Question about Smoking Pot

[angeldotcom]

I am a chronic pain suffer and its very bad pain and have to take strong pain meds oxycontin 80 mgs 2  a day so was thinking on trying to come off my meds because of lots of reasons tired of feeling like crap plus they are not working much like they did . I was thinking if pot helpes pain and how long does pot stay in your system ? I use to smoke pot when i was younger and it didn't make me feel like crap like my pain meds do . I really suffer bad was in bad carwreck left me in wheelchair .

[Tuckamore]

Hello Angeldotcom,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am so sorry to hear about the severity of your pain. We an relate to the problems that this journey through chronic pain brings into our lives and the difficult choices that we often face. It saddens me to know that the MVA has left you in a wheelchair. My heart goes out to you.

If I understand your post correctly your pain is currently not being controlled. Often as much as tolerance our pain increases which makes our current medications less effective.

Have you discussed your pain levels and fatigue with your physician? If not that would be a good place to start. There are other options besides the OxyContin that you are being prescribed. Your physician should have other suggestions.

THC is used in cancer patients and is reportedly effective in pain control and nausea and vomiting. This could also be discussed with your physician. Some physicians are open to considering THC therapy. Be open and honest with your prescribing physician. Tell him/her exactly how you are feeling and how your pain is effecting your daily life.

I beleive you do "suffer bad"  and I also beleive that life is to short to live with miserable uncontrolled pain. There are options but only your physician can help you with these decisions.

Please feel free to ask additional questions and to be active in our community. I hope you will keep in touch with us and let us know how you are doing. We will look forward to hearing from you. Don't be discouraged even though the plight for proper pain management can be frustrating.  I wish you the very best.    

Take Care,
~Tuck

[JadedSweetheart]

I believe it depends on the amount and the frequency but I've read it stays in your system for up to a month.  I'm sure there's a lot of info on the internet about it.  I saw that you live in AL.  I don't think they have legalized it for medical use there yet.  Apparently they have in about a dozen states, though.  I heard something about it the other day.  
I don't know if it works well for pain or not as I've never been a pot smoker.  I have heard that it does.  I did know someone who had been into smoking pot but every time she did she got mirgraines afterward.  That was just one person, though.
(Aside from the legal issue) I wouldn't recommend smoking pot while on pain meds because they do test for it and you could be red flagged or discharged from your PM office and left with no meds.  It could also cause an interaction with any meds that you are taken since it is a potent "natural remedy".  You could always move to CA.

[laurel453]

Hi... :)

I know in my country you would not have problems with the law because it is admited for personal use and you can cultivate a maximun of 2 plants and there are people suffering from cancer who smoke it after the chemio because of the nausea and vomiting  but here it is another issue.... you may get yourself in trouble, in big trouble, right ?

and it depends on the kind of pain you are suffering, maybe it would not make a difference...but i'm sure someone would come who can answer this ....