Got my MRI results

[left-of-center2012]

I spoke with my primary care doc this morning.
The MRI shows I have osteoarthritis and “Scheuermann's disease” in my thoracic spine.

“Scheuermann's Disease is a growth condition in which the normal curve in the upper spine is increased, forming a hunched back. (I do not have any outwardly noticeable curvature of my spine.)

The disease typically occurs in the thoracic spine when the front does not grow as fast as the back of the spine,
so that the vertebrae become wedge-shaped.”

I woke up last night at 12:30 A.M. with severe back pain and it didn’t let up until around 7 A.M.
The Hydrocodone and muscle relaxers I took did nothing to help. I just sat in my living room chair and suffered for hours.

My doc has switched me to Oxycodone from Hydrocodone and is getting me a ‘medical marijuana card’. You must have pain for three months that is not helped by regular medication, and I’ve had seven months of pain.

He said he has a a lot of patients with chronic pain who have been helped with medical marijuana. It will take about a month to get the ‘medical marijuana card’ and I need go to a state licensed ‘marijuana dispensary'.

I can get it in pill form, without the ‘marijuana high’.

[underpants]

1. Dip it

I have a friend

No need to smoke it if it’s in, what I understand, is the usual format. Chew it a bit and suck on it between your cheek and gums.

[padfun]

4. No it needs to be heated

It's called Decarboxylation. It needs to be heated in order to activate the THC.

In edibles, it has already gone thru that process. I make butter and the formula I do is 235 degrees for 100 minutes. Cooking it in Coconut oil works great.

[Warpy]

8. I like your sig line but he forgot the worst part

Having your airway and alimentary canal connected at the top is a recipe for disasters of several types.

[Warpy]

10. I know someone with lung cancer who does exactly this

It's not like he can smoke anything at this point. His wife says it don't smell like roses, but it does the job.

[mopinko]

14. this is right.

edibles make me nervous. chewing kat is fine, snorting lines, not so much.

[femmedem]

2. That sounds brutal.

I hope medical marijuana will give you relief.

[padfun]

3. I feel your pain (pun intended)

I don't have the curvature of the spine but do have osteoarthritis. I also have chronic severe headaches. Cannabis helps with both pains. I am in Calif so we have plenty of stores and you don't need any card.

My sister, who had never smoked cannabis her entire life (she is 70) got a medical card a few years ago and did the non-high route (CBD). Later she learned, as we all have, that the high is a part of the no pain. Now she uses a vape pipe and edibles for her pain, as do I.

Try not to listen to the bullshit that has been told by media over the years and accept the high. It really isn't that high unless you really overdo it and that is hard to do unless you do edibles and overdo them.

And if you don't have to go anywhere, try the edibles. They are great for all day relief but be careful when taking them. It can take up to two hours before you feel it. Many have assumed that it wasn't working enough and then eat more. And then they regret it.

If you do edibles, limit yourself to only 10 mg per dose at first. The average dose is 15 mg but start lower to see if you are comfortable with the feeling. It is a little different high than smoke or vape. It changes to a different chemical in the liver, close but not quite the same chemical.

Good luck with your pain and the treatment of it.

[left-of-center2012]

5. "Many have assumed that it wasn't working enough and then eat more."

Around 1972 some friends and I made pot brownies for the first time.

I ate one, and nothing happened.
I ate a second one, and nothing happened.
I ate a third one, and nothing happened.

I went home and went to bed.

I woke up the next morning stoned out of my mind !

[padfun]

6. My wife did that once.

She didn't partake very often but one day, while I was in Arizona, she ate half a brownie. Now it was a 100 mg brownie so that in itself was too much for her. After an hour she ate the second half. And then found herself in bed for about 12 hours. It can be traumatizing to those who aren't used to it.

[mitch96]

9. Been there, done that.. I find that eating it also makes it last longer.. Horrible munchies too...nt

[in2herbs]

7. I applaud your dr for recommending and assisting you with getting a MJ card. I think you

will find it quite helpful -- once you get the dosage right. I would not recommend a pill form because it takes too long to take effect and its effectiveness may be reduced in the intestines. I would recommend oil -- CBD oil and/or a 1:1 which is 50% CBD and 50% THC. The trick is to get the dose of 1:1 just to the point of giving the MJ high. You will still get pain relief. You'll have to play around but it's worth the hassle.

[left-of-center2012]

11. "I would recommend oil"

How do you use the oil?
I have no one who can rub it on my back.

[in2herbs]

12. Sorry. You take it by mouth with the dropper in the lid. Count out how many drops as you're

dropping them under your tongue. I recommend withholding water and toothpaste for 30 mins. on each side of dosing. Because they're oil take them with something containing fat.

[left-of-center2012]

13. OK

And what contains fat?

[in2herbs]

15. Peanut butter, buttered toast, sandwich with mayo, bacon and eggs fried in butter, french fries,

greasy burger, etc.

[left-of-center2012]

16. Sounds good

Thanks

[in2herbs]

17. Just eat the food first, then take the oil. Good luck.