{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-question-tags-template-js","path":"/question-tag/chronic-pain/6","result":{"data":{"allQuestion":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Question_10837-markdown","title":"I need pain relief for nerve damage but do not want to get stoned. Is Canna-Tsu a good strain for me?","slug":"i-need-pain-relief-for-nerve-damage-but-do-not-want-to-get-stoned-is-canna-tsu-a-good-strain-for-me","content":"\"I am curious why someone chooses Canna-Tsu over another strain and if will help with chronic pain. I am trying to get off pain meds and would like to find something where I can function but also find relief.\"\n_____________________\nCanna-Tsu is a hybrid that is considered \"CBD-rich\". Recent lab profiles show about a 5:4 ratio of CBD to THC in this strain. With this ratio you would expect to receive the anti-inflammatory, pain relief and anti-spasmodic benefits of both the THC and CBD without much cognitive disturbance. \nHowever, if you are new to cannabis you may still \"feel\" a mental sensation as the medication takes effect. It is doubtful you would experience any \"psycho-stimulatory\" effects at this ratio.\n\ndrgerhart\n_____________________\nCanna-Tsu has a high-CBD, low-THC cannabinoid profile which gives it a relaxing, mellow body effect while maintaining mental clarity. A high-CBD strain will have a lot of the medicinal benefits you are looking for - anti-inflammatory, pain relief - while being very mildly psychoactive. Someone would choose this if they want the medicinal benefits, but don't want to feel high. You may also find relief by looking into high-CBD tinctures and edibles.\n\nandrea13","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10826-markdown","title":"I have a lot of chronic pain and have had multiple back surgeries. Is OG Kush a good strain for me? ","slug":"i-have-a-lot-of-chronic-pain-and-have-had-multiple-back-surgeries-is-og-kush-a-good-strain-for-me","content":"\"I am not new to smoking but used to grow my own. I’m trying to find the right bud for my pain now and would like some input on this strain. \"\n_____________________\nIt is difficult to recommend specific strains as each person has a very individual reaction to each strain. Additionally, if you used concentrates or edibles of a specific strain the reaction may be different as well. \n\nOG Kush is a very popular strain that grows well in Southern California. It is considered a Hybrid, but its exact genetics are poorly described. Current lab profiles show a high THC content between 20-25% and a very low CBD content (less than 1%). It has several terpenes that exceed the CBD content and are pain relieving  (Linalool and Myrcene). Myrcene also sedates and reliefs muscle spasms.\n\nIt would be a reasonable choice for back pain relief. Note the concentration of THC and start with lower doses if you are new to cannabis.\n\ndrgerhart\n_____________________\nOG Kush is a high THC strain known to produce strong euphoric feelings. People report that the high comes on quickly and in a strong way. Some say it's like a burst of energy, other say it's like a wave calm. It's a predominantly indica strain, which should give you more of a body high and therefore should ease physical pain. However, it's likely best for night time or any time that you don't have much to do as many report it being a strong strain that makes them want to relax after smoking. It may also alleviate physical pain while you're falling asleep and help produce a restful slumber.\n\nandrea13\n_____________________\nMy approach to treating a condition such as yours is to separate out the acute pain your feel vs. the chronic condition (inflammation, chronic pain, and whatever direct issues triggered the surgeries). \n\nSmoking or vaping is good for immediate (acute) pain relief. The bio-availability is approx. 4-6 hours and you will hopefully feel some relief. You are getting about 3-5 mg. of THC via the mode of administration.  In my experience, you also should be on a tincture ( If you are smoking a lot then make it a high CBD) or edible product as well. The bio availability is longer and can work overtime and you are also consuming other cannabinoids (Delta 11 THC and, as mentioned, CBD). The edible, because it lasts longer, will also help you sleep better, allowing you to heal (I'm assuming your sleep is also disrupted because of the pain. \n\nTopicals can also work when applied directly to the injured area and don't have a psycho active effect. \n\nAlso, remember that a number of the effects of, say, OG Kush, come from the terpenes that are present (OG Kush has a high myrcene level, for example) in the bud. Best of luck and let us know if this information helps.\n\ndneice\n_____________________\nOG Kush is a great strain and there are some great answers here. I do not have much to add, but your back pain could also be helped by introducing a CBD strain, like ACDC, into the mix. A lot of back pain can be caused by inflammation, which will be helped by the CBD in the ACDC. I know a lot of users feel they need to inhale/ingest their cannabis, but do not discount topicals for your back!\n\nryan","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10798-markdown","title":"My mom wants to get of of the opioid meds, but she doesn't wan't to replace it with THC","slug":"my-mom-wants-to-get-of-of-the-opioid-meds-but-she-doesnt-want-to-replace-it-with-thc","content":"\"My mom had chronic pain due to nerve damage. She currently uses CBD and is working to stop using opioids. It's not going as well as we hoped it would, but is there something she can use to get off the opioids and not replace it with THC?\"\n_____________________\nActually, in one study, patients were tested and they voted the most effective pain reliever was a \n4:1, CBD : THC oral spray. If a nerve is in the process of dying or if it's being restored, it screams because your body can't call you on the telephone, it has to communicate internally. \nWhat happened to the nerve?\nWhen I started taking super high CBD, low THC tincture regularly, twice daily, I had a nerve reawakening after 30 years of hypersensitivity on the skin and numbness all around from a nerve being severed, but nothing brought it back until I use CBD. The 28 : 1, CBD to THC is not psychoactive but the THC does augment the function of the CBD cannabis.\nIn order to effectively control pain, the pain cycle must be broken with regular medication use otherwise we actually imprint the nerves to keep firing the pain signal and the pain will not stop even though the body may not be experiencing pain. \nCBD cannabis with low THC appears to be safer then all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.\nMaybe showing your mother the information on our website will be helpful to get her away from opioids and I honor your willingness to help her, be proud of yourself.\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nI highly recommend your mom go to a medical detox. Getting off of pain killers is not easy on your own. I was on pain killers, of 1 kind or another for 16 years. I tried to stop taking them on my own Many times. I'd always end up in the ER because of it. The only way, @ least for me, was a Medical Detox facility. It was the best thing I'd done for myself (& my family!) in 16 years!\n\njanetp\n_____________________\nHello there, \n\nI hope this finds you well! \n\nI'd like to state i'm not a doctor; I own a delivery service in Marin County, California and I'm proud to say I have helped dozen's of people off opiates and onto cannabis - I think that everyone's body is different and it will take some experimenting on how much / which strains / methods you use of cannabis but yes you will most likely be very successful switching / detoxing from opiates and onto cannabis. \n\nI hope this was helpful! \n- Nurit w/ ONA\n\nnurit\n_____________________\nYes, in my experience. Orally and topically CBD has been helpful for all patients. If it does not remove all of the pain it will make the opioids more effective at lower doses.\n\ndrblair\n_____________________\nHello! We believe that one of the greatest potentials for treatment with cannabis is to help patients who are suffering from opiate addiction. Cannabis can help treat chronic pain as well as helping to alleviate opiate withdrawal symptoms. Even those individuals who are not addicted but who seek to avoid the use of unnecessary opiates can find treatment alternatives with cannabis. For more information and a video on this subject, \nBest of luck!\n\ndrjacquelynlew","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10760-markdown","title":"Can CBD drops help my migraines and chronic pain?","slug":"can-cbd-drops-help-my-migraines-and-chronic-pain","content":"\n_____________________\nThe short answer is yes, and this is one of the most commonly recommended purposes for CBD tinctures! CBD acts on the same endocannabinoid receptors, found throughout the body, as THC; but it seems particularly effective in treating pain and does not have the psychoactive effects of THC. It does have sedative properties but typically patients find that they are highly functional with high CBD / low THC formulations. \n\nMany patients carry an oral tincture and apply the drops or spray under their tongue for approximately ten seconds when symptoms indicating onset of migraine occur; this may blunt the severity of migraine and in the best cases reverse them. The tincture may also be added to food or beverages and ingested for longer acting treatment of pain.\n\ndredmunds\n_____________________\nYes, CBD drops can help you with migraine problem and you can also get relief from chronic pain. CBD is the major non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa which has antipsychotic effects and also reduces anxiety. \n\nadmin4356","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10738-markdown","title":"Is marijuana safe for A-Fib?","slug":"is-marijuana-safe-for-a-fib","content":"\"I am 68 years old and have a pace maker. I suffer with infrequent bouts of Atrial Fibrillation. It's managed with medications. I want to try cannabis for chronic pain. Should I be worried about my heart?\"\n_____________________\nShort Answer:\n\nCannabis consumption in a systemic form such as smoking has been associated with heart palpitations and fast heart rhythms. Smoked cannabis should likely be avoided in your case for this reason. Some studies suggest the negative cardiovascular effects of smoked cannabis are related to THC. There has not been enough research on CBD extract products to determine if they are safe for those with atrial fibrillation. There have not been any studies associating localized forms of cannabis with harmful heart rhythms. It is likely safe, from a cardiovascular standpoint, to use topical cannabis infused patches, balms, salves, massage oils, etc. in limited quantities for localized pain control.\n\nYou should discuss your particular case closely with your cardiologist and cannabis-recommending physician before use.\n\nLong Answer:\n\nA growing number of case reports have demonstrated an association between smoked cannabis consumption and adverse cardiacvascular effects. This includes cardiac dysrythmia including atrial fibrillation and increased cardiac work, which can precipitate cardiac chest pain and even heart attacks. Smoked cannabis has also been associated with low blood pressure upon standing which can increase the risk of fainting. These effects are likely mediated by an effect in which THC triggers the sympathetic nervous system in intermittent users. Chronic users appear to develop tolerance to triggering of the sympathetic nervous system; however, they may suffer from microscopic damage to the arteries that supply the heart.\n\nInterestingly, a recent large case-control study from Denmark demonstrated that NSAID type medications (Ibuprofen/Advil and Naproxen/Aleve etc) are also associated with increased incidence of atrial fibrillation. This is in addition to prior literature that shows NSAIDs can aggravate hypertension. A series of two studies published in 2015 additionally show that opiates are likely associated with a higher risk of heart attack and atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately, there is no ideal option for chronic pain control in the setting of atrial fibrillation. \n\nReferences:\nKorantzopoulos P. Atrial fibrillation and Marijuana Smoking. Int J Clin Pract. 2008;62(2):308-313\nJones RT. Cardiovascular system effects of marijuana. J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 42 (11 Suppl.): 58S-63.\nSidney S. Cardiovascular consequences of marijuana use. J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 42 (11 Suppl.): 64S-70.\nRezkalla SH, Sharma P, Kloner RA. Coronary no-flow and ventricular tachycardia associated with habitual marijuana use. Ann Emerg Med 2003; 42: 365-9\n\n\nsankmd\n_____________________\nI like Dr. Sank's response and agree but I wanted to add some information that may be of benefit to you.\nDo you know your blood level of vitamin D? Optimizing your vitamin D level reduces the risk of heart disease as well as many other devastating diseases in the body. You must maintain your 25-OH D, blood level above 50 ng/ML for optimum health benefits including reducing your risk of heart disease, hypertension, auto immune disease, infections, mental health conditions and even cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant in our culture because everyone is working inside, we wear clothes, sunscreen and we shower frequently washing the vitamin D off our skin before we have a chance to absorb it. \nI tested my patients in Hawaii for 10 years and found one patient with a normal vitamin D3 level! \nWhy would Hawaii be so low in vitamin D? Because everyone showers before they leave the beach and most are very brown skin so they block the production of vitamin D.\nAnother substance that has a lot to do with your heart function is your own human growth hormone. I'm not advocating you inject yourself with human growth hormone since it costs about $1000 a month and it takes over control of your ability to make your own human growth hormone but when your level is too low you will experience all the diseases of an aged person including heart disease which you already have.\nNow add to the vitamin D and human growth hormone problems the fact that you are probably hormone deficient at 68 years old. My hormones took a precipitous decline after the age of 60 and I felt like I was dying by the time I was 63 years old but I have fully restored my health by addressing all these issues. I don't know if you are male or female so I can't go into detail about what hormones you should take but when we lose our sex hormones the universe is ready to recycle us. If you're not ready for the recycle bin you may want help with natural hormones and I might be the person to see.\nI came back from the brink of death because I wasn't ready to be recycled and I want you to know that if you are alive, you can likely improve your health tremendously.\nDo not accept the negativity of most Western physicians. Good luck in your journey.\n\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nYes that is my user name.\n\njamesady","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10728-markdown","title":"I'm a medical patient that dabs with wax. It controls my chronic pain, is it bad for me?","slug":"im-a-medical-patient-that-dabs-with-wax-it-controls-my-chronic-pain-is-it-bad-for-me","content":"\"I read a recent article in the NYT that claimed dabbing is horrible for people. I have used marijuana for years to control my pain and dabbing is by far the most effective. Is there a reason I should be concerned about my health? I do not hallucinate or have psychosis but find it takes away pain immediately.\"\n_____________________\nIt should not be bad for you. It is the extract of the plant, you are basically only consuming thc with no other chemicals. It also depends on the source of the extract. Most of the extracts go through extensive testing to provide patients with the most healthy and effective medicines \n\n506thc\n_____________________\nThe article you read, did it mention that 'smoking' dabs using a combustion method were more harmful than 'smoking' flower/dry herbs using a combustion method. This has some studies that back it up, but it also depends on how much you are consuming. Dabs are much higher in THC levels so you do not need to have as many hits. If you are not already you should be using a vaporizer for dabs instead of a lighter/flame. Here is a portable dabbing vaporizer that many people enjoy using that can be used as an oven packing vaporizer and as a tip heating dab pen - http://vaporsmooth.com/dipper-vape-pen-dip-stick-best-dab-pen/\n\ncanada","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10667-markdown","title":"I have Severe Rheumatoid arthritis and Fibromyalgia. What solution is best to relive my chronic pain?  ","slug":"i-have-severe-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-fibromyalgia-what-solution-is-best-to-relive-my-chronic-pain","content":"\n_____________________\nCannabis may be useful in the treatment of both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia.  Cannabis has both immune modulating properties and anti-inflammatory properties in addition to analgesic effects. Because both RA and fibromyalgia are systemic illnesses, most patients administer either vaporized or ingested cannabis. Strains or products with a higher CBD/THC ratio have been effective in alleviating chronic pain while lessening psychoactive effects of the medicine. \n\nAlso, for musculoskeletal discomfort in general, many patients have found topical salves to be beneficial in treating localized joint or muscle pain. One benefit of this approach is that most, if not all, of the cannabis does not enter the blood stream, so their are no systemic effects; therefore, topical can be used comfortably during the day as well as the night. \n\ndredmunds","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10583-markdown","title":"Friends have told me that marijuana can help me with chronic pain. Isn't it a 'gateway drug' though? ","slug":"friends-have-told-me-that-marijuana-can-help-me-with-chronic-pain-isnt-it-a-gateway-drug-though","content":"\"I've been taking pharmaceuticals for pain for years but want to stop as the negative side effect are too much for me now. I'd like to try pot but I'm concerned that it may lead to other things. Even though it is legal in my state, I am a little concerned about how it may effect me or what may happen.\"\n_____________________\nIn a recent blog post on our Health & Wellness blog, Pamela Hadfield discussed whether marijuana is a gateway drug.\n\n\"A recent article in Newsweek elaborates on findings that conclude that marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. However, new evidence supports that alcohol IS a gateway drug. “The common government stance within the US is that alcohol is a gateway drug. This means that a user first starts drinking and then moves on to harder substances, such as cannabis and heroin, later on in life.” We grew up being told a very different story than this, so mentally it is hard for many people to absorb this new finding.”\n\nhttps://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5716bfd5e1d0c0000c000013/why-moms-should-support-marijuana-legalization\n\nAnd yes, marijuana can help you with chronic pain. Everyone is different.\n\nmark","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10562-markdown","title":"I seem to be very sensitive to the effects of THC and I never feel euphoric. How can I get pain relief without smoking?","slug":"i-seem-to-be-very-sensitive-to-the-effects-of-thc-and-i-never-feel-euphoric-how-can-i-get-pain-relief-without-smoking","content":"\"I know marijuana can help with my pain, but whenever I have smoked it, I don't feel good. What other ways can I help manage my chronic pain?\"\n_____________________\nIt has been shown that cannabis can help relieve pain. Since most strains of cannabis can contain various concentrations of THC and CBD, people can react differently to each of the various strains. Everyone has a different level of tolerance to each of components of cannabis and smoking is only one way to help treat your pain.\n\nUsing tinctures and capsules are another way to find the right combination to help alleviate painful symptoms. Each of them can be found with varying levels of THC and CBD. While CBD has the anti-inflammatory component, some products add a small amount of THC for the best relief of symptoms. You can use edibles as well that, while taking 1-2 hours to take effect, can last longer then other methods. While you can feel the effects of smoking or vaping within minutes, these other methods may be better since they will have a more gradual onset and can be more pleasant to help with your pain relief.\n\nPerry Solomon, MD\n_____________________\nI never really recommend smoking if you are looking to control pain. Inhalation is a fine method for pain relief as the analgesic effects are very quick to take effect, but I always recommend vaporizing if you plan to inhale cannabis. \n\nVery generally, cannabis is made up of CBD and THC. THC is the part of the plant that is psychoactive and can result in the ‘high’, the euphoria or even paranoia depending on how you, personally react to it. CBD is the part of the plant that has been identified as being useful in the treatment of pain and inflammation. \n\nIf you smoke bud or flower, you have no way to separate out the THC from the CBD and will be subjected to the psychoactive effects of the THC contained in the strain you use. If you don’t like these psychoactive effects, you could use a product that has been manipulated to contain larger quantities of CBD than THC. These ‘CBD heavy’ products often still include a small quantity of THC. In studies, it has been shown that CBD products with a small amount of THC are more effective at reducing pain that products that contain CBD alone.\n\nHere are some examples of CBD heavy products:\nTopical applications such as creams, salves, balms and lotions, which I find particularly helpful for pain control during the day when you need to be functional and not high. When applied to the skin there is not enough absorption of THC into the blood stream to result in any psychoactive effects. \n\nTinctures can also supply larger amounts of CBD in relation to THC. Some examples are 20:1 or 30:1, CBD:THC.  These are placed on or under the tongue usually and are absorbed through the oral mucosa. They useful for medium term pain relief with the effects starting anywhere from 15-45 minutes usually, they can provide pain relief for 4-5 hours in some cases. Tinctures are also, often nicely labelled with the amounts of CBD in milligrams, making dosing and evaluation of effectiveness easier. \n\nIngested cannabis or ‘edibles’ can also be made into CBD heavy products. These can provide longer term pain relief, sometime for 8-10 hours making them particularly useful for twice daily dosing. Again, they are often nicely labelled with the amounts of CBD in milligrams, making dosing and evaluation of effectiveness easier. \n\n\n\ndrbluto\n_____________________\nI like the tinctures, you can start at a low dose and work your way up until you feel comfortable.the 4:1 ratio is good,\n\nbooboogin","image":null}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":60,"numPages":6,"currentPage":6,"id":5114,"name":"Chronic Pain","slug":"chronic-pain","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}