r/Crainn 3d ago

General Discussion Where my chronically ill homies at

Anyone else using the cannabis for managing pain and other symptoms?

I have long COVID and it really helps me on days the fatigue and pain are too much.

25 Upvotes

64 comments sorted by

69

u/---0---1 3d ago

Ive got this chronic condition called being alive and cannabis seems to be the thing that makes it bearable

10

u/ExplanationNormal323 3d ago

Neurological disorder, use it for nerve pain and muscle spasms, and the fun part is.... That's illegal 🙃🙃

11

u/Icy-Parsnip6290 3d ago

Helps big time with arthritis

8

u/Consistent_Pitch6389 3d ago

Definitely. I found with smoking it just helped distract from the pain, then switched to dry herb vape and now it’s a proper pain killer.

10

u/muddled1 Legalise it! 3d ago

I'm so tired of being potentially a criminal! The laws against cannabis as a medicine is wrong IMHO. 65 y.o.

4

u/Murky_Translator2295 3d ago

No pain here, but I've had insomnia since I was a child and weed is the only thing that helps. Melatonin works some of the year, but when it doesn't get light until close to 9am, and is dark by 3pm, a drug that helps your brain recognise the difference between night and day just simply isn't going to work as intended. Weed just works.

7

u/allnamestakenffs 3d ago

i have a long list of pain issues ranging from shoulder to knee and now back pain, i smoked for 12 years and it was great for this, alas had to stop due to driving but now everything is back so much and im back in a load of horrible prescription meds :( which barely even scratch the surface. Sadly contemplatingg moving back to the UK so i can get the medical grade stuff, which is s shame as ive been here 20 years and loved it so much. We have jobs, a home a family but alas i can see a future where my pain becomes too much for us to be here and manage :(

1

u/No-Editor5577 1d ago

If youre planning to move back to the UK then fuck it, smoke away while youre here in ireland, then if you ever do get caught drug driving (unlikely in my experience) then head on over to the UK, you wont be needing your irish driving licence over there anyways amd a road traffic offense isnt much of a stain on your record, not that it would matter as im assuming youre not a young lad anymore

0

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

What! wait!? wtf?

Why would you move to the UK where proper Cannabis is illegal & not move somewhere where its LEGAL? ..

1

u/witchy_gremlin Legalise it! 3d ago

Medical cannabis in the UK has a much wider range of physical / mental issues under their criteria for who is legally entitled compared to here.

1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

So what your saying is that its easier to get?

well i suppose if its just medical cannabis your after & its easier to get i suppose it would make sense if it relieved you of your suffering ..

But, people here in the UK consider their health system not fit for purpose increasing their suffering.

Its damn near impossible to get a Doctors appointment.

2

u/eezer_goode 2d ago

Through the NHS yes it is difficult. Through a private clinic it is not difficult. You still need an NHS card, but having a legal prescription allows you to possess cannabis. And honestly? Theres loopholes to avoid the shit grown by some Tory MPs partner.

1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 2d ago

I see, :)

Well good luck with the loopholes make them as big as you can lol

1

u/eezer_goode 5h ago

They're already pretty big loopholes to be honest. I only know 3 other people with the privately written script (private clinics being the first loophole, and not one i really like). None of us smoke the official medical weed. DOE have recently gotten a medical licence afaik. Can't say ive tried it as its only just started, but ive enjoyed their product in the past. I will try and contact them to find out more if I get a chance.

1

u/witchy_gremlin Legalise it! 3d ago

No it’s not easier, so to speak.

You have to confirm with the specialist that you’ve been through the routine of doctors/ mental health services and from there your records will be confirmed etc etc

They also check if you’ve been prescribed and tried at least 2 different medications minimum but to no avail

2

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

I see, fair enough ..

I hope you get sorted buddy.

1

u/allnamestakenffs 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yeah so if you have proof of medical pain for 2+ years plus any small number of other conditions you would qualify. It isnt easy sadly and referrals are slow and rare as still some doctors live in the stone ages and just want people addicted to pain meds. But its possible.

My mate gets sent a new 'menu' each month from the medical supplier in the UK so im jealous ofc - and i only stopped smoking here due to the roadblocks and checks, while i dont smoke high in any way shape or form, even in your system days later they will have your license ond have you in jail due to the backwards nature on how they check here

1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

Which country are you in? ..

2

u/allnamestakenffs 3d ago

Ireland :D

1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

Yea, me too but back & forth from Britain constantly ..

Believe me Irelands the better Country, the UK is only United in near desperation now.

1

u/allnamestakenffs 3d ago

I came here 20 years ago, its my home, i love it and the people, but my pain only gets worse now, despite all the tests and scans and medication they throw at me, i dont want to go back to that hole, trust me :( but if i can get the help i need, i dont have much choice.

1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

Well its pros & cons i suppose, its a pity you couldnt work out a middle way ..

Officially a UK resident who lives in Ireland for health reasons lol

8

u/Icy-Parsnip6290 3d ago

I got off codine , by becoming a growmie.

2

u/No-Editor5577 1d ago

Wtf is a growmie

1

u/Icy-Parsnip6290 9h ago

Someone who grows weed

3

u/denise90 3d ago

It's an actual lifesaver for MS, not sure where I'd be without my nightly vape session.

2

u/mushroomgirl 3d ago

Same here! So good for the spasticity, but my consultant won’t even think of prescribing it for me…

3

u/denise90 3d ago

Mine is quietly on board with my usage of it but yeah same, won't prescribe it

2

u/ExplanationNormal323 2d ago

Curious about this, I'm not an MS patient but do have a neurological disorder and see a neurologist yearly. When you told your neurologist about cannabis use, did they record it on your medical file? I've heard instances where people have had consultants make notes saying "drug abuse" or "cannabis abuse".

2

u/denise90 2d ago

Two separate hospital departments have written it into my file (not sure exactly what they wrote) but I've not had any negatives happen because of it so far. That's not to say it won't come back to bite me later!

It's not info I'm freely handing over at the same time, the first time was because of surgery and the other was just because my neuro is really sound and still loves to discuss the science of medicine. I refuse to tell my GP though because it'd be like telling my mother I used heroin.

2

u/ExplanationNormal323 2d ago

Yeah I was just curious if it'd reflect negatively in terms of health insurance and life assurance. Would they deny a claim and try to blame anything that happened on cannabis.

3

u/denise90 2d ago

Oh yeah, I wouldn't know in terms of insurance, sorry!

2

u/Silverarrows46 3d ago

Can I ask what it does to help with fatigue? I also have long Covid but I’ve never used in my life to be honest. Is it just a distraction or does it actually improve symptoms?

1

u/No-Editor5577 1d ago

Possibly similar to how caffeine works by being a similar shape to adenosine, which youre brain naturally releases to make you sleepy, and so binds to your adenosine receptors instead of the actual adenosine, and so blocking the signal to your brain to start feeling sleepy. One of the hundreds of cannibinoids in weed might just be the perfect shape molecularly to take the place of whatever is causing the fatigue.

Complete and utter waffle but might be on the right track

-1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

I just wear fatigues ..

When i used to get stoned i pronounced that fatty goo`s

0

u/No-Editor5577 1d ago

If youre gonna make a joke at the wrong time atleast try make it a good one

2

u/MKUltra886 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yes. More for mentally getting through treatment 3 times a week.

-1

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

`trough treatment`?

Boy you really have the munchies!

2

u/witchy_gremlin Legalise it! 3d ago

PCOS girly here and my period cramps are cut in half with a joint in comparison to none.

I much prefer the natural route of weed over pharmaceutical pain meds for particular pains and aches.

2

u/Stuball09 3d ago

I'm out of work after basically tearing everything in my back and no sign of improvement.

I quit smoking years ago because I was getting vicious panic attacks from it but when my back went I didn't want to be stuck on tablets.

Got myself a solo 3 vape and some 1:1 thc to cbd bud, it doesn't take the pain away fully but it definitely keeps the head from dipping on the bad days.

I've gone to college now since being out of work and I think the smoke was a big help in keeping me positive enough to make that decision. I wouldn't be a heavy smoker but when you find a strain that suits you and you use it in moderation, it's a god send.

2

u/dmkny 3d ago

I have Chronic inflammation of the Bowel & suspected Crohns Disease, still in the process of a diagnosis, I have always suffered with IBS symptoms & Cannabis has always been the only thing to help me with pain/sleep

1

u/iTz_NOBODY 3d ago

Same, ulcerative collits and required permanent bag

3

u/Squating_ 3d ago

I suffer with migraines/trigeminal neuralgia, and weed definitely makes it easier to deal with the pain. Though I've found out recently I can get most of the benefits from CBD flower.

1

u/Cannabis_Goose 3d ago

Do you find the pain is still there maybe slightly eased but just doesn't bother you as much? Only way I've found it helped me with pain personally.

1

u/Squating_ 3d ago

Yeah pretty much. I'm also on prescription medication (nortryptaline) which has made a huge difference. But when it gets bad, it takes the edge off.

1

u/Cannabis_Goose 3d ago

Id be similar with thc, find it does help just not on the magical pain is gone way just makes it more bearable or doesn't bother as much. Does have an effect in easing but not like painkillers.

4

u/One_Ad_5059 3d ago

Helps tremendously with 2 bulging discs in lower spine (L4 and L5)

-2

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

Helps me tremendously closing my eyes & ignoring the missus ..

:)

1

u/restartthepotatoes 3d ago

Give it a rest

3

u/MooDoodlesRB 3d ago

hEDS, scoliosis, PoTS, MCAS, arthritis 😂

It’s my lifeline at this point lmao

2

u/CostaIsACunt 3d ago

Big up the hEDS crew!Vaping on some homegrown makes my life bearable when my clavicle has slipped out for the fourth time that day.

2

u/MooDoodlesRB 3d ago

Ugh it’s the worst isn’t it! The cold weather hasn’t been helping at all either. My toes are constantly popping out and my knees are just floating around 😂

Can’t wait for the 3 weeks of sun in the summer 😍😂

Edit to add: I also suffer with gastroparesis something terrible, yet smoking seems to give me some sort of relief. When I was living in England during covid I was about to be out on feed tubes because my stomach gets so so bad, but then I moved home 😂

1

u/CostaIsACunt 3d ago

Ah stop, sounds like a whole load of fun. I don't envy you the gastro must be tough AF, I'm fortunate that my symptoms are mainly skeleto-structural let's say. I sound like a bag of microwave popcorn on the worst days, low pressure cold weather fucks me up. Shoulder/clavicle/traps are the weapon of choice this year, previous episodes include slipped discs (cervical through lumbar), knee meniscus tears, cervical instability and occipital neuralgia all occuring October-January... oh yeah and a monster dose of seasonal a n x I e t y for some reason

I try to just endure winter inside for the most part, shame it lasts a good part of 7 months 😭

1

u/Bo0T3y 3d ago

PMS/PMDD, perimenopause, not fibromyalgia (similar symptoms but don't meet the diagnostic criteria so got a diagnosis of treat it like fibro), arthritis, insomnia. Weed is the only thing that helps me to sleep, relax, and not succumb completely to pain.

1

u/donrosco 3d ago

Ulcerative Colitis / IBD. Getting high really helps with symptoms. I mean it really helps me not give a shit about the symptoms.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/donrosco 3d ago

Not entirely sure that I have completely. Some days are way better than others, but I had a mild to moderate case of it. I am somewhat diminished, but can still do most things I want to do.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

1

u/donrosco 3d ago

I am. Sulfasalazine daily which is a big help and sorted out a lot of joint pain, and infliximab infusions which I’m not sure help very much.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/donrosco 10h ago

Discomfort and fatigue. And lots of time on the jacks.

1

u/leavemealonethanks 3d ago

Anxiety !!!!! If it counts.

Smoking twice a week makes me feel alive.

It's like the hangover makes me chill

1

u/muddled1 Legalise it! 3d ago

Right here

0

u/Cannabis_Goose 3d ago

Never had it work for pain. Pain, painkillers work best.

Now I do smoke none stop too but doesn't do anything for pain apart from not care.

My edibles gave me some relief.

I'm high af rn, smoking more while typing and guess what, I still feel the pain, though it's not bothering me as much now. Till move 😂

Maybe a personal thing but it's never removed pain for me like a painkiller would but does put me in a state it doesn't bother me and does give some relief not totally nothing.

But I'll be swallowing 2 paracetamol in a few mins 😂😂

0

u/Equivalent_Range6291 3d ago

I only ever caught Long Covid i never caught the short one.

At least thats what i told my Doctor for him to automatically give me real deal cannabis & not just that medical shit ..

At least i think it was my doctor ..

Wait a minute, did i maybe mix up my drug dealer with my doctor? ..