Actually, FWIW, hybrids of Indica and Sativa actually work the best for most pain, especially in moderate to heavy doses. The indica can leave one feeling almost as drugged as the opiates can and sativa can actually make pain worse due to it's high THC content. However a mix of both can alleviate pain while allowing a person to still be highly productive and get stuff done. That is why you will hear people say "it depends on your problem and the strain". Each strain has a different ratio of cannabinoids and each of those cannabinoids has a different effect on the body. Some are antispasmodics, others are anti-inflammatories. Yet still others allow you to direct your focus on something other then the pain and others act as actual painkillers. I'm sure there are plenty more who's effect has yet to be discovered or understood. It is also theorized that when Cannabis is burned that even more variations of cannabinoids are created.

It is the ratio of these many active ingredients that make up a particular strains cumulative effects. You can even use a poultice of leaves (or buds) or an extract of resin in oil or alcohol directly on the skin of the affected area as well. It may even be more effective than inhalation in some cases eg. bacterial infection or muscle pain. The skin absorbs chemicals placed on it and transports them to the nearest tissues. Therefore this is a more direct route to getting the effective agents to the affected area. That's why liniments were invented in the first place. Some people may not be able to ever get off their prescription painkillers completely but they can sure increase the effectiveness and cut their use of them way down.

IronDog~ I humbly offer a few treatments for your back pain: inversion, ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation or EMS. An inversion table costs anywhere from $100-$400 and an ultrasound machine about $130 and a TENS/EMS machine (if you live in the US you need to get a prescription for it) starts at around $75. For less than an ounce of good buds you have three additional treatment methods to help you rid yourself of chronic pain (if you don't buy the $400 super deluxe inversion table like I did ). I have successfully used inversion and ultrasound therapy to help control my back pain for over 2 years now. I only use NSAIDs (mainly ibuprofen) occasionally and Cannabis when I can afford it. I will use a muscle relaxer if I am in absolute agony due to a spasm as well. I would also be using a EMS/TENS machine too except I can't afford to pay to see a doctor to prescribe me one. Unfortunately my government doesn't think I am smart enough to use one without a doctor watching over me. Ugh I hate authoritarians!

Oh, and if you can, you should probably use these treatments under a doctors supervision as I don't know how serious your condition is and one or more of these treatments could possibly make it worse. Although I believe you know your body best and can feel if you over do it. I personally have never had any adverse side effects other than mild discomfort due to over stretching very tight muscles, but everyone is different.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck staying off those killer pills. You will surely have a better quality of life because of it.

Blessed be~