• Registered: 2009-11-06
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Desperate and Afraid

I have pretty bad pain in my knee from delamination of cartilage, I had surgery with Chondroplasty and micro fracture treatment. I am now looking at a osteotomy. I have been taking narcotics for the pain along with motrin. I had to stop the Motrin because of upper GI bleeding. I hate taking the narcotic pain killers because I jones for it and I hate, hate not feeling like I am in control which is why I don't smoke pot or drink any alcohol. I feel nausea all of the time. Recently someone gave me a cookie to try, I think it was too much, it was great for the pain and I stopped gagging and vomiting. This may sound really stupid but is there a way to dose without getting stoned? I couldn't drive, I couldn't do much of anything. Eventually I recovered and was normal except that I had no pain, I mean none, something the narcotics never do. I can't tell you the last time my leg didn't hurt. I thought for a couple days that my leg had been healed I swear. Now I am interested in getting a card but I am not looking to get stoned just deal with the pain. Can the marijuana doctor I get my card from help me with that? I can not smoke so I would have to ingest the marijuana.

I am really desperate to be able to get some quality of life back without living in lotus land being stoned. I also don't want to make anything worse. I sure would appreciate any advice.

  • Registered: 2008-02-12
  • Posts: 462

Re: Desperate and Afraid

lothar80 wrote:

I have pretty bad pain in my knee from delamination of cartilage, I had surgery with Chondroplasty and micro fracture treatment. I am now looking at a osteotomy. I have been taking narcotics for the pain along with motrin. I had to stop the Motrin because of upper GI bleeding. I hate taking the narcotic pain killers because I jones for it and I hate, hate not feeling like I am in control which is why I don't smoke pot or drink any alcohol. I feel nausea all of the time. Recently someone gave me a cookie to try, I think it was too much, it was great for the pain and I stopped gagging and vomiting. This may sound really stupid but is there a way to dose without getting stoned? I couldn't drive, I couldn't do much of anything. Eventually I recovered and was normal except that I had no pain, I mean none, something the narcotics never do. I can't tell you the last time my leg didn't hurt. I thought for a couple days that my leg had been healed I swear. Now I am interested in getting a card but I am not looking to get stoned just deal with the pain. Can the marijuana doctor I get my card from help me with that? I can not smoke so I would have to ingest the marijuana.

I am really desperate to be able to get some quality of life back without living in lotus land being stoned. I also don't want to make anything worse. I sure would appreciate any advice.

Currently there are no forms that do not have psychoactive properties.

It IS a feasible target (one of the prominent cannabinoids <there are well over 200 compounds in the plant> CBD, if present in high enough quantities, can inhibit the psychoactive properties of THC).

I primarily use edibles... and a vaporizer.  Edibles hit the body much stronger and last much longer...  vaporizers are helpful for breakthrough pain, but don't last anywhere near as long for me.

There IS a sweet spot dosage-wise when it comes to treating pain, anxiety and depression...
it's a fairly narrow window too sad

I do not drive if I'm medicated...  but most of the cannabinoids and terpenes are working on pain/spasms/inflammation, and not on turning me into gumby smile

I know people in recovery, and many AA meetings now acknowledge medical use of cannabis.

If it works on your pain, find a good supplier of respectable edibles (preferably ServSafe certified <FDA>) and titrate your dose...  remember that it depends on how much is in your stomach, whether you have sufficient digestive enzymes and HCL (hydrochloric acid) present in your digestive system...  and if you ate too much, you can eat regular food to help dilute it.
It can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes for people to start really feeling edibles... so watch the clock and have REGULAR munchies available smile

Was the surgery successful on your cartilage or is it still degenerating?

  • Registered: 2008-08-06
  • Posts: 602

Re: Desperate and Afraid

I'm very sorry you are in so much pain. I suffer chronic pain myself and understand the desperation and fear.  Those can be just as cripling as the pain.  You're not alone. 

You're question isn't stupid.  I'm a student and I don't want to be "stoned" all the time.  A lot of the time, I just want to ease the pain while keeping a clear head.  I've found some 'strains' do that better than others.  But you're not asking about smoking it, you're asking about injesting it (or something else).

Let's start with the something else first: Topicals. These are lotions, oils, salves, balms, sprays, etc.  These get applied directly to the skin and general do not cause any psycho-active affect ("high").  I love these.  They can be hard to come by and can be expensive but I still love them.  You just apply it to the painful area and it eases it away.  It doesn't last long though maybe an hour or so (I guess it depends).  You can make your own if you want (I don't, it seems too complicated). This probably wont help with the nausea or vomitting though.

I use a "medicated" honey to help manage my pain.  I drizzle a little on my toast and general feel pain relief without getting "high".  Sometime I take too much but I'm getting better at "titrating" it. 

You may also want to look into "medicated" teas. Although I would suggest you do not use milk (or a fatty substitute like soy, hemp, almond, rice, etc) but instead use WATER.  It will sound very strange to other medical cannabis patients because cannabinoids are fat saluable but I've had pain relieve effects from making my cannabis teas with just water, it's less intoxicating.

You may also want to consider taking your edibles at night before bed, this will help you sleep and you wont have to worry about driving or doing anything else and hopefully by the time you wake up the psycho-active affect is gone but the pain relief is not. And it should like it may last for a couple of days (probably not if you do it on a regular basis though).

Doctors are pretty limited on helping you get your medicine, they should be able to talk to about some of this but they may not be the best resource.  I'd check in with Cornerstone Research Center and see if Morpheus has any suggestions for you.  I think he's been compiling data to help patients find the methods that works best for them.

I hope this helps you and I hope to hear back from you soon about positive results.

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