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Other => Off Topic => Topic started by: Anonynony on August 10, 2017, 11:22:33 AM

Title: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Anonynony on August 10, 2017, 11:22:33 AM
Going anonymous for this question, as it has some potential legal impacts, plausible deniability, blah, blah.

So my spouse experiences significant pain as a result of years of unusual wear and tear; spouse has structural damage to spine, neck, knees, and feet.  Spouse hurts all the damn time.  When not controlled, the pain makes spouse depressed and suicidal.

Spouse currently takes 600mg Gabapentin as a prescribed nerve blocker, which takes the edge off and makes it so they can work (mostly desk-work at this point).  However, after 2 years on the drug, the cognitive function changes are severe and its working less and less.  Spouse is having to increase frequency of dosage to get results. 

It has been proposed to me that a canaboid oil might be positive for spouse's pain management strategy, but we don't live in a state that agrees that this should be legal.  Spouse's work does not require drug testing, but I am very hesitant to try something that could get either one of us arrested.  On the other hand, I am loathe to see spouse continue to suffer under current conditions.  So we are willing to give it a try.

I'm hoping there is someone out there in the community that could give us some hope, advice, positivity, or perspective on this line of self-medication.  Your thoughts are most welcome!
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: RyanAtTanagra on August 10, 2017, 01:17:16 PM
There has been a lot of progress on CBD oil recently, which may not be restricted in your state.  CBD is the secondary active ingredient in cannabis, behind THC.  THC is often what's specifically illegal rather than cannabis itself (otherwise THC extracts would be legal).  Check around on medical cannabis website information for your state.  Even if you don't have medical marijuana, CBD may very likely be legal (or rather a grey area still).

CBD is the component that seems to most help with pain and other ailments, and it doesn't get you high (THC does that).  So CBD oil and high-CBD strains of cannabis are getting very popular among patients that have been using cannabis for legit medical purposes, as they can get the medical benefits without the mental drawbacks.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Bracken_Joy on August 10, 2017, 01:22:39 PM
I'm for Oregon, so my experience is quite skewed. But I am a pediatric nurse, and I actually have had a patient who takes CBD oil. It really, truly seems to help. And this patient was a poor responder to gabapentin and pregabalin, FWIW. (I would say, if your spouse hasn't tried pregabalin (brand name Lyrica is most common) and the gabapentin is causing issues now, ask to their doctor about that- patients seem to respond much better to one or the other, IME. Could be there are still options to try with conventional pharmaceuticals).

Anyway, wishing you the best. I have no idea what I would do in your situation, tied to a state where it isn't permitted.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Anonynony on August 10, 2017, 01:38:52 PM
There has been a lot of progress on CBD oil recently, which may not be restricted in your state.  CBD is the secondary active ingredient in cannabis, behind THC.  THC is often what's specifically illegal rather than cannabis itself (otherwise THC extracts would be legal).  Check around on medical cannabis website information for your state.  Even if you don't have medical marijuana, CBD may very likely be legal (or rather a grey area still).

CBD is the component that seems to most help with pain and other ailments, and it doesn't get you high (THC does that).  So CBD oil and high-CBD strains of cannabis are getting very popular among patients that have been using cannabis for legit medical purposes, as they can get the medical benefits without the mental drawbacks.
Thank you for this thoughtful response.  We are in Texas, which is still pretty draconian about this stuff.  My understanding is that in 2015, Gov. Abbot signed a bill that would allow epileptic patients use CBD oils...but only with a prescription, and only for epileptics.  Folks like my spouse are still not considered lawful users.  Maybe I have this wrong so I'm open for being pointed in an alternate direction.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Anonynony on August 10, 2017, 01:39:43 PM
I'm for Oregon, so my experience is quite skewed. But I am a pediatric nurse, and I actually have had a patient who takes CBD oil. It really, truly seems to help. And this patient was a poor responder to gabapentin and pregabalin, FWIW. (I would say, if your spouse hasn't tried pregabalin (brand name Lyrica is most common) and the gabapentin is causing issues now, ask to their doctor about that- patients seem to respond much better to one or the other, IME. Could be there are still options to try with conventional pharmaceuticals).

Anyway, wishing you the best. I have no idea what I would do in your situation, tied to a state where it isn't permitted.
Thank you, I will tell my spouse about your suggestion regarding the pregabalin/Lyrica
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: ooeei on August 10, 2017, 01:46:07 PM
I'm not sure how kosher this is, but would it be possible to take a week long "vacation" to a place where what you want to try is legal, and give it a trial run? That will at least tell you whether it's something you want to pursue, whether that involves moving, breaking the law, or requesting special help from your doctor.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Anonynony on August 11, 2017, 08:27:09 AM
I'm not sure how kosher this is, but would it be possible to take a week long "vacation" to a place where what you want to try is legal, and give it a trial run? That will at least tell you whether it's something you want to pursue, whether that involves moving, breaking the law, or requesting special help from your doctor.
We're headed to Colorado in January, and look forward to some experimentation at that time.  In the mean time, I have been able to determine that CBD oils are readily available here in TX (without THC)...so we are headed to a reputable shop this weekend to do some shopping. 

Thank you all for the input!  Now back to your regularly scheduled programming!
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: RyanAtTanagra on August 11, 2017, 08:33:18 AM
In the mean time, I have been able to determine that CBD oils are readily available here in TX (without THC)...so we are headed to a reputable shop this weekend to do some shopping. 

Great!  Let us know if it works, hope it does.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: wenchsenior on August 11, 2017, 09:45:40 AM
I'm very hip to this problem, because I'm also in Texas and suffer from chronic pain (mine seems to be fibro or myofascial syndrome, nothing as bad as your husband's situation).  One of our friends also deals with something similar to your husband's, though.  I was talking to my ob/gyn, and she said so many women struggle with chronic pain that is worsened by hormone shifts, that she would prescribe it in a hot second if Texas weren't so backward.

In your husband's case, I think it is worth experimenting.  I have smoked up a few times when the opportunity arose and I was having a pain episode, to see if it would help.  My own impression was that it made me care about the pain less, but I'm not sure it actually reduced the pain itself.  If it HAD helped, I would definitely be considering my non legal options. 

ETA: I didn't know that about CBD oils...definitely let us know how this goes.
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Hotstreak on August 11, 2017, 10:07:53 AM
Going anonymous for this question, as it has some potential legal impacts, plausible deniability, blah, blah.

So my spouse experiences significant pain as a result of years of unusual wear and tear; spouse has structural damage to spine, neck, knees, and feet.  Spouse hurts all the damn time.  When not controlled, the pain makes spouse depressed and suicidal.

Spouse currently takes 600mg Gabapentin as a prescribed nerve blocker, which takes the edge off and makes it so they can work (mostly desk-work at this point).  However, after 2 years on the drug, the cognitive function changes are severe and its working less and less.  Spouse is having to increase frequency of dosage to get results. 

It has been proposed to me that a canaboid oil might be positive for spouse's pain management strategy, but we don't live in a state that agrees that this should be legal.  Spouse's work does not require drug testing, but I am very hesitant to try something that could get either one of us arrested.  On the other hand, I am loathe to see spouse continue to suffer under current conditions.  So we are willing to give it a try.

I'm hoping there is someone out there in the community that could give us some hope, advice, positivity, or perspective on this line of self-medication.  Your thoughts are most welcome!

I have it about the same as your spouse and found CBD's to be helpful.  I found it MORE helpful to mix in a little THC, which unfortunately is not an option for you in Texas.  At least, it's not a legal option.  Do people go to jail for small quantities of marijuana in your state?  Where I live, before we legalized, you would get the equivalent of a traffic ticket for anything under 1oz (which is a LOT for most people).  You had to be pretty stupid to get caught, like smoking in public, or having a party so loud the cops showed up, or having your house searched for an unrelated reason.  There's almost certainly someone in a local pain management group or therapy group who can connect you to the right people, if you want to try that route.

As far as pain management I second the suggestion to take a look at Lyrica.  For me, the side effects were easier and the relief was better - the downside was that it cost $340/month before deductible and discounts ($75/mo discount for the first 12 months, through the manufacturer).  Good luck!
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: BrandNewPapa on August 11, 2017, 10:28:57 AM
CBD Oil is legal in Texas and can be easily purchased online (Amazon even sells it!)
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Mac_MacGyver on August 25, 2017, 06:58:01 PM
Probably better to try than the opioids people are hooked on
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: aperture on August 25, 2017, 08:34:00 PM
I don't have an opinion on CBD oil - anecdotal evidence supports it working for some and we are unlikely to get RCTs anytime soon.
 Potential problem may be in acquiring a uniform and reliable product.  I think in Colorado it would not be a problem, but going through the internet - who knows. 

You may want to consider other non-narcotic options that may be of benefit: low dose nortriptyline, duloxetine, venlafaxine, prescription or OTC NSAIDs.  Spouse may also consider trial of tramadol - effects different people differently and may work well for them w/o significant down side.  Best wishes, ap. 
Title: Re: Canaboids for pain management
Post by: Dicey on August 26, 2017, 07:43:06 AM
Couple of random thoughts, in order of randomness (random anonymony?):

Colorado in January may not be the best place to carry out a trial. It's cold and there may be altitude issues, both of which frequently make someone like your DH feel worse.

Most of my pre-FIRE career was as a manufacturer's rep. CBD is a term applied to anyone who is required to pay Cash Before Delivery. In this case, let's hope your Cash Bestows Delivery of pain relief.

I've always wondered if this is the fate of athletes who use their bodies in extreme ways, especially when they're young. Maybe there's more info available in the field of Sports Medicine?