Medical Records Concern

[LukeRamsey]

A little backstory, and then my question:

I live in Colorado. In early 2000 I started getting a chronic pain in my head. It got worse and more frequent until it was there almost all the time. I spent the next few years going to different specialists. I had X-rays and CAT scans that didn't show a definite cause. I had sinus surgery because the doctor thought perhaps my nasal passages were too small. I had my wisdom teeth removed because the dentist said those could be causing it. Prescription pain meds were largely ineffective, and had nasty side effects.

I got divorced in 2003 and lost the health insurance I had through my wife (I'm self employed). I simply couldn't afford to keep going to doctors all the time, especially when they didn't seem to be helping, so I gritted my teeth and tried to get through it the best I could, hoping it would get better in time. It didn't, and 6 years later I'm still dealing with it every day. I have bouts of deep depression from having to live like this.

Last weekend someone told me that medical marijuana should almost definitely help me. I'd heard about medical marijuana, but I was under the mistaken impression that you had to be terminally ill (cancer or aids) in order to get any. I started doing research on it, and now I'm starting to have hope that my life can be good again. I have a couple of questions before I get my hopes up too high, though.

1. I've never taken an illegal drug in my life, so I can't truthfully tell a doctor "I've tried marijuana and it's the only thing that works for me." Is that going to hurt my ability to get a recommendation?

2. My medical records will definitely show that I've been to a doctor for this chronic pain on numerous occasions, BUT, like I said, my medical records stop in 2003. Could I be denied a recommendation because my records aren't recent enough?

LukeRamsey Reviewed by LukeRamsey on 11-20-2009. Medical Records Concern A little backstory, and then my question: I live in Colorado. In early 2000 I started getting a chronic pain in my head. It got worse and more frequent until it was there almost all the time. I spent the next few years going to different specialists. I had X-rays and CAT scans that didn't show a definite cause. I had sinus surgery because the doctor thought perhaps my nasal passages were too small. I had my wisdom teeth removed because the dentist said those could be causing it. Rating: 5

[dennisjill]

Luke, Here's what I know from Montana.

1. I've never taken an illegal drug in my life, so I can't truthfully tell a doctor "I've tried marijuana and it's the only thing that works for me." Is that going to hurt my ability to get a recommendation?
Cannabis friendly doctors aren't going to ask because it is illegal to use without state permission. When a normal doc prescribes Fentynol or anything else, they don't ask if you've tried it (they may ask if it's been prescribed before).


2. My medical records will definitely show that I've been to a doctor for this chronic pain on numerous occasions, BUT, like I said, my medical records stop in 2003. Could I be denied a recommendation because my records aren't recent enough?

Cannabis friendly docs are very (in my experience) understanding about money issues. I went in with hip problems. I had one conventional doc visit (she wouldn't recommend MMJ except for terminal), no x-rays due to money (unemployed due to hip and mental issues, not recognized by Montana). I now have my card and can start growing my own medicine and purchase from my caregiver.

Good luck in your endeavor in pain relief.:thumbsup:
Dennis in Montana

[Feijao]

You are over thinking this process just like I did before I got my card. All you need to do is go to a doc and tell him that you have chronic pain. If you go to a doc that doenst require records he will just ask you your problems. You just explain that you have chronic pain and you are out the door with a recommendation.

Feijao

[calphi27]

You are over thinking this process just like I did before I got my card. All you need to do is go to a doc and tell him that you have chronic pain. If you go to a doc that doenst require records he will just ask you your problems. You just explain that you have chronic pain and you are out the door with a recommendation.

Feijao

anyone you can recommend?

[cannamanibus]

Lukeramsey, Google- Colorado medical marijuana, and call some of the clinics/co-op's and tell them your exact problem. Someone should be willing to give you 1/2 a gram or somethin in order to test and see if it works. Which im thinking it will. I have CHRONIC knee pain and it really knocks the top off for me and makes it more flexible. I've had surgery on it and got screw in it so it sucks. but. If their was a way to PM, I'd mail you a .3 to test b/c it ain't nothing to me, to try to help someone!!!

[copobo]

what's up with that?

is there really no way to pm? I just thought I was being an idiot.

is it ok to put an email address out there? (yea, a throwaway anon one?)

[copobo]

I can tell you from what you list it will help.

It isn't a cure, but it can dull the pain and make things bearable and improve your quality of life.

let us know how it goes and ask away.

[LukeRamsey]

Thanks for the replies, everyone, you've helped ease my mind about the whole thing. I looked up numbers for some places close to where I live and I'm going to call on Monday, hopefully one of them can help me. It would be great if I could find a place that doesn't require medical records, because I don't have mine on hand and it'll cost money and extra time to get a copy.

Anyway, thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes.