My pain doc wants me to switch from opioids to cannabis.

Thanks for the information. It's very helpful! I'll keep reading.

No recommendation from my pain doc. He wants me to stop all my pain meds first, and then start mj. He says his patients with nerve pain have had good results with mj (THC). I've read many journal articles with conflicting recommendations and results of tests. Most of the studies were on a very low number of participants, so they're not reliable in my opinion.

My cousin had a similar broken ankle about the time I did. He recommended CBD cream, not oil. Of course that's just an individual testimony and not worth much. I went to a local store that sells CBD but is not a dispensary for mj. The product was only labeled CBD and coconut oil, no mention of any additives.

Coconut oil and coconut water and dried coconut are often preserved with sulfites. I've read it on coconut water in a can labels.

I can't get THC/mj without a card here. My pain doc won't give me one unless I stop my pain meds first, and that's not going to happen. I have a lot more going on than just "nerve pain." The ankle has tendons not connected and bones grating and the podiatrist/surgeon has been less than helpful, possibly because he doesn't have a clue what else to try. I've looked for another one, will have to keep looking.

I wanted to get a new MRI of my spine because the pain from arthritis and pinched nerves is so bad I'd consider surgery. I want to know if my syrinx is doing anything. At least I have a head CT set up for my brain tumor soon. And I will have a swallow study soon for my polio throat.

MJ is not the answer for all pain. I'm not convinced the answer to the "opioid epidemic" is getting everyone on another addictive drug. I do not want to end up like some of my college classmates and lose all ambition.

I ran across this. Thought you might find it interesting.

https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2018/12/25/precautions-needed-for-medical-cannabis

SeaShell, I apologize. My hands are giving me more problems than usual. I should have posted the link to the New York Times article. PNN had nothing to do with that or the original article.

The point is we this can be dangerous for some people. Especially for older folks and those with certain conditions and on certain medications. We need more research. Doctors nor anyone else can predict how this might affect an individual. Patients are not warned like they are with prescription and OTC medications.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/health/seniors-marijuana-cannabis-pain.html

I know I am late to the reply train here but I have been off Narcotics now for over a year due to being put on Medical Marijuana last May. I have had tremendous success with zero side effects except some hungry moments...I can fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and after medicating I barley notice my pain. Hope this helps, definitely worth looking into as an alternative pain management plan. Narcotic pain killers are terrible for you with a million side effects, but there are no negative side effects that is see after a year of medical cannabis.

I recently started a new post after seeing my neurosurgeon, who did my ACDF after breaking my neck 6 years ago and have had worsening neck pain since then. I have been terribly upset that nobody, including my neurologist ("cervical spine only a little worse than before" 2 years ago), nobody wanted to pursue TREATMENT! My pain doc gave up over a year ago and put me on pain meds which did not work because I am one of the up to 10% who do not relief from them at normal doses, or sometimes at all. He knows I am not a drug seeker, just that nothing has helped much. And then about a year later said to stop meds and go on THC.

My neurosurgeon is now pursuing new MRIs, etc. He is concerned that 6 years after breaking my neck that I have worsening pain and radiculopathy down my arm and hand. I also happened to find in a search that cervical radiculopathy can cause fatigue and weakness, which I have been blaming on post-polio, but now have hope that maybe fixing the neck where the intolerable pain starts might provide some help. It's hard to differentiate all the symptoms since I have had good diagnoses of fibro, PP, radiculopathy, vertigo and dizziness.

My search for scientific studies used the keywords radiculopathy and fatigue, radiculopathy and dizziness. I used the google search at the top of the forum page also. It's interesting that lots of conditions we might not expect, and are sometimes misdiagnosed, have been helped with various treatments, not just surgery, for cervical nerve impingement. I know I have spontaneous fusion of more cervical vertebrae, also bone spurs, etc.

I do not want my real physical conditions just covered up with a drug (THC) if I can get some real relief from real treatment. I don't expect a cure, just something more useful than mind numbing to the point I can't function.

I am with Alcie on this one. MM isn't legal in my state, but even if it was... I would pursue cautiously. I use this example as the same one on the Crohn's board... YMMV...everyone's body is different and reacts differently to all medicines and treatments, including homeopathic results.
Through the years, so many have sworn to fix their Crohn's issues by natural ways...such as a different diet or an aloe powder that you mix with your drink. I have tried so many of these things, only to end up worse and in the hospital.
They are still looking to find the cause of my issues, but my PM doc is the one who actually spends time with me and I do believe she is finding me answers. Yes, I am on narcotics right now to help with pain... but it is getting me to operate at a level I hadn't been able to since my cancer surgery and diagnosis last April. Even before that, I wasn't able to keep up at the level I am now. Until we can resolve where my pain is coming from, I pray that the narcotics remain available as they work well... and the ones my PM has me on have a lot less side effects than say Oxycodone, which was the "go to" for me prior. She has put in a referral to a neurologist who deals with Autonomic Neuropathy... as she thinks my symptoms are related to that. She is the first one to bring that up, and when looking at the symptoms... motility issues in the intestinal tract is a symptom (which could explain why GI hasn't been able to find answers).

Another issues of going on to Medical Marijuana is it limits a person who wants to travel. Since most PM doctors either require you to be off pain meds before or shortly after you start MM, if you chose to travel to another state or out of the country you are very limited. Since it is still labeled a Schedule I drug, you cannot transport it across state lines or through airports. If you go to a state that has recreational marijuana you are probably ok as you can buy it. If the state you are traveling to a state that has MM it is more complicated to go through the regulations to access MM in that state. For some people this may not be a big issue but if you have family in other states or like to travel it can be a big issue. There are other legal issues that are effected if you get a MM Card that for some people is also a factor. I know this is not directly related to the issue of pain relief but it also factors in for many.

Jake: No, Gabapentin is not a problem for travel, only opioids or marijuana or CBD oil.
For me that's are a problem since my grand kids live in Georgia, where it's horribly regulated. You can't buy THC there and can't bring it in. But bring your prescription for all meds if you travel! Gabapentin didn't give me any relief, just a horrible side effect of not being able to breathe! Keep on finding your real cause of symptoms. Mine may be all in my neck, even exhaustion and vision problems.