I would like to hear from anyone on this site using Medical Marijuana or cannibis
I have relied on medical Marijuana almost exclusively to manage the pain I have from TN. I was diagnosed in 2014 after a dental visitation and procedure. After taking Gabapentin for the condition, up to 900 mg a day, I had facial, lip, and tongue swelling and stopped taking the prescription medicine. The side effects for tegredol are hideous.
I my state TN is not an approved condition to qualify for medical marijuana. I have qualified for the Marijuana card because of back pain resulting from two surgeries. My doctor advises me that TN should be included…So we will see. We are monitoring my case.
I want to emphasize that weed helps me to “manage” the TN pain. But, then, isn’t that what all meds claim to do?
Since I have began to use high CBD stains of cannabis I no longer take any opioids for my back and leg pain, and no pharmaceuticals for the TN. I like to say that I don’t even hardly take a Tylenol !
I hope my statement serves a serious purpose because we all know that TN is serious.
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I have used Marijuana for TN, but in my case I find that dry mouth (a common side effect of Marijuana) exacerbates TN. There are some forms of canabidiol/THC blends that are promising, but the science is just beginning to flourish, in time things will be much better.
Yes I have and it is great for the spasms if you use the CBT side of the drug, no real high but great for the spasms. The only issues are being able to dose and type of delivery method.
Thanks for the responses. It’s been a couple of months now that I’ve been using cannabis tinctures and I am very pleased and hopeful that I can cut down on 2 anticonvulsive meds; maybe even stop taking all together. I am experimenting with dosage. At first I was taking too much at one time. One of the things I’ve learned from one of the companies whose tinctures I use is that “less is more” and now I only take about 2.5 ml at a time. I have 3 different ratios of CBD to THC and a THCA. THCA is non psychoactive. I am still experimenting to learn best dosage for me but currently I
In take a 20:1 CBD to THC in the morning and another in 4 to 6 hours though sinc I’ve been doing better I often forget the afternoon dose. I take A 4:1 if I am having pain and a 1:1 or THCA for more severe episodes. I take the 1:1 at bedtime every night and I am getting the best sleep in a long time.
I am 81 and in
addition to TN I have hip and knee arthritis and over active bladder and a fringe benefit of the MMJ is that both of those conditions are improved.
I just wish my neurologist was more open to learning about it as there are studies on MMJ and neuropathic pain including some on TN but though he doesn’t object to my usage he doesn’t believe there is enough research and doesn’t seem interested in expanding his knowledge. I have read there are neurologists who actually recommend MMJ for TN. I wish I had medical supervision about usage/dosage
I live in California and so have access to reliable dispensories and products. My neurologist wouldn’t give me the required recommendation letter for MMJ card but they are now easy to get via “pot docs” for a “consult” fee. I got mine on line!
I’m happy so far with the results. I don’t have too smoke or get high.
Sounds like you and I share much in common. I too live in CA, and went to a pot doc myself…this doc even has his own internet radio program! I have been taking a 5:1 Care By Design product by day, and 1:1 at night…very little psycho-activity. You do have to be careful though, I was in a dispensary once and a representative came through with free products, after that I lost an entire afternoon!
i’ve been gifted twice with delicious brownie which I cut up into 10 pieces and only take one if I am inn a lot of pain and usually at night before b ed.
When I was at my sister’s in a different state, she let me use a cream on my face on affected side. I think it did help the severity of the twinges. I am trying to cut down and get off Lyrica, due to side effects. Also the carbamazepine XR gives me hand tremors.
Hi. I’m so happy for this particular discussion! Thank you all! I also live in CA, and have had a mmj card and recommendation, online last time as well! I tried CBD for the pain, and I was shocked that it actually relieved the pain and even the numbness that I have lived with for the last 9 years! It was temporary, though, and I was very unsure of the dose. Since I am very sensitive to side effects of most medications, I can no longer take any prescription medication. I will take note of dosages mentioned here, and will try them out. My Neuro is open to my trying anything pretty much, but is not very knowledgeable about CBD, or else isn’t comfortable. I just got CBD capsules, smoking, even with a vaporizer triggers my asthma. I’ll try 1 capsule, and may try edibles soon. I wish cannibis would be legalized so scientists could get federal funding for research into the true medical potential of it. Maybe someday during my lifetime!
Camia
I tried marijuana during a time where no other effective medication was prescribed and had a panic attack which set my nervous system into overload during one of the attacks.
So if you get a CBD strain, is this less prone to panic attacks and nervous system overload? My experience was so terrible I haven’t tried since.
Yes. It is the THC that drives the panic attacks and other negative effects due to how strong today’s MJ is compared to when I was a young adult. 20% is common and attainable for a good grow and today’s plants are stronger too! High CBD, low THC (1-5%) should fix those panic attacks and whatever else ailed you. Hope this helps.
I use medical marijuana for my type 2 TN because I can legally grow it due to TN qualifying in WA for pain. I limit my Vicodin to extreme desperation moments. I have tried the gammit of medications and was recently denied LYRICA and a radiation oncology procedure by my insurance company, GROUP HEALTH. With regards to medical marijuana, I paid 250.00 to a doctor to give me a piece of paper that allows me to grow 4 plants. In WA, the state is pushing registration on the data base in exchange for a limited involvement courtesy of law enforcement in your space. Problem is, WA is copying the insane restrictions placed on Colorado’s population with firearms. The 9th Circuit Court already ruled against the registered marijuana user when she was refused a firearm due to the FEDS status on pot as a schedule 1. YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS BEFORE REGISTERING YOUR NAME ON ANY DATABASE. Something for everyone to consider now days. The Governor’s Office wants our firearms! What’s next? Good luck.
I am not an authority, but perhaps. I don’t smoke. I use tinctures and I learned by overusing to use very small amounts, i.e. start with 2.5 ml. Depending on the dispensary you go to, you should be able to get more helpful info from them. I am in California and go to Harborside Health Center and find the staff their very helpful.
It sounds like you did way too much.
I will not smoke or vape. I use tinctures with drops under my tongue for faster results. I took capsule one time of high THC which took care of my pain but I sat on the edge of my bed immobilized for over 4 hours. be careful with anything you ingest. Make sure you know the dosage and remember it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours or more before their is an effect. So if you don’t feel something right away, don’t just keep taking more. That’s why I like the tinctures under the tongue. . At bedtime I do a 1:1 tincture but if I’m having a lot of pain I eat a couple of pieces of a high THC brownie which are each about 2.5 mg. Some brownies are from 50 to 80 mg per brownie. I cut those up into 20 pierces of approximately 2.5 mg each and only take 1 or 2.
I have not had good luck with topicals for my TN though they are good for my arthritis. what was the cream? I am seriously life threatened by carbamazepine so can’t take it. I am on gabapentin and recently doc added keppra. I hate them both. they are brain destroying. my goal is to cut down or hopefully off of both eventually but I am still titrating myself on MMJ. that is where I really resent not being able to get medical supervision as the result of poor research and timid docs.
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Thank you for your responses. So valuable. I awoke with a migraine and subsequent increase in burning and numbness (I do think there is a link between the two chronic ailments, but that’s for another area of this site). I was tempted to try the CBD capsule I’d purchased at the dispensary; but, chose not to, as it said not to drive. It has 14 mg. CBD:1mg THC. I, too, have had panic attacks when smoking THC, so I am not comfortable with any but a tiny bit of effect on my mind. I think I will return to the dispensary for more help. The tinctures may be helpful for me. I’d like to switch off between the tincture or brownie (had too much of that one time, and was very anxious, so your idea of cutting it up into very small pieces is a good one) and my Xanax, which doesn’t relieve the pain, but does help me to relax. I’ll look up Haborside and see if it is close enough to me, although it sounds like it’s near the ocean, which I am not. I like referrals. I had thought of growing my own plants; but, it sounds like they will also be very strong, too strong for me. I appreciate any insights you all have.
Camia
Harborsideis I Oakland near the embarcadero
One thing I learned there is to space my cannabis meds at minimum an hour before some types of pharmaceutical meds (I wait at least 2 hours). One guideline is if you take a med that limits eating grapefruit, space it from your cannabis med. it’s actually looking as if I can begin to cut down on my BP meds now as cannabis also lowers BP.
If you can get to Harborside I highly recommend that dispensary as having a sincere interest in medical use and some very knowledgeable staff. Ask questions and for guidance. Some info can be vague due to so little research and the differences in each of us. But you can begin to put together a regimen that works for you. I wish I had taken notes but I did have a good friend with me (he has a card and everyone must have one to get in) and he has helped me remember what I’ve been told. Also do you research on line and you will find many articles about your specific condition (I.e. I googled trigeminal meuralgia plus medical marijuana). There are a zillion books and few very helpful but I like “Marijuana Medical Handbook” for one. New ones are published daily… It’s the latest literary maker so read reviews before buying.
At this site and others we can share experience and hopefully help one another.
I found that by smoking even a little bit is very beneficial. I was talked into trying it by my family, who occasionally will smoke it illegally since the laws in my state don’t allow it for anything. I was at a point after a TN strike where I couldn’t laugh or smile without triggering long lasting painful shocks. I felt relief within minutes…had to laugh at what I was doing at 62 years of age…but I LAUGHED without punishment. It is now part of my daily routine. It should definitely be legalized and prescribed for TN!
thanks again for the info, Ekay. I live in so cal, and have no plans to
travel up north right now. However, I will continue to seek a
compassionate and somewhat knowledgeable dispensary. I’ll also look into
the literature you suggested. My face pain is variable, and I have a
permanently numb upper left lip. Pain can range from a 2 to 9, and appears
to be a migraine trigger and vice versa. When the pain hits above 4, I
cannot concentrate on anything else. Seems to have spread up to my left
eye and down to the left side of the chin across the landscape of my face.
Appears to have become bilateral with some symptoms appearing randomly on
the right side, now. I feel as if I cannot complain as others on this site
suffer daily from excruciating pain. I do feel, however, that the ATN
coupled with the chronic migraine (8-15 per month) adds to the suffering.
I haven’t found cannabis to be helpful for my migraines, although I have
heard and read that it is great for it. Everyone is different. I hope
your pain is lessened at least, today.
Camia
I’m sure there must be a decent dispensary down in s. cal. California Normal is a good resource: http://marijuanalistings.canorml.org/medical-marijuana-collectives-testing-labs-marijuana-compliance/Are you under a neurologist care?