Who uses/has uses Medical Marijuana for Chiari Pain?

[denverluv]

I don't want to offend anyone here or anything I was just wondering. I myself don't take narcotic pain pills because I used to love them too much LOL.  Between my headaches getting worse, my back pain due to my scoliosis getting worse, I am at the end of my rope and seriously considering it. (MMJ) Question is, if you use MMJ for your Chiari headaches, does it help? I'm asking because so many people talk of how migraine medicines don't work for these types of headaches and I don't want to put the money out for nothing.  I know, my back is reason enough but I am  just wondering if it would help with my head too. TIA for any comments!

[Mrkmbb]

I have Chiari and have had rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years. I was never a recreational user of cannabis, and don’t like feeling altered so I hesitated to try it for pain relief. Finally two years ago I learned about the high-CBD strains which have been developed and got my medical card (in New Mexico). I can honestly say that medical cannabis has changed my life! I use an oil tincture - 10 drops under my tongue twice a day, and occasionally will vape a bit if I have breakthrough pain. I never feel high. My arthritis pain is almost non-existent, and in 18 months the blood test showing inflammation in my body (SED rate) went from the very top of the scale to almost nothing. I lost 40 pounds without trying, (I need to lose another 40!).

I tried using the hemp-based CBD oils, but they don’t seem to work as well for me. The one I use has one part THC to 20 parts CBD and that does the trick. Again, I don’t feel any psychoactive effect - only relief for my pain and anxiety. I highly encourage you to explore medical cannabis. A good website for information is www.healer.com

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

[kwalker0004]

From what I hear MJ does help out with chronic migraines. Now I haven't tested the theory myself since I cant stomach it. But I have a friend that does smoke MJ for his chronic headaches. Now it know its a difference between the two and many don't recommend it because coughing does cause our headaches to get worse. As I have learned over the last month, with this cold. If it works for you and it provides you with relief by all means find away to get it into your system. I feel your pain with taking 3000 mgs of over the counter meds. I was taking up 6000 mgs for years, My concern was how much damage is this actually doing to my body. Even though it would help it never got rid of it completely. Use it as tea some growers actually will do the work for you. If you can find one there are many out there who grow only TCH and will make you just about anything you request. I know a grower in NC who has made a cough syrup for a little boy who had seizers all the time. He also made a inhaler for him. SO don't think just smoking it will be your only option. best of luck to you

[Mommy2kidss]

Can you please tell me this person's contact info , I live in NC as well !!! I have asthma and suffer from very very bad headaches , I'm not diagnosed,  looking to find answers tho.

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Since this is an older thread this member may no longer be an active member, you can try to contact using the PM(Private Message) feature it should create an email letting them know someone is trying to make contact with them, but it is also possible they may no longer participate regardless of  being contacted.

If you need more info or help with something please let us know.

[S_Chaney]

A suggestion when going this route..... Edibles.....

Smoking introduces a large quantity of THC which is more of the "High" and hallucinogenic aspect of MMJ.

When prepared for edibles it greatly reduces the THC and focuses on the CDB. The CBD gives a body numbing affect which is perfect for pain management (imho).

Personally I don't like MMJ because of the mind altering effects. But I can tolerate the CBD focused dosing for the pain management benefits when things are bad.

[Mommy2kidss]

Do you actually suffer from this ? I would love to know more on why you feel that MMJ is altering your mind because I also feel the same way, but I'm not diagnosed,  I'm curious about my symptoms and I smoke , if you see this can you please email me . ***@**** thank you!

[Spaceystac]

Yes the synthetic pill is called Marinol i believe. It is in a small gel cap and there are far less side effects then just about every drug under the sun. The marinol pill has been available for quite some time. It is prescribed to cancer patients who are going through chemo and such. Sorry I am just now reading your comment.    RX yes I have a prescription paper with a recommendation from a certified MD that says I am allowed to use Marijuana for my pain and not get in trouble with my pain management provider. In Washington state, it is now legal for recreational use as well.     Hope this helps..Stacey

[ZipRobin]

It works well for me! It's my only pain killer!  There are many ways to take it, that can help! if anyone wishes to talk about it please inbox me!

[ktrwsh]

Yes, it works. I've tried it and it helps with my headaches and with me being nauseous. Also if I'm in pain, it relieves that as well. I'm scared to tell my neurologists about it, but maybe if I do, he will prescribe me with some. It works wonders for me, but the only side effect that I have is the memory loss. I'm not sure if it's the chiari, marijuana or both. BCs are the only headache/pain medicine that works but I heard that you can't take that too much because it's supposed to be bad for you. Other pain pills doesn't help at all for me, including muscle relaxers or any other prescribed pain medications. So you are not offending me at all! I'm glad you posted this because I thought I was tripping, thinking that it took away the pain (which it did). I didn't want to be smoking for an excuse to smoke but it really works. So I guess I'm not the only one. :)

[mimosa7]

Hi Selma,

Yeah, I meant pill form.  
Thanks for clarifying :)

[mimosa7]

Hi Linda,

Are you able to either share or PM me re this patch? I am in Canada, but I am starting grad school in 20 days and have not even had my spinal MRI yet to rule out a syrinx. So you can imagine I am under pressure to compile some sort of pain management plan. Luckily my grad school is part-time first semester so all I need is some sort of Emergency Plan (lol) for the 2 days to keep my mind off head pressure and this diagnosis really...

Thanks! :)

[selmaS]

  Hi...not sure what ur question is RX means it was prescribed by the Dr....and yes a synthetic form of marijuana is what she was referring to...

We r given many meds that may be synthetic....in that it is not a natural found chemical ...many are compounds...none found in nature.....

I do know the synthetic marijuana has  had some bad press in that it caused some bad reactions to a few ...one I think was Demi Moore....

Not sure if the pill version would cause the same thing...but this can also happen with natural RX and OTC meds...we all r diff and may have a reaction this is y those lists of possible side effects are so long.

[linnielou232]

If it was my choice and if it helped I would try it.  Anything to help pain.  I don't smoke it, but I do hear from others that do since they have legalized it the product that you are getting is better for you than 10 yrs ago.  I know there are stores around here that sell it for the licensed ones and they grow different plants for different reasons.  I also heard it is coming in pill form, and I would go for that.  Wishing you the best and you do what you have to to feel better.  I am on a pain patch which a lot of people might not agree with, but it is better than popping pills all the time.  I just change the patch every 72 hrs and it does help with the pain.  You might want to try this 1st.  
Linda :)

[mimosa7]

Hi Spaceystac,

If you get this (given we are now in 2013 lol), by Rx, do you mean the synthetic pill form? I recently read on a non-Chiari related forum (researched MMJ) that there is a purified form avoiding carcinogens... I may be having a blonde moment, I mean sounds too good to be true and I am by no means scientifically trained, but the thought of synthetic pill = side effects in my head.

Thanks :)

[horselip]

As a patient with chronic spinal headaches, I've found that a steady but small amount of the edible version of MMJ does help me. And yes my NL knows. And no coughing this way.

Specifically it makes it so that I do not need to take as much dilaudid (my break-through pain med). The opiates plug me up, and then I need to take more laxatives and it is a vicous cycle. Being plugged up is not good for my csf pressure and my history of csf leaks so this is something that I have to address, period.

I am not a chiari patient tho, and  have issues with how my skull is formed which is why I am here as there is no other group for me. Anyways my experience on this issue.

Horselip

[Sexybare]

I to have been thinking of theMMJ for about 2weeks now. Only im afraid I will get paranoid. But if im smoking it legally, then theres no reason to get paranoid, right. I too have been popping vic like candy and it doesnt really help. And I dont want to kill my liver. My main concern is what about work? as im sure my workplace would not accept?!

[thrice3]

congrats on the discovery. it's so much better than taking tons of pills with horrible side effects.

[perkyfreckles]

Can I just say that I am crying right now. I have not had insurance for over a year. No pain meds and even when I was taking them I was so sick from them and waking up with what I call the "Pharm Hang" my kids brought it to me and said they couldn't stand to see me in this pain. This is the best thing that I could have done. I feel so much better and I can sleep and I can keep a train of thought because I'm not in pain. My partner is just as big a supporter, she doesn't smoke, but she feels that it is a better way to deal with the pain then all the pills. I would get really mad and just not ok the next day after taking the meds. So thank you all sooo much.

[ajunebug]

I'm not going to confirm that I have tried it since it's illegal in my state to use it medicinally, but if I had tried it, let's just say it does help. You don't do it like a pothead does - i.e, if you smoke medicinally you are not smoking a whole joint or doing bong hits. It's about taking one or two inhales, not about getting a big buzz or getting stoned. It honestly affects your mental state less than a glass of wine if you are talking small quantities at a time, but (I hear) it's very helpful to people in chronic pain, including chiari patients.

[fibrotj]

I'm not sure if you're still around...but just wanted to say, that after reading your post just now...I JUST now realized that "maybe" smoking MMJ has had something to do with minimizing the frequency & severity of mine as well...over the past 4 yrs.  When all my neuro symptoms started...& my health "fell off a cliff" in the spring of '07...I started seeking out Pain Management (as PAIN levels & Migraines were off the chart!).  So...after finding out that it would be almost 6 months before I could get in a local Pain Management Dr...patients in my MS & Fibro forums kept suggesting MMJ.  I decided to go for it!  I could NOT believe how much it helped me out (neither could my husband)...in more that one way!  It helps with PAIN/Headaches, spasticity, nausea, depressions, tremors, etc...

However,  I had a problem with "spiritual" issues...wondering if it was truly a "sin" (as we've been raised to believe)...but then after praying about it for some time...I found peace in my spirit. After all...it was GOD Himself...who created MMJ...NOT the medical/pharmaceutical industry!!  Us Native Americans have been using it for good medicine for centuries!  

BTW...did y'all know that in the earliest part of last century...that our government actually PAID farmers to grow it, because it was such a profitably crop (& used in tonics & tinctures)...while at that same time period...ALCOHOL was ILLEGAL??   I believe it should STILL be this way...IMHO!   Alcohol has killed more people & broken up more homes than any other drug on the planet!   BTW...There's a large prison in Australia (can't remember which one) that MANDATES that their inmates smoke MJ 3 times a day. They have NEVER had any murders, fights, or riots in that prison, since they implemented that rule! THAT speaks for itself!!

Besides...it's some of the best medicine I have found for Fibro. I gave it up for awhile (had to...urine tested) when I started seeing my Pain Management Dr.  Tried the Big Pharma gammet for 2+ yrs!  NO MORE DAMAGING MY BODY!!!  I prefer sticking to Mother Nature, Thank You!  ;)  

BTW...You just have to figure out the right "moderation dose" every 1-3 hours...depending on the strength & strain...as different "strains" can have different effects!!  Also...as someone mentioned...a vaporizer is the way to go!  You can also make some dynamite cookies, brownies, & just about anything your mind can cook up, with it!  Sure wish it was legal in ALL US States though!!!  But hey...JUST found out tonight that it is up for vote again here in OK!  I also heard that all the 'pre-survey polls" are saying that it's gonna pass this time!  Having my fingers crossed & saying my prayers!!   May not be for everyone...but boy does it ever help me!!!  {{hugs}}   ;)
~tj

[niki3350]

I say if it works go for it, what the hell after all the constant battles we go through to be heard,believed and treated I think we deserve a little relief.

I myself at some point or another have thought I am going to give it a go anything to relieve the pain.  But have resisted so far as I am scared that it will make my cofusion/cog fog heads even worse.

I feel spaced out without it so heavens only knows how I would be on it, wow even cocodomal space me out.

Niki x x

[lu7997]

This is soooo ironic to see this post up again.  I am still laughing



I was seriously just talking to my friend about how if they would legallize it I would try it.  I am desperte and think it would be so much less addicting and harmful than the vicodin I am constantly popping for minimal relief.    

I am not a drug user but hey. I smoke cigarette what's the difference if it helps and the government might just be able to get out of debt with all the tax revenue they bring in from it not to mention the money they save from the task forces to stop it.  

Anyways. Just irony that as usual with this group some one is always on the same thought process as me

[meshell_32]

I used to smoke back in my younger days. And off the subject very quick....I also suffer with endometrosis and it does help....I actually read that queen Elizabeth used it for bad cramps....anyways I was desparate too and tried it for chiari pain, it did help with the pain....but in turn sometimes it increased the pressure in my head, cant win with this disease!! I would rather have the pain than the pressure in my head and try to medicate the pain with clonzapam and vicoden seems to ease it. But whatever works for you to ease this pain!!!

[maddmark]

not against mj but you should know that coughing is very bad for people with sm due to chiari as it makes the condition worse ,so if it helps you may want to think about injesting it or making tea etc.smoking anything is never healthy, so don't throw gas on fire! just somthing to think about.maddmark.

[selmaS]

I also gained a lot of weight in a short time.. with no changes to diet or activity...so if it was all a constant, so should my weight?....

TSH will appear normal if that is all u r looking at...a autoimmune thyroid issue needs additional testing ....with TSH u also need FreeT3, FreeT4 and TPO antibodies.....

I also had a ultra sound done of my thyroid after having one done of my carotid arteries...and something was noticed...with Hashimoto's u also have nodules on ur thyroid.

U r not crazy....

"selma"

[AJ29349]

This is priceless.  I have been in so much pain recently I have teasingly told several family members and friends I had just decided to give up and start smoking MMJ.  I have never smoked it nor a cigarette in my life, so you can imagine the laughs I got from them.  Then, today I see this post.  Thanks for posting this...isn't it funny how a lot of Chiari patients think alike?  WOW.

[lu7997]

Thank you Selma.   I have always suspected inhab thyroid issues and over the past year it has gotten worse.    I have gained so much weight and I know I can't be active like I used to but my diet is a decent one and wouldn't warrent this gain.  Not to mention I am always cold and I now have chin hair that is horrible and embarresing   But my tsh levels were normal so the docs think I again am crazy and making crap up.