My apologies for not replying to this thread earlier! I'm glad there is interest in this topic here (though sorry to hear about your pain--puts mine into perspective!)
I've never been a big fan of edibles (dosing is so difficult, and the only bad experiences I've ever had with cannabis has been consuming it), but I have found that Cheeba Chews (CBD and/or indica) are fairly effective for me. I'm lucky to live in a medical state where I have easy access to them.
Terrible cramps this morning, which I attacked with multiple dabs: Sour Tsunami, Pineapple Thai, Girl Scout Cookies. I'm really impressed by high CBD meds for cramping and abdominal pain specifically. There will be times when I'm in so much pain that it takes everything I have to physically uncurl myself and take a hit. But I know that if I can manage to do so, I'll find fast relief. It sure beats popping a pill that can take 45 minutes to kick in.
I am the same. My only bad experience was with edibles. I couldn't even move to get out of the bed to get to the bathroom. I remember trying to call out to my OH (Other Half) but couldn't even figure out how to make my voice work. But after years more experience I think I could regulate a bit better now.
We tried making capsules, got this kit from somewhere and that seemed to work really well for pain when I was at my worst but I was having to take way more than we could keep up with making so gave it up... Cannabis isn't so easy to come by here...Well it is but not really good or what I would call 'medical' grade.
That's why I really like the Dixie Dew Drops (CBD drops) but alas also not easy to come by here. There is always the possibility it will be seized by customs. Customs dogs cant tell the diff between THC and Hemp.... such crap... We grow hemp in Australia but it isn't classified for human consumption!
Dabbing has been my saviour, so has the cloud. I was desperate to quite combustion after my surgery but the Da Buddah just couldnt' cut through the pain. We haven't smoked since getting the cloud and that is saying a lot for me. I find adding vaporising to dabing errls gives me the best all round pain management over the course of the day.
I always reach for the torch before I reach for the pills. If we could get enough Dixie Drops to medicate properly I would be off all these drugs completely. Right now though, I just dont think I can completely manage without taking horrible Tramadol (SR and Instant). I have done well though to kick endone and Oxy in the amounts I was taking. I thank Cannabis for the withdrawals being easier.
That's mostly what I expected to hear. She doesn't do well with edibles, bad past experiences. Maybe I'll get her to try some decarbed bud or oil - maybe reclaim.
How often must you dose for pain?
Whats your normal pain level? What does mmj bring it down to? Pain levels both before and after your surgery would be appreciated.
She is about to go through her second surgery to remove the lesions which have spread to all her nearby organs - she is in immense amounts of pain around the clock. I need to prove to her that mmj will help her manage the pain without any impact to her health unlike prescription pain killers. It would be a win if I got her to lower her dosage of painkillers in exchange for something natural. Sorry for all the questions, I'm just curious how you effectively use mmj to manage pain that occurs around the clock. I can PM you if you'd rather talk there.
I'm thinking an ABV tincture might give her the most relief - luckly I have well over an ounce of vaped bud saved up to try with.
This is probably going to get icky cause I am not holding back
just a warning lol
Personally for maximum pain relief I would go reclaim first or if you can get your hands on it a high CBD strain.
I dose regularly throughout the day for pain. First thing in the morning it will take three or four dabs before I can break through pain properly. Of course that depends on the time of the month and how bad a night it was and lets just call it "bathroom" activity lol
I usually begin the day with pain at least a 4 sometimes it can be as high as 8 and I am sobbing. My usual routine is to take two or three dabs in quick succession and then some Dixie Drops. Once thats all taking effect and I can feel the calm starting I will then take the pills...
Dab some more then vaporise. I have pretty much been using Cannabis from morning till I pass out because I cant stay awake. I dont like to go to sleep as the pain is worse when I wake up. I know I'm not doing myself any favours and I am trying not to do this....
MMJ brings the pain down to a manageable level where I could maybe go to the store (if I have too) and go swimming. Which my Dr insists I do, and so do I but its a struggle... I cant really give you a number as it depends on where I have started from but I would estimate that I get 2/3's of my relief from MMJ and regularly tell my Dr to stick her drugs I will just keep mine!
Before the surgery, my abdomen was completely full of infection. I had at least three abcesses and my insides had fused together from the infections. Prior to surgery my pain scale started at 10. I cant even put it into words... I would have been happy not to wake up seriously... a good day the pain would start at 10 bad day it might be 15. I was stuck waiting for surgery and nothing I could do. I hadnt even discovered dabbing etc then.... we only discovered all this after I got out of hospital!
Now, after surgery my pain scale starts at 1 but I am still in chronic pain. Also there is now added scar tissue from the surgery which could be causing more pain... It's likely I will need a full hysterectomy or at the very least a laporoscopy to clear scar tissue. I dont think I am ever going to be out of pain now.
Given you have it on hand, an ABV tincture could be ideal. I treat our ABV like gold. We did QWISO with ABV (three washes of 2 minutes I think). That is my ideal pain killer and we are working on ways to get ABV faster so I can have more.
I am happy to answer anything you want to know, right here. We keep this hidden and nobody benefits. We talk about it and maybe we all learn something. Maybe there is a partner here that sees something that will help his love... or someone else. After all the time in hospital and surgery and being told you are strange, you learn to let go of alot of the crap in your head. This is me and I am sick and I am struggling but I am fighting and trying to find a way to manage this the best I can.
I'll also mention that I have taken a truck load of opiates. They have messed with my brain so I am sorry if something doesn't make sense or goes off in a different direction.