If you smoke for medicinal reasons, why?

I myself am a daily smoker, it helps tremendously from my back pain from having herniated a disc in my lower back. The injury left me very inflexible and my hamstrings are too short, which causes horrible back and knee trouble (I'm doing some physical therapy for the problem) but I find smoking weed helps immensely with the back pain.

Along with physical pain I have multiple perception disorder, in which my actual perception totally changes, I'm the same person, but everything is different it's bizarre, but it can get quite traumatic. Imagine going from going from a normal, generally nice guy to a sociopath who only acts certain ways because they keep in mind that they will eventually have to deal with what they've done and they'll actually care later. Smoking weed helps ease the transition and keeps me from certain states of mind that when upset cause a flip in perception (I do more than turn into a sociopath, it's weird). The only thing I can say I benefit from with this disorder is that I can see multiple view points from the same perspective. The disorder is a "higher functioning" disorder, in which you must have a high IQ for it to occur. (But yeah moderators, uh, sorry if I post some ridiculous things in advance.)

I also smoke for my depression, which at times (to put things in perspective) feels as though the love of your life just told you they wish you were dead, or something horrible, that feeling is constant and for no reason sometimes.

Chronic pain from back injuries, arthritis, SBO, and scoliosis.
Muscle spasms in my back arms and legs.
Migraine headaches.
Gastric distress from all the pills I take.

Chronic back pain broke my back:microwave::angry3:

For medically related reasons I have several, including many years of undiagnosed Celiac disease, which had symptoms such as low appetite and depression.

I developed stress disorders, and worse Celiac symptoms, after 9/11 due to working at jobs near Ground Zero, anthrax attack threats (had to wear breathing masks and protective gloves when opening mail at work), the tragic atmosphere of the area, threats of more attacks targeting our buildings, subways, etc. I was not so much afraid, but the cumulative effect of being sick, having to watch my back at and around the workplace, and the other stresses added did not make for a happy camper.

Today, about 40 years since I first tried it, small amounts of marijuana normalizes me and is extremely helpful in other ways -including my musical studies.

Originally for my Back pain
But since I started using it,I sopped taking meds for my depression and insomnia.So the less pills I am taking,the better.

I use it for anxiety issues, and ovarian cyst pain. Also, I would much rather vape a bit to cure a headache than take tylenol.

I use for anxiety, depression and misc. pains. I find it works much better than the antidepressants. Another benefit I have found is that I can knock out a migraine with a little pot and a dark room if I catch it at the very beginning of the headache. :smokin:

ADD and Bi-polar..

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Originally Posted by maxsuperdanks

Cool to see that someone else finds that herb helps with that problem.



Bi-polarism and multiple perception disorder are fucked up to deal with.

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man, its bad.. If i dont smoke. explosive anger, just a plain asshole.

When I smoke, I am SO much different. I feel like Dr Jackal and Mr Hyde, i hate the feeling of not being to control my moods

Best of luck with your treatment..

I smoke so half of my body isn't engulfed with pain and to speed up the other half, which is slower due to brain trauma.

chronic back/groin pain
anger management
stress management
ADD
too much short term memory
because the day is too long
because the people in my life are all retarded...

Severe anxiety, uncontrolled mood swings (eh... not that you wanted to know, but I was once prescribed Zoloft for- get this- PMS. What a disaster that was), occasional panic attacks.
I distrust OTC meds, ESPECIALLY psych meds that have not been in use for a long time. I feel that the pressure to scoot new pharmaceuticals through the FDA approval process, in order to put them on the shelves faster and recoup the high costs of their development, is counter to the whole purpose of that process, which is to protect the end user from dangerous side effects.

Edit: I don't consider the urge to eat pretzels dipped in ranch dressing, neither of which I even LIKE, to be a dangerous side effect.

Social anxiety
Mood swings (anger.. usually due to the above condition)
chronic Neck pain (subluxation in my neck)
chronic Joint pain (from years of running and boxing)
And lately abdominal pains (doctors have found nothing wrong.. debating paying $400-600 to test for Crohns).
To keep my focus (undiagnosed Adult ADD I'm guessing)

In addition I just enjoy it. :thumbsup:

Cannabis relieves all of that I would say anywhere from 95-100%. It allows me to feel like I'm a normal person.

When you're in pain.. the pain can be so intense it's almost crippling. I'm not sure how well I would function without it, although admittingly I'm not as bad off as some people who definitely need it.

When I was 3, another child (5?) snapped and came at me with a hammer. He did a number on my head. I was left with scars, dents in my skull and migraines.

When I was 19, I found that cannabis stopped the migraines! :thumbsup: I have used whenever possible ever since. I did attempt to not use for a period of about 3 (hellish) years. Even my boss was telling me to go see a doctor.

I went, got tested, and was told I "just" have migraines! I looked at the list of possible side effects for the medicine they wanted me to take. :wtf: I went and got "legal". No unpleasant (or fatal) side effects with cannabis- just feeling good and the munchies- I can deal with that! :D

At 60, I also have a touch of arthritis and (compliments of my bipolar mother) definite mood swings that cannabis smooths out. Cannabis kept me reasonably mellow during menopause (I didn't murder anyone, I swear!) and takes care of the hubby's aches and pains, which makes my life easier.

And I just noticed it is past 4:20, so I'm late for my "brownie" and pipe with the hubby! - Bye!- Granny:hippy:

Mild to moderate ADD and OCD, back pain and inflammation in the joints on my hands...Until I got arrested for having a gram in a small keychain..and I had to quit for a year unfortunately...otherwise it's jail for a year...fuck that shit.

Anxiety. I hate Pharmys

Sssh- Don't tell anyone, but I smoke it cuz I LIKE it!!1! My med issues do make it somewhat legit, tho- HepC, Lung cancer, Hern. disc/sciatica, 2 heart attacks, and bi-lateral kidney stones. But I'd smoke even if I didn't, so ha-ha.

When I was going through chemo I used it to get hungry and to help with body pains.

Now I use it for my bipolar. It really takes away my anxiety also.

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Originally Posted by Barrelhse

Sssh- Don't tell anyone, but I smoke it cuz I LIKE it!!1! My med issues do make it somewhat legit, tho- HepC, Lung cancer, Hern. disc/sciatica, 2 heart attacks, and bi-lateral kidney stones. But I'd smoke even if I didn't, so ha-ha.

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Hope this doesn't take you by surprise, but smoking if you've had heart attacks and lung cancer ain't the best idea in the world. You ought to be vaping instead. Smoked cannabis is anything but heart-healthy. THC is lung-healthy, but the rest of the crap you're inhaling with it isn't. Looks like you've got it justified to yourself, but you're not ever going to convince anyone with real medical training that your medical issues justify smoking it. Vaping or eating it, more likely yes. Not smoking.

Some very good advice from the good Doctor. The vaporizer you get today may lengthen, or save, your life tomorrow.

Why I use medical marijuana:
Anxiety, depression, social anxiety, arthritis (inflammatory...ouch!) and what feels like total joint breakdown, insomnia, fibromyalgia, migraines, double total knee replacement, pain all over and pulmonary hypertension (chest pain). When I vape, or drink or eat MJ I get relief for awhile and I can sleep. Heaven! :hippy:

Dave,
Can vaping actually help my Pulmonary Hypertension? I thought you might know, with your background. Thanks a bunch! Ldy :hippy:

I smoke herbs to help deal with depression and it helps me with staying focused and calm .( There is no medical marijuana in this region of America,that is unheard of.)I was prescribed zoloft,lexapro etc,,,screw that crap!!!I like herbs.I can smoke pot anytime!!!:thumbsup:...day or nite:rasta:and have no harmful side effects:smokin:

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Originally Posted by LdyMarsRN

Dave,
Can vaping actually help my Pulmonary Hypertension? I thought you might know, with your background. Thanks a bunch! Ldy :hippy:

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LdyMarsRN, Dave's gone for the rest of this week to a conference and a golf tournament (the real motivation for his trip!). I'm his wife and got off the phone with him not too long ago. Your question was one of the topics we covered.

A couple of questions for you. Sounds like you're already using cannabis from your post above the question for Dave. Are you officially diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension? You said "chest pain (pulmonary hypertension)," and so we wondered if you have diagnosed your chest pain yourself as such or if doctors and tests have confirmed for you that pulmonary hypertension is what you have.

If you do have an official case of PH, Dave says there's really no way to know how vaping would affect you. According to him, pulmonary hypertension is tricky enough that he certainly wouldn't want his patients smoking cannabis and probably wouldn't want them to risk vaping it, either, because he's seen increased BPs and arrhythmic anomalies in a good many people who vape cannabis and would worry that it could increase pulmonary hypertension, but that's just his err-on-the-side-of-caution answer he standardly gives. Not sure if you're in a medical MJ state where you can know what strains you're getting from a dispensary, but PH is a tricky and dangerous disease and not one you'd likely want to combine with random sativas, which, even when vaped, can increase vascular and arterial pressure. No human testing of that condition and cannabis has been done here in this country, and we're fairly certain none has been done in other parts of the world, either. Far too risky a study group to mess with, frankly.

I apologize if that's not a terribly helpful answer. I'm so sorry you're dealing with pulmonary hypertension! Wouldn't wish that on anyone. Dave said there are a good many clinical trials being done with medicines for PH. If you live near a major medical center/medical school or have a fairly well connected physician, he said, those are worth looking into. We're guessing you probably already take calcium channel blockers of some kind (like diltiazem). Sildenafil, which is Viagra but is marketed under the name Ravatio for pulmonary (arterial) hypertension, is apparently helpful for some PH patients. If you do want to look into clinical trials, he says, careful about using "herbal" products. A lot of trials won't consider folks who use so-called illicit drugs, but it sounds like you rely on cannabis for your other conditions. Good luck to you!

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - ulcerative colitis to be specific.

ulcerated, inflamed and bleeding bowels :(

I do not use conventional medication anymore after several bad experiences. I am trying to get hold of this however SATIVEX

wrong forum

Mostly for me it's herniated discs and general crazy back pain. I also have trouble sleeping and I find that buds can really help me out there. It sucks living in a state where mmj isn't legal (yet), so that can be a real challenge. But I do have an unfailing positive attitude... so I've got that going for me!

I puff to help minimize pain as I'm a 90% 3rd degree burn survivor and Juicy J puffs to help w/ a.d.h.d .
Crispi :stoned:

Migraine's
Partial spondylolythesis L4-5
Mult. herniate discs and spurs all over
Spinal Stenosis (flattening and narrowing of the spinal cord nerve)
Arthritis
Big time P.M.S; made me wonder why men can tolerate us (especially me
Sciatica
Now, serious mood swings settled down immediately with dose of mmj! One thing at a time as it gets better cure another one and get deeper into what makes me tick or allow myself to keep ticking!:D
Bi'lateral knee replacements, last year
Post Laminectiomy syndrome.
Degenertative Disc disease
Bi'lateral tendonitis of shoulders
Bi'lateral neuromas on feet
Plantar faciaitis, heck, that's enough
and a few other hypochondriac disorders
a few from here and there above and that pretty much will do it!
Mainly, it makes my muscles spasms relax and is real good before therapy with hot packs, etc! Breaks the pain, spasm, severe spasm cycle; in head and body! It makes life easier too! :hippy:

I smoke to ease sharp pains in my hands and feet. Sometimes I have knee problems too where I won't even want to stand. It helps with my mood as well. The 'swings' feel more stabilized. I play music everyday and generally put alot of work on my joints and the key areas where it normally hurts, so that helps me play easier. :thumbsup:

Depression

It became a everday thing just like eating food or taking a shower, progressed to mass consumptions, now when I stop using old pains I havnt felt in months or days come back

Where to begin:
I have epilepsy (grand-mal seizures) brought to the surface by a traumatic brain injury about 15 years ago. I also suffer from anxiety/insomnia (PTSD) and diabetes (type 2).
Cannabis helps me deal with all of those things and more.

My seizures are more of just an aura when using cannabis instead of the all out hippie hippie shake that I go through when not using.

If I can not sleep or get a bit nervous a couple tokes and I can feel the calm again.

I do not know what I would do with out cannabis!

man, i feel weak after reading some of these! but i find first and foremost I can sleep. I got sick of being up for days at a time. second, i later found it calmed my anxiety about EVERYTHING!