Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment

[RAGuy]

Hi, I am new and was wondering if there are any others here being treated for RA with MMJ?

I have had RA for 20 years and most of that time I have been treated by a specialist and on a myriad of pharmas. Unfortunately this year my medications stopped working and I had a flare that completely incapacitated me. I am blessed to still have a job and what health I do have.

At any rate I am having to take steroids to supress my immune system and alot of opiates to make it through the day and my doctor recommended that I look into MMJ as an alternative for pain management as well as inflamation.

If there are any other out there with RA it wold be great to hear your experiences. I have been approved for MMJ I just don't really know where to go from here. Thanks and I hope you all are well!

 

[ttystikk]

I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I'm aware of how bad it can be, my ex girlfriend has it. She reported that smoking would help- except that as a non smoker of anything, every time she touched a pipe to her lips she'd cough up a lung- which is no bueno in the middle of a flareup.

Based solely on our experience, so take this with a grain of salt, I'd suggest edibles or vaporize. Strain choice made a big difference, the couch lock helped her sleep and the sativa helped during the day. Since she also had anxiety issues, she wouldn't use much sativa, so that may be why she didn't think it was very helpful. Or maybe not... Try a few different strains and see how they make you feel.

I do hope you find something that works, RA fucking sucks.

 

[dankworth]

Stay away from wheat, dairy, black mold.
Your body is only attacking itself because it has an inappropriate immune response to diet.
I fixed my intestines, immune system, asthma, arthritis, fibromyalgia by smoking chemo x og kush, straightening out my diet, and eliminating exposure to black mold.
Took a while. Now I can smoke a pack a day and jog uphill.

 

[RAGuy]

Thanks for the replies and well wishes. Some couch lock would probably serve me well in the evenings when the pain is bad and I can't sleep well. I have read that CBD heavy strains can have a positive effect so I guess I will start there.
As to RA being a diet issue I can tell you that I have been down that road and it is not related to my diet. In fact its insulting to say something like that to someone with RA. I know you didn't intend that but believe me myself and others I know have tried all the gluten free, dairy free, acupuncture, and whatever old wives tail remedies there are out there and not one of them has worked for me. I cut meat completely from my diet for a year as well as wheat and it made no difference. I have a huge garden and grow all my own vegetables. I can food in the summer so I don't have to buy store bought items full of preservatives. While all of this is great and a healthy diet can never hurt someone I only wish this disease were that simple.
You may want to think about that before telling someone with RA or another serious systemic disease that it's simply a matter of changing something THEY are doing.

 

[Seamaiden]

Agreed, although I'm sure you're aware that there are foods you should be avoiding since they are known to aggravate the condition (what's proven, clinically, and a good dietitian or LEAP dietitian would be able to discuss this in depth with you) are sensitivities to Solanaceous veggies--eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes. I have a good friend with RA who can NOT handle peppers, and especially tomatoes, she feels awful after consuming anything with tomato in it. I do agree with you, someone who doesn't suffer or have experience may not be the best to offer advice, that's like a man telling a woman how to handle <pick your female issue>. And THAT said, I have ANOTHER friend whose doctor has never once discussed with her the known issues for RA sufferers that are tied to consumption of Solanaceous veggies. I keep telling her she should talk to a dietitian, but she's happy with her cocktail.

The high-CBD strains are definitely out there, but they're not proving so easy to acquire. Harlequin is one strain that I believe is fairly available, but I couldn't tell you where, that'd take some searching. I had several girls in my stable last year, all lost, unfortunately.

In the meantime, my own preference for pain control while simultaneously allowing a high functioning level are Sativa dominant strains. I've been able to stop taking all the prescribed opiates/painkillers (back injury, then later on knee injury) with some exceptions in extreme cases, by using Sativa-dominant strains. I have, however, conditioned myself to the point where I can smoke enough to kill pain, but not get high despite high THC levels. That takes time to achieve, and this is where a high-CBD strain will serve someone like you much better.

I'll flesh out ttystick's recommendation with regard to consumption method--I always suggest people new to the experience use a smoking/vaporizing method first before they try medibles. Why? Titration, basically.

With smoking/vaporizing, the effect is fairly immediate, within a few minutes. Because of that you can tell pretty quickly how much is enough. Not so with medibles! It takes at least an hour for the effects to be felt, and if you haven't taken enough, it's going to take at least another hour before you'll know whether or not that's been enough. And if you took too much? You get to wear your pot hangover for at least a full day, sometimes longer.

For me it's also an issue of diet--medibles, to be effective, have to use either lipids or alcohols to get the active compounds into a usable solution (most of them, there are certainly water-soluble compounds that would be beneficial). I have high cholesterol and so tend to eat a rather low-fat diet, and don't tolerate alcohol very well at all. Not to mention, I can't stand the flavor of cannabis. I really wish I did, but I don't.

So these are some of the considerations for you in making your choice of delivery method and strain.

 

[fishwhistle]

Good advice above,I have arthritis and a good indica will do you wonders at night but can be a little much during the day so a sativa works better if youve got stuff to do.I personally do not like medibles at all for a myriad of reasons,too dicey dosage wise and takes too long to come on when you need it.If your not a regular user or been one in the past i suggest you get a pipe and take 1 hit,wait about 15 minutes and if thats not doing it take another one and so on,pretty soon you will figure out the best dose(# of hits)for you,For me 1 hit takes the edge off,2 is better and three is best for arthritis pain.Keep in mind im smoking pretty good quality stuff,the lower the quality the more you have to consume.A vape is a great idea if smoking bothers you but definitely not required.Best of luck and do ANYTHING you can to get off the pills,they are no bueno,sounds like you have a good DR. and thats probably why hes recomending MJ vs. opiates.Also go to a health food store and pick up a small bottle of boswellia complex and try it,my chiro put me on to it for inflammation and it works for me!

 

[red x]

i/ve got ra in my back
and i smoke weed for it or eat medibles
thats it no pharma
best wishes
peace
ez

 

[RAGuy]

I certainly won't argue that there are certain dietary changes that may benefit people with RA and other immune system diseases. I do stay away from all of these foods although years ago I introduced them after a cleansing diet for two weeks and I had no noticeable ill effects I don't eat them because my upper GI is in bad shape as a result of all the NSAIDS I have taken over the last 20 years. I have yet however to meet anyone that had sero positive RA go into remission as a result of these types of changes. I'm sure there is someone out there and I hope that anyone having this disease or another like it gets some relief that way.
I am taking Tumeric and Bromelain currently as they were recommended by a naturalpath as both having anti inflamatory properties. I will soon be having another complete workup on bloodwork done with him.
I appreciate the advise on methods for pain relief. I went by a dispensary today near me and talked to them for a bit, tried a lotion which gave me some temporary relief in my hands which was way cool and talked about CBD's and strains. It sounds like I need to do some research as well as experimentation on what strain will work for me and document everything well for my records so I know what to look for when I buy meds. I don't love the idea of smoking if there are alternatives.
Thanks again. Hopefully I can find some relief this way and share it with others in similar situations.

 

[Seamaiden]

That's great! I'm glad you've located a service while you learn your way around this stuff. :)

 

[RAGuy]

So I tried a strain last night called Blue Dream that is supposedly an Indica that I picked up from my local dispensary. I took the advice above and because I had no other delivery method I rolled a J. I had a puff, waited and had another. I noticed immediately that the pain had really subsided especially in my hands which have been hurting really bad.
I also felt a type of hyper sensitive feeling over most of my body. Hard to explain but I felt very physical and very bound to the flesh which in my case is pretty ate up with this disease.

As well, there was no way I was going to get to sleep because of the headiness. I was very introspective and thought about many things I haven't properly pondered of course. It was eye opening in that I have some things in my life that I need to take care of that are holding me back. It did more for me in this aspect than pain relief.
I have a couple other strains to try. I hope that they work better, the psychoactive effects were pretty intense and this was a strain that was supposedly low THC. I will definitely be discerning in the dispensary so far as what will work for me. It would be ideal to find some people locally with RA that have treated and found good results.

 

[Seamaiden]

I thought BD was a strong Sativa-leaning hybrid, but ok. The high you're describing sounds far more Sativa to me than Indica/Afghani. BD is not low THC in my experience, and in fact can be a motherfucker for the uninitiated to deal with mentally, especially if it hasn't been allowed to mature long enough during flowering, leading to paranoia in those individuals.

 

[ttystikk]

@Seamaiden Thanks for clarifying my thoughts about about methods of ingestion. I'm a relative newcomer to edible methods of pain relief, so I'm learning, too!

Thanks also for the list of plants that aggravate RA. That peppers are on it really suck though, because hot peppers are one of my favorite natural anti-inflammatory foods!

@RAGuy The fellow who sold you Blue Dream as any of A. Indica, B. Low THC and/or C. high CBD would make a great weatherman- whatever he says the weather is going to do, plan for the opposite! He couldn't have gotten it more backwards with a strain guide, lol

I'm sorry it kept you up all night, a good heady sativa will do that. I'm glad you had the chance to enjoy the mental, contemplative effects in a safe place, however- not everyone's first hard buzz is as pleasant for them as it sounds like yours was.

Piece and pain relief- I look forward to seeing you here, and seeing what I can learn from you about RA- and about a newcomer's perspective on medicating with marijuana.

 

[connoisseurde420]

my mom has RA. she is a very light smoker. she uses medibles, sneak a toke or vape, and topical lotion. a strong topical will take down pain and inflammation about as quick as smoking, or atleast lower dependency on opiates. although her pain periods are not severe all the time, it helps. I have a thread in the oil section about my creme
. hope this helps

 

[Seamaiden]

Just to clarify the issue with Solanaceous veggies with regard to RA--this isn't pseudoscience, this is well demonstrated clinically and information that I gleaned via a dietitian listserve when researching gluten intolerance for my granddaughter. It's actually kinda maddening that more doctors aren't well-versed in nutrition, especially if they're specialists, it's a huge part of the equation.

Ok, I'm done channeling Mom now. :D

 

[RAGuy]

You guys are really great. Thanks so much for all of your insight into this. I really appreciate your feedback. :)

ttystykk; I had no idea and on a whim I googled Blue Dream and yeah he couldn't be further from the goal on that one and also the other strains they were steering me toward as well. So I have only been to the one dispensary but in general are they pretty good about identifying higher CBD strains or is this something that I should really study up on and take it on my own to find the right strain at the various dispensaries near me? I'm sure alot of this depends on the dispensary and people working there.

connoisseurde420; Thanks for the insight into how your mom is treating her RA. I was really impressed with the topical I tried and I would love to learn to make my own. I'm excited to look up your thread on it. :) Do you know if when your mom smokes she is looking to sleep or looking for more immediate pain relief or simply enjoying it? Also what strain does she like? I unfortunately have alot of pain on a daily basis and I have been either in a flare up or coming out of one for months now. I am doing somewhat better but I am taking 15mg of prednizone to keep them under control. I hate to use it but when I don't I quite literally can not function I get so sick. At least this way I can work and although I hurt most of the time I manage.

I talked with a co-worker today that also treats for a back related injury he had and he suggested edibles as well. He told me that if I can hold off for the hour or so they kick in they help tremendously and are a less cerebrial and more of a body high. So I would think as well that the strain would make a big difference as well with edibles. Are the pre-mades any good or is it best to buy in bulk and make my own? I would love to make my own but if there are decent edibles that I can try while getting off of the vicodin it would be awesome. I really really want off the opiates.

While this experience in my newbness woke me up to some things I won't say that it was all a pleasant experience. Some of the things I pondered were things I have been deliberately shying away from. No way I can do that now in fact I have an appointment with my counselor to talk about some of it and try to find a course of action to take to begin to deal with it. :)

 

[ttystikk]

No question about it- the more you learn on your own, the better off you'll be. You'll be able to tell when someone is just chumping you because they had a ton of blue dream to move, for instance.

Yes, the rabbit hole is deep, but what great hobby isn't? We're all just learning here ourselves, and who knows all the answers? I'm betting on your ability to contribute back and teach us, too- whether it's about cannabis cultivation, RA pain management... or just life.

 

[Seamaiden]

You guys are really great. Thanks so much for all of your insight into this. I really appreciate your feedback. :)

ttystykk; I had no idea and on a whim I googled Blue Dream and yeah he couldn't be further from the goal on that one and also the other strains they were steering me toward as well. So I have only been to the one dispensary but in general are they pretty good about identifying higher CBD strains or is this something that I should really study up on and take it on my own to find the right strain at the various dispensaries near me? I'm sure alot of this depends on the dispensary and people working there.

While this experience in my newbness woke me up to some things I won't say that it was all a pleasant experience. Some of the things I pondered were things I have been deliberately shying away from. No way I can do that now in fact I have an appointment with my counselor to talk about some of it and try to find a course of action to take to begin to deal with it. :)

^^^ You know, I don't really know the dispensary scene, but this kinda pisses me off. If they knew just a little bit about what they were talking about, they would not have sold you the Blue Dream. What you're relaying is what I call the 'heavy' high. Some folks experience paranoia, some more extreme than others, I experience really depressing, downer thoughts, heavy shit, when smoking an immature Sativa-dominant strain. This is what you experienced, and I'm sorry you weren't prepared for it.

I don't know where you are, but there seem to be ALL levels of knowledge with regard to dispensaries. The only one that I've heard consistently good reports on via patients and what is recommended is Harborside in Oakland. Others here are far more well-versed than I on this subject matter.

 

[RAGuy]

Thanks Seamaiden. My initial thoughts on the MMJ initiatives here in WA is that it is pretty hap hazard the way it is currently running in relation to my limited experience with the dispensary I went to. Part of that I think is due to physicians not embracing the treatment options of this medication. What I mean by that is that in my case my 20+ year Doctor suggested it to me as a pain management strategy as well as anti inflammatory but then would not sign a letter for me for fear of the Feds and what they may do to her practice. I totally understand her concerns since she is prescribing alot of narcotics for people living in chronic pain. However, by not being a part of the process she recommended she is unlearned about the medication outside what she researches on her own. In my experience I am going to bet that this is somewhat limited due to her primary responsibilities.

This left me in a position that I need to then go see a Doctor who is unfamiliar with my medical issues and who while seemingly a good Doctor suggested alternative herbal supplements I should be taking (I am taking those now) in addition to MMJ for pain management.I am glad that he did this, I am really trying to find alternatives to the steroids, TNF inhibitors, NSAIDS and opiates that I am currently relying on.

The weakest part of this process from my viewpoint has been that I am left to find a dispensary that is versed in strains and medicinal delivery options but knowing where to start in that process is like trying to find the end of a big bunch of yarn. I trusted a young man to help me find a medication and he for whatever reason recommended something that was not the right fit.

The best information I have received so far is from posters like you who have taken the time to point me in the right direction and I am very grateful that you and others have cared enough to do that. :)

The good in this is that I did find that lotions are a real benefit for temporary pain relief and as well that I need to be very discerning in my dealings with dispensary employees and their knowledge levels of the products they are selling. I am partially at fault with this in that I should have taken more time and even vetted and asked for suggestions from others before I took the plunge. It's a learning process just like anything else. I look at my experience the other night as one that was beneficial to me spiritually. Yes, it was certainly heavy that is for sure. It was however something that I would not change. I have learned alot from all of this. I was thinking that in the future I will spend some time on my phone googling the strains available and comments on them before I make any purchases.

That reminds me I found a place locally that has Harlequin and they claim it is 6% THC and 7% CBD. Does this sound like a decent option? Oh, is there any way to tell if a flower has been harvested too early? I would really like to avoid that if it's possible.

 

[dirk d]

Just to clarify the issue with Solanaceous veggies with regard to RA--this isn't pseudoscience, this is well demonstrated clinically and information that I gleaned via a dietitian listserve when researching gluten intolerance for my granddaughter. It's actually kinda maddening that more doctors aren't well-versed in nutrition, especially if they're specialists, it's a huge part of the equation.

Ok, I'm done channeling Mom now. :D

last i checked doctors weren't even required to have nutrition in their schedule of must do classes. One thing that most people are NOT aware of is that a lot of vegetables and fruits and grains are GENETICALLY Modified and that is where the problem starts. Many kids do not like their veggies for the simple reason they are GMO grown crops and have no taste or nutrients. Everyone should be aware that GMO crops and Organic Crops can NOT be clumped into one category. Every Vegetable, Fruit and Grain has a purpose and benefit. Just has to be grown Organically :)

Also RAguy, you may want to try some hash oils for your RA. Get yourself an Oil Pen and enjoy some new found freedom..

 

[Seamaiden]

RAGuy, the only situation where you really want to be sure the plant's been taken long enough is specifically with the strong or pure Sativa strains.

If you've located some Harlequin, GET IT.