I asked my doctor about medical marijuana

[reece]

Because I've had chronic back pain since 1994 when I was rear ended by another driver.

After prescribing muscle relaxers and physical therapy (optional, I have done it and it helps but sometimes...) he said he was concerned because he felt that by asking the question, I wasn't interested in fixing the problem. HUh?

I've been seeing this doctor since I moved to Oregon almost 9 years ago. A few years ago some other guy rear ended me in my kid's school parking lot. This aggravated my back pain. I've seen him numerous times about my back and other ailments and I have never asked about mmj until this recent visit.

8 years of seeing him and this one time I ask about a our state's mmj program and I'm just fishing for a weed license?

He said "sure you would qualify and there are marijuana doctors that will help you but no one here (Providence Medical Group) will sign off on it."

He said mmj doesn't work, there are much more effective drugs available. He would prescribe morphine to a cancer patient, not mj.

I never filled the muscle relaxer prescription, which btw is a pill I used to take recreationally back in the day.
He gave me 3 refills. Does 4 bottles with 40 Flexeril each help fix the problem?

Sure, I can take that and it will work. However, will I work? Can I keep up with my 3 year old while on muscle relaxers?

The thing is, I never considered mmj for my back pain even though I knew I qualified because I when my back is hurting, I never noticed much of an effect on the pain. Yet, I am not interested in fixing the problem?

After being a part of this community I now understand certain strains are better for pain and (correct me if I'm wrong) too large a dose may be counter productive (I think I read that here).

I realized that without an mmj card I didn't have access to experienced knowledgeable people (including doctors) who could help me with the meds specific for pain.

So I asked. I got my answer and on the way out I put in a request for all of my medical records concerning my back pain. I only wish I had my records from hospital visits in New Orleans but after Katrina those hospitals no longer exist. Maybe I can still track them down but hopefully it isn't necessary.

I'm not changing doctors. I like him. But I think his mind is made up about marijuana no matter what other evidence there is to the contrary. So, I'll just find a mj specific doctor to help me in that regard. If we have a good rapport maybe I'll switch toatally but I don't want a doctor that says mj is the answer to all ills either.

What do you think, and what are your experiences?

Oh, Happy Mardi Gras!

 

[reece]

Sorry, I hit quote instead of edit.

 

[lwien]

After being a part of this community I now understand certain strains are better for pain and (correct me if I'm wrong) too large a dose may be counter productive (I think I read that here).

Yeah, that was from me and was the advice given to me by the owner of the dispensary I go to who is VERY well informed regarding the medical use of MJ.

Not really surprised, reece, regarding your doctors view on the benefits of cannabis. Doctors not only get frequent visits from sales representatives of various drug companies, they are also bombarded with information from these companies studies in various scientific/medical journals. They get none of this from the cannabis industry, so their exposure to the possible benefits of cannibis is minuscule in comparison.

 

[Hippie Dickie]

I wasn't interested in fixing the problem.

How is your doctor offering to fix your problem, rather than just treat the symptom (pain) with pills? That would be so cool -- a doctor who actually tries to solve a medical problem.

 

[Gunky]

Most of the medical establishment doesn't want to know about or get involved with mmj. In CA there are a lot of doctors involved in 'letter mills' which crank out recommendations for a fee. They discovered cannabis is amazingly benign and low in toxicity and the recommendations don't redound to their discredit. Unfortunately, with the exception of a very few doctors, you are basically on your own in your journey once you get the letter. This half-way house situation is far from satisfactory but at least they are not busting our ass for trying to solve chronic pain issues or enjoying recreational experiences that don't hurt anyone.

 

[JDSupreme]

He said mmj doesn't work, there are much more effective drugs available. He would prescribe morphine to a cancer patient, not mj.

I'm not sure I'd trust a doctor who would say something like that.

 

[Nycdeisel]

He said mmj doesn't work, there are much more effective drugs available. He would prescribe morphine to a cancer patient, not mj.

My thoughts exactly.

I'm not sure I'd trust a doctor who would say something like that.

 

[reece]

I wasn't interested in fixing the problem.

How is your doctor offering to fix your problem, rather than just treat the symptom (pain) with pills? That would be so cool -- a doctor who actually tries to solve a medical problem.

I suppose the physical therapy. A few years ago he prescribed physical therapy, which I did (btw, I pay out of pocket, no insurance whatsoever). It did help and I still practice some of it now, but it didn't fix anything. I still get pain.

It isn't constant. I'll go a while without any issues but if I pick up my kid the wrong way (or she jumps on me the wrong way hahahaha) or moving furniture to a new residence or, like this last instance, I changed a flat tire, it can flare up.

He prescribed physical therapy this time but said it was optional. I told him I probably wouldn't do it nor would I fill the muscle relaxer prescription (which I'm looking at right now). My reasoning? I do practice what I learned in physical therapy and I can't afford to try to make it through the day on muscle relaxers. Unless I'm extremely blazed (which I rarely do now), I am functional on the pot.


FUCK, I just stepped away from the computer to answer the phone and I must have turned the wrong way and got this pain in the upper middle of my back. ARGH! The pills would help but I have a three year old to watch (mom and older sister out of town), so if I had them I couldn't take 'em anyway.

He said mmj doesn't work, there are much more effective drugs available. He would prescribe morphine to a cancer patient, not mj.

I'm not sure I'd trust a doctor who would say something like that.

I hear ya but, morphine is more effective isn't it? But my thing is, why not try to mj first and if it does help why take something stronger?

Hmm, are edibles more helpful for pain than inhalation? Of course, with edibles I think I would be in the same boat as the pills as far as functioning while feeling the effects.

I don't know. That's why I'm going to get my mmj card and get to talking to those who have experience with this.

After being a part of this community I now understand certain strains are better for pain and (correct me if I'm wrong) too large a dose may be counter productive (I think I read that here).

Yeah, that was from me and was the advice given to me by the owner of the dispensary I go to who is VERY well informed regarding the medical use of MJ.

Not really surprised, reece, regarding your doctors view on the benefits of cannabis. Doctors not only get frequent visits from sales representatives of various drug companies, they are also bombarded with information from these companies studies in various scientific/medical journals. They get none of this from the cannabis industry, so their exposure to the possible benefits of cannibis is minuscule in comparison.

Thanks, it was your post that made me realize I could benefit from mmj.

 

[Gunky]

Exactly. Under those circs a hit or two off a log vape once in a while on a regular basis leaves you functional, and the side effects are nothing like all that synthetic crap they try to sell you.

 

[momofthegoons]

Oh reece, I'm so sorry to hear you have back problems. That absolutely sucks. I find myself in a very similar situation with my doctor, who coincidently is an acute pain management and sports rehab doc. Why on earth they think that narcotics and other drugs like muscle relaxers are a better alternative to mj for treating pain is beyond me. Not only are most of them extremely addictive, they leave you totally fucked up. I'll never forget the summer my sciatica flared up. They had me on Soma and Vicodin. Soma Coma! I was so messed up; it was awful. :/ And it didn't help the sciatica in the least. Physical therapy helps most back pain, but if you have to pay out of pocket, it's prohibitive and it sounds as if you are able to do some at home. While mj might not alleviate all the pain, it helps not think about it and leaves you much more functional. But I don't want to alienate my doctor, who I really like. And, there are times that I still need the narcotics for pain and I'm dead sure he wont prescribe if he knows I'm using mj. Sucks. That, combined with the costly fees to reinstate every year are some of what have been holding me back. I feel for you.

 

[DeepFried]

After being a part of this community I now understand certain strains are better for pain and (correct me if I'm wrong) too large a dose may be counter productive (I think I read that here).

Yeah, that was from me and was the advice given to me by the owner of the dispensary I go to who is VERY well informed regarding the medical use of MJ.

Not really surprised, reece, regarding your doctors view on the benefits of cannabis. Doctors not only get frequent visits from sales representatives of various drug companies, they are also bombarded with information from these companies studies in various scientific/medical journals. They get none of this from the cannabis industry, so their exposure to the possible benefits of cannibis is minuscule in comparison.

I agree with lwien, most doctors just don't know much if anything about mmj. You need to get into a good dispensary and find some herb high in CBD's. I am not sure about your state laws, but sometimes all you need is proof of a qualifying medical condition to be able to buy from a dispensary and not necessarily a state issued mmj card.

 

[lwien]

I agree with lwien, most doctors just don't know much if anything about mmj. You need to get into a good dispensary and find some herb high in CBD's. I am not sure about your state laws, but sometimes all you need is proof of a qualifying medical condition to be able to buy from a dispensary and not necessarily a state issued mmj card.

True. In Cali, all you really need is a prescription bottle of the drug that you wish to replace with cannabis and they will issue you a physician's statement that you can present in any dispensary. Regarding the state card, if in Cali, I would suggest against it being that you are then put into the states data base, which is something that I don't wish to be in.

 

[VWFringe]

I have to go to Kaiser (wife's ins), and my doctor told me to stop drinking so much...when I suggested that even if I went back to pot it would probably be bad for me...he said, "actually...no, studies show blah blah"

Kaiser doctor's won't sign off on it either, but just goes to show it comes down to the individual to whom you are talking, and the messages they themselves have gotten through-out their lives (funny it's like sex).

Hint: look for a younger doctor, and ask what they think about alternative treatments. Your doctor is definitely indoctinated, along with a huge percentage of our population, into buying the crap they sell in the popular media.

 

[momofthegoons]

They've made it a little more difficult (and expensive) in Michigan. You need documentation of treatment for one of the qualifying conditions from your doctor. Then it costs $200 for the mj physician, $100 application fee, and $100 yearly to renew. You are on the state's data base, and in some cities, need to register with the city "so they don't arrest you." There is no place (dispensary) in Michigan to legally purchase. You can grow for yourself or have a caregiver. Any attempts at dispensary type locations have been closed down. IMO, they are making it as expensive and difficult as possible. And I'm a little "old school" in that I don't want my name on any lists since the Feds still aren't on board with this and caregivers and patients have been busted with no apparent reason. When the vote came up, we were so anxious to get it passed that the subtle nuances of the law weren't scrutinized enough.

 

[steiner666]

It's amazing that people who have a six-figure, almost decade-long education can still be so ignorant. He's probably some stiff ass prick who's never even tried it once in his life.

Fucking doctors will write you scripts for man-made chemicals with a laundry list of potentially life-threatening side-effects and interactions with other drugs all day long, but a naturally-occurring, non-lethal plant? No way, its not harmful enough!

 

[Carbon]

I feel like I'm in the minority as far as back pain and cannabis is concerned. I have minor spine and chest issues, but cannabis usage only seems to make it temporarily worse rather than better. Perhaps it is the strains I have used, but I do not know. When I vape though often times my back will hurt a bit more and I'll be much more selective about where to sit or what to lie down on. I'm investing in comfortable furniture, so it won't be a big deal, but I just wanted to share that I have often experienced the opposite of relief in this area.

 

[lwien]

^^ You may be overmedicating. Try just taking a few hits and wait 10 to 15 minutes to see if it addresses your pain before taking in anymore. When addressing pain with MJ, there is a window in which it works. Too much or too little can get you out of that sweet spot.

 

[Nosferatu]

Carbon I feel the same way but I also think its from over medicating. I have only minor back pain and would take vapor bong load after bong load and in the end the pain is even more noticeable. I tried just a hit at a time, holding in long, and then not taking anymore. And it got rid of the pain and I was in a mellow state not too high. Ive tested, an extra hit or two and I passed the point of too much and now all my emotions and physical feeling is extremely exaggerated.

 

[Blackthoven]

It's amazing that people who have a six-figure, almost decade-long education can still be so ignorant. He's probably some stiff ass prick who's never even tried it once in his life.
Fucking doctors will write you scripts for man-made chemicals with a laundry list of potentially life-threatening side-effects and interactions with other drugs all day long, but a naturally-occurring, non-lethal plant? No way, its not harmful enough!

I feel the same way! It bothers me how ignorant people are sometimes, and you'd think someone who supposedly tries to help others maintain their health would be open-minded to all solutions; furthermore, that they would possess the ability to know and choose the most efficient and harmless route.

Suggesting that pharmaceutical drugs are more efficient... that's almost a little scary. Perhaps it's just me, but I certainly don't trust a lot of over the counter drugs.

 

[reece]

Oh reece, I'm so sorry to hear you have back problems. That absolutely sucks. I find myself in a very similar situation with my doctor, who coincidently is an acute pain management and sports rehab doc. Why on earth they think that narcotics and other drugs like muscle relaxers are a better alternative to mj for treating pain is beyond me. Not only are most of them extremely addictive, they leave you totally fucked up. I'll never forget the summer my sciatica flared up. They had me on Soma and Vicodin. Soma Coma! I was so messed up; it was awful. :/ And it didn't help the sciatica in the least. Physical therapy helps most back pain, but if you have to pay out of pocket, it's prohibitive and it sounds as if you are able to do some at home. While mj might not alleviate all the pain, it helps not think about it and leaves you much more functional. But I don't want to alienate my doctor, who I really like. And, there are times that I still need the narcotics for pain and I'm dead sure he wont prescribe if he knows I'm using mj. Sucks. That, combined with the costly fees to reinstate every year are some of what have been holding me back. I feel for you.

Thanks mom. I used to love me some Soma back in the day. I really liked muscle relaxers as well as valium and xanax, recreationally. But now I can't do that shit. I have kids and I don't have the time to recuperate. One thing I loved about pills was, the day after I would take a hit off a joint/bowl and I could feel the pill again. It was like a twofer. But I was like a squirrel saving nuts for the winter. I would hold onto them forever and take one every now and then. Some of my friends were taking multiples at a time. It got to the point where they had to to feel anything. That was never for me.

And you're right, sometimes the narcotics are necessary but when they aren't it is overkill. People have to work, drive, and take care of all kinds of responsibilities. Most cannot afford to be all loopy on pills or mj but like you said, a little bit can, at the least, make the pain bearable while leaving one a functioning member of society.

But some doctors (and people in general) have the idea that we just want to get high and are looking for an excuse.


Thanks everyone for your input. BTW, since starting this thread and spazzing out (read op) I took a little puff and waited and what do you know, I felt better. Could be the placebo syndrome. If so that's cool too.

 

[OO]

Oh reece, I'm so sorry to hear you have back problems. That absolutely sucks. I find myself in a very similar situation with my doctor, who coincidently is an acute pain management and sports rehab doc. Why on earth they think that narcotics and other drugs like muscle relaxers are a better alternative to mj for treating pain is beyond me. Not only are most of them extremely addictive, they leave you totally fucked up. I'll never forget the summer my sciatica flared up. They had me on Soma and Vicodin. Soma Coma! I was so messed up; it was awful. :/ And it didn't help the sciatica in the least. Physical therapy helps most back pain, but if you have to pay out of pocket, it's prohibitive and it sounds as if you are able to do some at home. While mj might not alleviate all the pain, it helps not think about it and leaves you much more functional. But I don't want to alienate my doctor, who I really like. And, there are times that I still need the narcotics for pain and I'm dead sure he wont prescribe if he knows I'm using mj. Sucks. That, combined with the costly fees to reinstate every year are some of what have been holding me back. I feel for you.

you should explain your findings to your doctor, and ask why he hasn't explored this line of treatment.

 

[Carbon]

You guys are probably right about the overmedicating. I know it's not from the vaping process itself as even doing edibles I still had the issue. It's more the indicas, so I think it just relaxes my muscles so much that I can't rely on them as much to keep my spine in a good position, so if it's not positioned comfortably and ergonomically, then I'll notice the pressure and have more pain.

 

[lwien]

You guys are probably right about the overmedicating.

Yup. Vaping to relieve pain and vaping to get high are two totally different things because the fact is that you may be able to vape to relieve the pain without hardly getting high at all and that getting high can sometimes make the pain worse rather than better.

 

[Carbon]

You guys are probably right about the overmedicating.

Yup. Vaping to relieve pain and vaping to get high are two totally different things because the fact is that you may be able to vape to relieve the pain without hardly getting high at all and that getting high can sometimes make the pain worse rather than better.

Yeah it's easy to overmedicate being that I'm only an occasional user rather than a daily one. If I vape socially, I'm usually vaping with at least one person that does it daily, so it's even easier to overdo it a bit.

 

[iamhemper]

When the pharmaceuticals have the lock on marijuana like meds is when your doctor will have a epiphany and say MJ will help alleviate some of your ills.