sugar. Either make it with seltzer myself, or drink diet A&W or Doctor Brown's Cream, both made with real vanilla.

I only use through water - I have a crazy glass collection - but even my most perced pieces aren't helping. When I turn any of my vapes down low enough not to cough, I get almost no vapor. Like, 9 o'clock on the Cloud. The herbals here have been very moist lately for some reason and resistant to low temp vaping, tried four separate strains and four vaporizers, with the same results (blue dream, OG kush, sour diesel, and something just labelled 'Coolio', very fruity; vapes tried, Cloud, variable voltage HI, Pinnacle, variable voltage PD).

And no, I can't take a break. I've only been at zero on methadone for 13 days, with two days back on during that due to emergencies. Still violently ill all the time - feels like i live on the toilet ., not to mention the pain. Trying some edibles, but they have never really worked for me. I'm a bit rotund, maybe that's why? Or maybe just my metabolism.

arf777 said:

Unfortunately, the meds have so damaged my stomach I haven't been able to drink water in years- it makes me vomit. These days I can only drink carbonated items with real vanilla (a natural anti-emetic) in them, but no sugar. Either make it with seltzer myself, or drink diet A&W or Doctor Brown's Cream, both made with real vanilla.

I only use through water - I have a crazy glass collection - but even my most perced pieces aren't helping. When I turn any of my vapes down low enough not to cough, I get almost no vapor. Like, 9 o'clock on the Cloud. The herbals here have been very moist lately for some reason and resistant to low temp vaping, tried four separate strains and four vaporizers, with the same results (blue dream, OG kush, sour diesel, and something just labelled 'Coolio', very fruity; vapes tried, Cloud, variable voltage HI, Pinnacle, variable voltage PD).

And no, I can't take a break. I've only been at zero on methadone for 13 days, with two days back on during that due to emergencies. Still violently ill all the time - feels like i live on the toilet ., not to mention the pain. Trying some edibles, but they have never really worked for me. I'm a bit rotund, maybe that's why? Or maybe just my metabolism.

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All those carbonated drinks do a great job of leeching minerals out of your system...I would bet you are dehydrated among other things. Have you spoken to a Dr. about this lately? Might be time to get this under control if you haven't tried already.

Yeah. My doctor is doing research on it. The carbonation is part of what prevents the vomiting. I want to avoid prescription anti-emetics, since I'm trying to get of all pharmaceuticals. This isn't an uncommon symptom to coming off over a decade of pain meds. Supposedly the stomach will eventually fix itself, allowing me to drink water and eat normal food again.

arf777 said:

Been using so much mj since stopping all narcotics that i can barely vape anymore. Even thru water & ice, percs & small pulls , hacking after every pull. Any advice?

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I find that smaller water paths are making it easier to vape.

Like a simple ash catcher and a Sherlock.

The bong style water pipes are too hard to rip from.

Smaller takes less effort.

I make like a carburetor with this set up.

ataxian said:

I find that smaller water paths are making it easier to vape.

Like a simple ash catcher and a Sherlock.

The bong style water pipes are too hard to rip from.

Smaller takes less effort.

I make like a carburetor with this set up.

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Great idea. I have a tiny alex k showerhead bub i'll try.

EDIT: Didn't help. It's better is a bigger piece i can fit a lot of ice in. Seems there's nothing to do but use cough drops.

Nerve pain sucks . Unfortunately, you may never get rid of it completely and have to learn to live with a certain level of pain depending on your condition. I began taking Neurontin (gabapentin) in 1996 until I reach the maximum effective dosage of 3600mg a day. My doctor switched me over to Neurontin's stronger cousin, Lyrica (pregabalin) which has helped. That was probably eight or more years ago. I take 100mg three times a day. It's not perfect, but it does take the edge off.

Over the years I've also been prescribed opioids which do help, but they have side effects and unfortunately a negative stigma associated with them. I am prescribed oxycodone which I take sparingly as needed. Another bad thing about opioids is a lot of states drug test patients and a failed test can result in your doctor no longer prescribing them. I roll the dice on that one.

Marijuana helps with muscle spasms, insomnia and pain, but it too isn't perfect. The good thing about marijuana though is even if you still have pain at least it helps get your mind focused on something else which in itself is a relief.

The funny thing about nerve pain though is what works for one person may not work for someone else. I've encountered people whose nerve pain actually gets worse with marijuana. Strange, huh?

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you.