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Patients Testimonies
Severe chronic pain is usually treated with opiates, but these are addictive, and tolerance develops so that the dose has to be increased. The risk of severe side effects is great, and additionally the user feels drugged, and finds it difficult to function properly. Family life may suffer as patients find it hard to relate to other people, and even reading to children is difficult. Synthetic analgesics are non-addictive but they are not powerful enough.
Cannabis has fewer side effects than other analgesics, and users report it "rounds off" the pain quickly after smoking. Some people have used it to control pain for 20 years or more, and many report that they were able to kick their addiction to opiates with small amounts of cannabis. One strange fact is that more experienced users get a greater pain-relieving effect from cannabis than novices. Experienced users also are able to function normally and ignore the psychoactive effects. Cannabis may be better at controlling the different types of pain.
Cannabis has had a long history of use as an analgesic, and was widely used in 19th century Britain, including in the royal household. Dr. J. Russell Reynolds, Fellow of the Royal Society and Physician to Queen Victoria reported in the Lancet in 1890 that he had been prescribing cannabis for 30 years and considered it "one of the most valuable medicines we possess". According to Reynolds indian hemp remained effective as an analgesic for months and even years without an increase in the dose.
Patient's Testimonies
A Canadian account ......
I am a 43 yr. old male. A little over 6 months ago, I suffered an injury at work, falling a short distance from a ladder, and fracturing the C3 and C5 vertabrae in my neck. I have been receiving Doctor's care, physiotherapy, and conventional anti-inflammatories (Naproxen, Vioxx) as well as pain relievers (Tylenol #3 with codienne, and Percocet) I have seen numerous doctors and specialists, as well as a Pain Management Specialist. I have received injections of Cortisone. The traditional treatments have relieved the pain on a temporary basis, but have done nothing to "cure" my ailment. Along with the conventional drugs and therapies, I smoke cannabis. My doctor is aware of this, and has never questioned the help it seems to give me. As well as the injury to my neck, the resulting loss of wages, and fighting with my accident insurance company has caused great emotional stress. I have smoked cannabis for many years in a recreational style, with no obvious side effects. I find for myself, that while cannabis does not seem to actually "relieve" the pain, it seems to distract my mind from the constant stabbing pain, and the stress-related depression I've incurred since the accident. I feel that while the prescribed drugs are helping me deal with the constant pain, Percocet in particular is highly addictive. And, while I don't know if I could use cannabis only, for the relief of pain and stress in my case, I am glad I have it available when necessary. I would surely rather use something that is natural, and less deteriorating to my health, than to pump heavy , addictive narcotics into my body. In my part of the world, it is now legal for registered patients to use marijuanna for medicinal use. Only a few years ago, I found it absurd, that cancer patients in the final phases of their lives, were allowed to receive Heroin for their pain and comfort, but were not allowed a relatively harmless herb like cannabis. Many years ago, my Grandfather died of stomach cancer. As I grew up, I was my Grandfather's favourite. He and I were very close, and enjoyed each others company constantly. In his final months, it was hard for me to go visit him, as he was in devastating pain, and looked like someone I did not know, having lost more than 100 lbs, and looking skeletal. Although I was only 17 years old at the time, I felt I would do anything possible to help my Grandfather to stop his pain. If he would have asked me to suddenly end his life, I feel as if I could have. The sight of him suffering was truly sickening to me. One day, while we were alone, and many years before I knew of the benefits of using cannabis medically, I offered my Grandfather a marijuana cigarette, and we smoked it together. The result was good for both of us. My Grandfather told me that he'd not felt better in a long time. Even after receiving Morphine and numerous other drugs to try to control his agony, he told me that day, that he was calm, sedate, and actually felt good. This also helped me, knowing that Grandpa was not in the constant pain he had felt for months.
I realize that "Medical Marijuana" has become a popular soap-box topic these days, and alot of people have come out of the closet, claiming the wonderous proponents of the herb. And while I don't think that cannabis is a "miracle drug" or "cure-all" in any way , shape or form, I must conclude from my own experiences, that anything that can be taken in order for people to have a shred of dignity in their lives, while experiencing a life-threatening disease, or chronic pain, has to be taken seriously. If you can make someone's life even a little bit easier, while they are enduring these hellish situations, it must be considered. Anyone who has even the smallest knowledge of drugs, or an ounce of compassion in themselves, would have to agree, that if someone in that situation wanted to smoke marijuana instead of injecting heroin, they should surely be allowed to. The comparrison is ridiculous. The Doctors could give a patient Heroin in his dying days, but not a harmless herb like cannabis? It seems much to silly to even have to argue about.
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This letter, dated 3.93, was written to Clare Hodges of ACT by a British person with a spinal injury who wishes to remain anonymous......
"I had an accident 3 years ago and broke my back - luckily I can manage to walk still, but my mobility is severely impaired, I have to wear a back brace and suffer from continuous severe back pain which extends into my legs and also have frequent migraines. The pain killers I am given don't 'hold' the pain and I have found that over the last 3 years, smoking cannabis helps me enormously. It stops my back spasms and controls the pain extremely well - I think the relaxant effect of the drug is responsible for this and it also drains the tension away which causes the migraines.
The Spinal Injuries Association 'quietly' supports the sensible use of the drug and know that it is used by people with paralysis to control spasm, but obviously consultants in Spinal Units wouldn't dare recommend its use - however the thought of 'Nabilone' being clinically tested and research put into the benefits of cannabis is tremendously encouraging. I certainly believe cannabis is no more harmful than other drugs containing codeine or morphine and doesn't have the side effects".
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From a letter written to Clare Hodges of ACT, from a British Brain stem injury patient, who wishes to remain anonymous......
Nine years ago I had a motorcycle accident and sustained a Brain stem injury. I am now severely disabled and suffer from spasticity, spasm and all the other classic symptoms of a head injury. I've been prescribed assorted drugs including 'nerve blocking injections' and eventually ended up on the maximum dosage of Baclofen. It never completely relieves the spasms especially at night. Eighteen months ago I read an article about how cannabis was being used in the States very similar to the one recently featured in the Guardian. I have been using it since then and it really makes life so much more bearable, for most of the reasons quoted in the paper. Sleep, spasm, bladder control and generally less stressed. The problem is because of it's illegality you have to deal with such unscrupulous people to get it. Twice in the last couple of months I've been conned. I resent being criminalised, it's bad enough being disabled and getting ripped off for the privilege of it. The Dutch have got it right. If only I lived in Holland.
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An anonymous account......
I use Marijuana for medical purposes. I am sorry for breaking the law, though I feal I have not much choice. I have the opportunity to use medications such as;-Lithium,Clonodine,Epilum,Valium,Arropax,Zoloft. I have chosen not to use these medications because;- *These medications can take from 20 minutes to 2 weeks to be at a level where I can be helped. *They make me drowsy *They need to be taken regularily to keep up a regular mantinance level (exept Valium) *They have a life ( half life ( effect )) that lasts too long. *When I take these medications I find myself wanting to lay in bed all day watching T.V.( dased and confused ) *If I forget to take these medications,I find myself vague and lost (dazed and confused) *My average weight all my adult life has been 75-65 Kg's,When I took these medications I weighed up too and including 100 Kg's *I,at one stage of my life whilst taking these medications, had a bad case of acne on my back (very bad case ,my back was red) as I spent too much time in summer laying ,sweating in bed. I haven't worked for almost 5 years now,I have been supported by the disability pension. For the last year or so,I haven't taken any of these medications,Exept Valium and at a slow pace at that and only when necessary ( one per week for example,as I might spend a day taking up to 3 Valium , mabee even 2 at once sometimes , then I will go for weeks without . My profession is Sound Technician (Engineer). I also cover a lot of fields in the Entertainment industry,from the technical side of things with sound and lighting to performing music and songwriting. Whilst on Clonodine and Arropax,I tried to preform a P.A. systems engineer job,and was very unsuccessful.I diddnt even Equalize the system before I started and I diddnt even think too.That was just one problem). I am setting up my own P.A. system now (well I call it my own he he ).Though for myself I plan in the near future to set up my own personalized front of house drive rack ( a container that contains Digital Signal Processors such as , Effect units and Equalizers , with patch leads that connect to any P.A. system ). The most successful thing about this is, with the help of Marijuana,I did it and am doing it all by myself.A person who I have let down in the past has decided I am intelligent and cooperative enough to do this job,good enough to ask me "is this a good PA to buy?",,,that means a real lot to me,as I have never had that level of respect,it has always been "oh shut up you dont know what you are talking about!" Marijuana ,I feal is better for me because Marijuana's relaxing effect comes in almost immediately when smoked. This is important because, I become enraged and taking a Valium will help, though in the 20 minute period, that Valium takes to have effect ,I could have caused damage. YES these pharmasutical medications will prevent me getting enraged, so will a Labottomy. My point is,I can not function properly on pharmasutical medications that have been designed to last a certain period of time. ( If you would like to, you may consult my parents reguarding my temper from my child hood to now.) This is basic human rights, if I suffer I deserve relief. Who has the right to stand there and say I can't get help? when help is there, right there infront of me.Help that is part of this earth.
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