Tag Archives: pain relief

Acupuncture a PsuedoScience or Not – Baffles Many

Leave a reply
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Updated: 9 April 2020, Marc Woodard

At one point in my life I sought alternate treatment for severe chronic back pain. I only did so after all other conventional treatments had failed.

It’s true physical therapy, diet, ideal body weight, prescriptions and exercise do help with weight bearing, pre-post surgery pain relief and the healing process.

But when you have substantial structural and neurological damage in/around bone and soft tissue which includes tendons, ligaments and muscle, you’re most certain to experience varying levels of acute and chronic pain for long periods of time.

Learn more about hard to find natural healing and well-being secrets found within Ageless MirrorAthlete. Click on the link and read the free book review. We appreciate an Amazon or B&N review and rating… Thank you for you support.

For those that go under the knife to correct and alleviate pain, risk of complications do occur. Under the best case surgical scenario, repair with significant pain relief is experienced – but not guaranteed.

Because of my unique pain story, I preferred to work around the pain centers throughout the body using alternative pain relief methods. Since there’s no guarantee surgeries could provide a pain free experience… “I ventured into acupuncture.”

At one point in my life I would have tried any type of pain relief modality opposed to surgery. Whether I believed it would work or not. And at that time acupuncture was something I didn’t have a lot of faith in “but I was running out of options and desperate to reduce pain spikes.”

My current thoughts on acupuncture – “Ultimately I became a believer.”I’m not exactly sure how it physiologically improves function and heals at a cellular level. BUT I do see how it can relieve pain through stimulation of muscle chemical and electrical transmitters in the body.

Traditional Chinese Acupuncture. Treatment for stomach pain, etc…

I also understand our bodies have this Chi energy force that travels throughout our neurological or meridian highways. Where electrical-chemical energy flow can become blocked through illness, disease and injury and creates inflammation and neurological pain. And when acupuncture needles are inserted at various points along these highways, energy flow that was once blocked can become unblocked. And when that happens pain is relieved.

In various cultures the energy flowing through our neurological highways is not only known as Chi. But can be seen or understood as life energy and cross-compared, or liken to Prana, life force, Spirit, subtle and vital energy, etc. If you want to know more about these things simply google those terms on the Internet.

For me acupuncture worked, “However at first, I was baffled on exactly how.”

I can only explain it in the following manner. “I think of my body with millions of electrical circuits where one has shorted somewhere, or was inflamed through illness or disease or injury and sending pain signals to the brain. Whereas the pain signal can be temporarily or permanently relieved through a by-pass, or neighboring circuit… in effect – pain signal to the brain can be removed or neutralized.” This does not mean your free of cellular disease or neurological damage.

“A relatable analogy would be similar to an electrical circuit that powers a lightbulb.” If you take electrical current to earth ground instead of sending it to the brain-bulb or switch-ON for pain – In essence the circuit is dead, “SWITCH-OFF” and pain gone.

Western medicine defines, relates and applies acupuncture treatment in the following manner.

“Approximately 2,000 different acupuncture points lie along the body’s meridians. The idea behind acupuncture is that stimulating these points with acupuncture needles or pressure relieves obstructions in the flow of energy, enabling the body to heal.”

“In the Western view, acupuncture likely works by stimulating the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to release chemicals called neurotransmitters and hormones. These chemicals dull pain, boost the immune system and regulate various body functions” (Watson 2017).

Pain can be relieved anywhere within the body. And for every illness, disease or pain center, there is a meridian pain relief connection with the brain-body. As you can see in the photo, depending on pain relief modality needed, may require multiple needle insertions per treatment. At one time I had ~50 needles inserted to alleviate, or disconnect the pain.

These concepts and principles are easy to visualize through my mind’s eye. Since I have an electrical-mechanical background and physiological knowledge through undergraduate studies… my mind accepts both Eastern acupuncture and Western healing and pain relief modalities logic. Regardless of whether Eastern medicine can fully explain through empirical data the exact healing agents on brain and body function… I accept acupuncture’s healing principles and believe in it. “Belief is half the battle to curing what ails the mind, body and spirit.” At least I believe this like many others.

Many scientists consider acupuncture a pseudoscience because it cannot be proven through a controlled lab environment… why it works for some, not others and why it works at all. I can completely understand the difficulty of creating a blind study where trial subjects wouldn’t know whether a needle was sticking them for example; while another group in the study was actually stuck. Plus cause of pain origins and level of pain sensitivities – is often subjective and not substantiated through medical diagnosis.

I believe if you believe something is possible the psychosomatic (mind/body) meridian highway and healing connection can be made to greater degree. That is the portion of brain during meridian stimulation effectively releasing electrical-chemical healing agents to a target area to mitigate pain.

Understanding these connections and relationship allows those like myself (alternative medicine believer) to channel the acupuncture stimulant point that allows damaged cell tissue to turn off pain receptors by channeling through a different meridian highway connections – “essentially grounding the pain, someplace else that can’t be felt.”

I can tell you there are different techniques used by acupuncturists when getting stuck with various sized needles. …

Many years ago, I experienced two different styles of acupuncture. A hard and soft style. “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is the most common form of acupuncture studied and practiced in the United States. Japanese style acupuncture takes a more subtle route than TCM. Fewer and thinner needles are used with less stimulation” (Acufinder.com 2017).

During the TCM acupuncture treatment, “the needles were inserted deep into my low back and caused discomfort and aggravation – multiple times.” They were inserted fast and hit damaged nerves frequently and was very painful process. After needle insertion an electrical pulsating current was sent through wire leads attached to the needles. This pulsating current went through the needles – then stimulated the damaged neurons under the skin. Eventually this treatment re-routes the pain signal from registering within the brain. Once the needles are inserted it’s all good and it is relaxing.

TCM with electro-stimulation.

Regardless of the aggressive TCM needle insertion technique – although painful seemed to turn-off a lot of back pain registering in the brain for me. However after 10 sessions I called it quits. Although I considered TCM a success, it was during the tenth session a needle hit a sensitive nerve in the low back and caused me to jolt. This was followed by a back spasm and a bit of cussing, “Don’t judge… God that hurt bad.” I did finish the session… gritting my way through it and managed to refrain from further cussing.

Thereafter and understandably so, I had fear of going back for more TCM treatments. I didn’t request another referral from my HMO. Instead I sought out Japanese style acupuncture to help alleviate a little more pain, since I didn’t complete the recommended 18 sessions. Fortunately my HMO authorized another 12 acupuncture sessions using a local Japanese soft style acupuncturist service.

Japanese style – these needles are very small.

The Japanese acupuncture application is completely different then TCM and very tolerable. The needles are more delicately inserted and don’t penetrate deep into the skin. My personal experience… I didn’t feel any discomfort during these treatments over the next 12 months.

If you have a lot of nerve damage and areas of the body are pain-sensitive to touch – Japanese style acupuncture may work well to help relieve pain anywhere in the body.

The Japanese preparation and process works like this: Very light massage, relaxation with suction cup may be used. They are heated cups placed on skin surface and along meridian pathways. When cooling, cause a suction [or vacuum] – draws oxygenated blood to damaged tissue area to increase blood circulation to expedite healing process.

Suction cups are often used in conjunction with Japanese acupuncture therapy sessions.

Thereafter inserted needles may be applied. This technique worked wonders to remove more back pain. Needles were not only inserted in the low back, but other parts of the body to help relieve radiating nerve pain.

To this day my total body pain is very manageable and allows me to live life to the fullest. I’ve not seen an acupuncturists for years.

I’ve read a few blogger sites on the benefits/to no benefits of using acupuncture. The feelings on this pain relief service is a mixed bag.

It’s considered by many who believe in Eastern medicine a natural science that can heal and alleviate pain and may/may not cure disease. To Western medicine practitioners, many professionals and lay persons at best believe it’s a pseudoscience that falls into categories more like magic and faith healing.

Instead of trying to convince you acupuncture may work for you, I think it is best to leave the following thoughts and insight. Like Pranic healing – modern science does not understand and has no way to prove how acupuncture and life Chi energy actually heals and alleviates pain for some and not others. Modern medicine scholars look to prove the brain-body self-healing connections and why it’s not 100% effective for some, but works 100% of the time for others.

I’d agree “maybe some lack the connective brain function or capacity to accept or believe an alternative healing method outside of Western medicine could help.”  Therefore self-healing through meditation or acupuncture or Pranic healing, etc., won’t work for some – for lack of internal chi channeling ability, belief or faith… who knows for sure. All I know is it worked for me.

Unfortunately unless science can unequivocally prove something… it is open to public/patient/scholastic medical scrutiny. Maybe it could work for everyone if they simply believed it could.

But this should not limit people to reason “how” the impossible can become possible.   Simply reflect on a few of man’s unbelievable achievements and cures… how they were first cast into disbelief throughout history… then the present believed the impossible – possible.

For example, it was impossible for man to fly, let alone sore through space and land on the moon. Or, until Penicillin as an effective antibiotic was discovered… many with serious disease through infection were doomed to die with no hope. During historical times scientific positions, IF based simply on belief – could not accept any medial application outside of that box… But today’s anti-aging and healing science appears to know no limit of life extension possibilities based in Eastern, Western, Faith healing, etc… why have these positions of alternative medicines changed before proven through science. Well if you believe organic bio-bots can be injected into the body to rearrange DNA and cure what ails you – although it sounds impossible – I assure you it’s not. Just because something can’t be proven at this time possible through empirical data, does not mean it’s not possible.

Start thinking what may be possible to cure what ails. If you need significant pain relief, I believe a combination of Western and Eastern medicine and treatment is your best bet. Especially if your stuck taking a boat load of prescription pills and want to improve your situation and lifestyle.

“For the self-healing and alternative medicine believer – Meditative and Spiritual untapped brain-body function has the healing energy and capacity necessary to cure what ails us.” [MirrorAthlete 2017]

Japanese style cupping for back pain relief, may be used used in conjunction with acupuncture.

I agree like many of you “science does not know everything about the connected brain-body self-healing capacity.”It has long been said people on earth only use 10% of their brain capacity. This too is controversial due to opposing views of natural selection.  Since the brain tissue has metabolically evolved throughout time, to lose 90% of capacity would have catastrophic consequences on the human regulation of body function… What if brain capacity increased 1-2% up to, or over that10% without body function affliction. I believe this has already been accomplished by faith healers, spiritual mediators and proteges to name a few? “Begin thinking outside the Western influence box!” There’s no scientific proof using more brain capacity to increase IQ or self-heal is harmful to health.

In relationship to this line of reasoning – acupuncture and panic healing may open a 2% healing mind-body-spiritual connection and opportunity to increase brain capacity and improve bodily function to heal damaged cellular tissue and get well. Just because science can’t prove how brain capacity and body function coordinate above and beyond what natural selection scholars, doesn’t mean self-healing and alternative medicine doesn’t work.

Since most aren’t educated and trained in meditative and alternative medicine and therapeutic practices… if open to the wellness and healing possibilities – allow someone schooled in alternative pain relief modalities to help heal you if all else has failed.

If you have acute, chronic or severe pain regardless of what the cause, what have you got to lose? Give acupuncture a try? What doesn’t work for others may work for you? You may have the ability to unlock the Chi force hidden within part of your untapped brain capacity to make use of Eastern medicine like I did… which has provided significant pain relief and increased mobility function.

I believe one day science will prove through empirical trials how and why acupuncture works for some patients and not others. Then hopefully educate everyone on how to tap this self-healing power.

Like Einstein’s Theory of Relativity “Time was no longer uniform and absolute.” Physics could no longer be understood as space by itself, hence space and time was also dependent on velocity. Until this time Isaac Newton’s physics and astronomy stood as a 200-year-old theory of mechanics.

Acupuncture is thousands of years old. But has only been accepted in Western medicine and studied for decades. What has Western medicine yet to discover about the practice as applied to individual life force healing energy? Will it take 200 years or more to discover all of it’s secrets? Who knows.

If you want to try acupuncture and your primary care physician won’t refer you, or it’s not covered in your health insurance there are 3 things you can do.

During your private or employer annual health insurance selections – pick a provider or policy that covers acupuncture [most HMO policies offer it]. Or, if you have coverage for this service, but a physician won’t refer for whatever reason, request a new primary care physician. Or request of your primary care physician to be referred to a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a pain management medical [pain specialist]; and will likely honor your referred request to an acupuncturist if covered within your HMO insurance.

References:

Craig, Gary. Acupuncture Meridians Pathways of Chi Energy. Healing with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques. Website: http://www.healing-with-eft.com/acupuncture-meridians.html

Google answer site. Do We Use all of our Brain Power?  http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/751682.html

Novella, Steven. Does Acupuncture Work or Not?  Neurologica blog. Sep 25, 2007.http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/does-acupuncture-work-or-not/

Watson, Stephanie. Acupuncture Overview. HowStuffWorks. a division of InfoSpace Holdings LLC. 2017.

Woodard, Marc.  What is Pranic Healing and Does it Work? Mirror Athlete’s Fitness Secrets! July 23, 2010. http://www.mirrorathlete.org/2017/05/10/what-is-pranic-healing-and-does-it-work/

Woodard, Marc. Why a Physiatrist Offers the Best Rehabilitative Course. Mirror Athlete’s Fitness Secrets! June 23, 2011. http://www.mirrorathlete.org/2011/06/23/why-a-physiatrist-offers-the-best-rehabilitative-course/

Woodamarc. Pain Depression Origins. HubPages.  http://woodamarc.hubpages.com/hub/Pain-Depression-Origins

Physiotherapy Adelaide Site. How Does Acupuncture Work? Copyright 2011. http://www.howdoesacupuncturework.com/

Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2017-20 Copyright, All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: http://www.mirrorathlete.org. Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

Familiar Supplements that Relieves Chronic Pain

Leave a reply

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

The Golden Years Don’t Have to Be Painful

It is now known through scientific studies there is a correlation between low levels of vitamin D in the body and pain.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States.  And they also show through research that a significant amount of pain patients lack Vitamin D in their diet.  This research also concludes on the average, pain patients with low Vitamin D levels use twice as much “on average” pain medications (morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone) than those that supplement their diet.  And those also low in Vitamin D also have higher measures of body fat which place them in the obesity category.

Where does this vitamin come from?  It comes from sun exposure and a few natural occurring foods you consume:  E.g., tuna, salmon, mackerel, cod liver oil, mushrooms.  Small amounts can be found in beef liver and egg yolk.  Of course, there is fortified vitamin D in the American diet, i.e., milk, cheese, ice cream, breakfast cereals, orange juice, yogurt, margarine, etc.  Apparently, it is very difficult for many to get “enough” Vitamin D nutrient in the daily diet, unless you get adequate (1hour) sun exposure daily. Of course, natural exposure to the sun’s benefits is dependent upon season, weather conditions, geography and not always considered healthy for those that receive too much exposure.

Vitamin D is essential to propagate calcium absorption for healthy bones and bone growth.  And low levels of this Vitamin for too long can result in bone surface softening (osteomalacia), where this condition causes pain.  And the area of the body that seems to suffer greatest for lack of this nutrient and most prone to pain is the lower back.  For those that suffer from fibromyalgia, bone and joint pain, phenomenal pain relief can be experienced through vitamin D supplementation.

Researchers state a daily 1000IU/day to grow healthy strong bones for children and adults that suffer from chronic pain could experience significant pain relief at a 2000IU/day regiment.  Also the health risk with “D” supplementation has a highly favorable safety profile when used simultaneously with prescription drugs.  This supplementation simply doesn’t interact with many types of drugs unless one uses extremely high doses of Vitamin D (e.g., 50,000IU and over).  Since vitamin D also promotes a healthy nervous system, those that suffer with radiating neuropathic pain can also experience better pain alleviation, movement function and greater quality of life experiences.

If you are self paying for your pain prescriptions, also keep this in mind.  A daily 2000IU/day for Vitamin D can cost as little as $.07-.10/day.  This could be your safe, cost effective ticket to alleviating chronic pain in a way where other prescriptions have failed and without breaking the bank.  Although there is no guarantee this will be a complete substitute for your pain relief program, it is likely it would help alleviate your pain and do no harm.  However, it is always prudent to ask your physician about vitamin D supplementation for pain relief.  I will tell you that physiatrists (pain specialists) will advise you to supplement with 2000IU/day for chronic pain alleviation.  If your lab results show lower than 50-70 nonograms/milliliter; a vitamin D supplement for natural pain relief will most likely help you relieve pain.

Since there are so many natural chronic pain relief supplements to choose from, listed below are the top candidates for further research and dietary pain supplement consideration.

Anti-Inflammatory plants and herbs – If you’re not big on NSAID medicines because of the possible long-term side effects (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and Celebrex)… Try turmeric, green tea, ginger, rosemary, cat’s & devil claw, and willow bark.  The apparent winner of all the natural anti-inflammatory I’ve listed appears to be the turmeric.  Significant pain relief for those that suffer from osteoarthritis and back pain (Leopold & Edwards, T., M.D.).  Turmeric can be purchased as a capsule supplement.  Patients using blood thinners should first check with their physicians if a turmeric pain supplement would be right for them.

Magnesium – This is a tough supplement to get in daily quantities because most of us don’t eat enough of the following foods:  Soy products, peas, beans, whole grains, bananas, dried apricots and avocados, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, etc.  It appears magnesium supplementation can help those that suffer with fibromyalgia and migraines.  What depletes magnesium levels in the body? Alcohol.  Chronic pain patients may well benefit with this additive in their diet.

Fish Oil – Not only does omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties to relieve chronic pain, it can also help with many other conditions, i.e., depression, asthma, cardiovascular problems, autoimmune (rheumatoid arthritis), back pain, some nerve pain and headaches (Rakel, David P., MD, founder and director of the University of Wisconsin’s Integrative Medicine in Madison).  The effects of fish oil can be boosted by combining with other natural supplementation from this list.  However, Dr. Rakel advises you consult with your doctor.

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – There appears to be scientific controversy over migraine pain relief with Vitamin B2 use.  Dr. Rakel thinks it’s safe to try for a period of 8 weeks considering its safety rating.  However, consult your treating physician for frequency, dose and duration of use.

Glucosamine sulfate – The best data on joint pain alleviation comes from glucosamine supplementation.  The data is very good on osteoarthritis pain alleviation in the knee and slowing the progression of the disease.  And supplementation with chondroitin combined could provide additional benefits.

Bromelain – This is an enzyme that is derived from the pineapple plant.  These enzymes appear to reduce inflammation and pain associated with osteoarthritis.  There appears to be a mystery on how this enzyme gets absorbed through the stomach lining.  The mystery is the stomach acid should neutralize the benefits of this enzyme.  More research is needed to understand how the delivery system transports the benefits of this enzyme through the digestive system.

Capsaicin – Topical capsaicin is derived from chili peppers.  The soothing effects when applied to skin for all types of pain relief include:  Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, shingles, osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy.  And like many of the other natural pain relievers, may offer relief for fibromyalgia and headache pain.

Alpha-lipoic acid – Like acetyl-L-carnitine (a nutrient that seems to ease and regenerate damaged nerves and restore sensitivity over time due to nerve pain from diabetes).  Alpha-lipoic acid appears to help for those that suffer with diabetic neuropathy.  Not only do scientific studies show pain reduction, but also the slowing of the neuropathic condition.  This in fact could protect the nerves from further damage.  Another benefit for people with diabetes is that Alpha-lipoic acid may enhance insulin sensitivity and help those that suffer nerve damage from cancer treatment.

References:

MNT Medical News Today, Vitamin D a Surprising Champion of Back Pain Relief, 25 June 2008, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/112633.php

R. Morgan Griffen, WebbMD, Natural Pain Relief: Chronic Pain Supplements, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/chronic-pain-relief?page=1

Anderson, Bryan, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Researchers Link Vitamin D and Chronic Pain Relief, March 20, 2009, http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/03/20/mayo-clinic-researchers-link-vitamin-d-and-chronic-pain-relief/

Evert, Alison, MedlinePluse, Magnesium in diet. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002423.htm

Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET. 2011 Copyright, All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: http://www.mirrorathlete.org,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

 

Medical Marijuana & Pain Relief, Scientific Support Data

Leave a reply

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail    Below are citations with appropriate references to give credit to those that have provided medical marijuana research data information with unique supporting and correlated data.  It appears obvious, or apparent within these controlled studies and citations, cannabis shows a unique medicinal composition with unique pain blocking properties that could replace in part, or whole other pain management prescriptions without the additional pharmaceutical health risks.  Standard prescription medications or outpatient services that ease pain, spasms and inflammation may be accomplished through medical marijuana use at a fraction of the cost.  The Compassionate Use Act, 1996 was established to provide physicians the ability to recommend chronic pain patients medical marijuana at first for cancer patients.  Through years of research science is seeing a whole range of potential use for cannabis as an alternative treatment for many types of chronic pain disease.

“Persistent and disabling pain can have numerous and sometimes multiple causes, including cancer; AIDS; sickle cell anemia; glaucoma, cancer, shingles, multiple sclerosis; defects or injuries to the back, neck and spinal cord; arthritis and other rheumatic and degenerative hip, joint and connective tissue disorders; and severe burns.  Pain is not a primary condition or injury, but rather a severe, frequently intolerable symptom that varies in frequency, duration, and severity according to the individual (Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana, ASA PDF Brochure# 888-929-436.  See end of article for brochure details).”

“A recent study conducted at University of California at Davis, 17 April 2008, 38 patients experiencing neuropathic pain from varying diseases; diabetes, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, HIV/AIDS-related neuropathy, etc., were given marijuana cigarettes, some patients with zero% THC, 3.5% and 7%.  Students through each session took the same number of puffs to ensure uniformity.  Thereafter, it was determined marijuana reduced pain intensity significantly over a 5 hour period/per trial.  It should also be noted, memory tests and cognitive skills appeared to decline, but not more, or less significantly than narcotic pain killers (Complete Study, Contact MPP “Marijuana Policy Project Director of communications Bruce Mirken, 202-215-4205, or visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org).”

“The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health….”  So began a 1995 editorial statement of Great Britain’s leading medical journal, The Lancet.  The long history of human use of cannabis also attests to its safety—nearly 5,000 years of documented use without a single death.”

“Substances similar to or derived from marijuana could benefit more than 97 million Americans who experience some form of pain each year (U.S. Society for Neuroscience, 1997).”

“The role that cannabis can play in treating chronic pain.  After nausea and vomiting, chronic pain was the condition cited most often to the IOM (Institute of Medicine) study team as a medicinal use for marijuana.”The study found that “basic biology indicates a role for cannabinoids [a group of compounds found in cannabis] in pain and control of movement, which is consistent with a possible therapeutic role in these areas. The evidence is relatively strong for the treatment of pain and intriguingly, although less well established, for movement disorder (Commissioned Study by the White House, by the Institute of Medicine, 1999).”

“Inhaled cannabis provides almost immediate relief with significantly fewer adverse effects than orally ingested Marinol (the only legal THC hemp extract pharmaceutical, DEA Class III authorized drug schedule prescription).  Inhalation allows the active compounds in cannabis to be absorbed into the blood stream with greater speed and efficiency. It is for this reason that inhalation is an increasingly common, and often preferable, route of administration for many medications.

“One problem with cannabinoids is that they are very fat-soluble, so that makes them very difficult to formulate the drugs into pills or injections.  One way that’s being looked at by some pharmaceutical companies is using the kind of inhaler that asthma sufferers use.” Smoking is obviously a big health hazard and scientists are looking at ways of delivering the drug to the body (ASA Americans for Safe Access, www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org).”

“Cannabis may also be more effective than Marinol because it contains many more cannabinoids than just the THC that is Marinol’s active ingredient. The additional cannabinoids may well have additional and complementary antiemetic (effective against vomiting and nausea) qualities. They have been conclusively shown to have better pain-control properties when taken in combination than THC alone (U.S. Society for Neuroscience Conclusion).”

    “The Compassionate Use Act passed in 1996 expressly provides that “chronic pain” is a condition for which physicians are authorized to recommend marijuana without threat or fear of punishment for providing a full range of treatment modalities to care for patients in pain.  However, Federal policy on medical cannabis is filled with contradictions.  Cannabis is a Schedule I drug, classified as having no medicinal value and a high potential for abuse, yet its most psychoactive component, THC, is legally available as Marinol and is listed in DEA Drug Schedule III Classification for physician prescriptions.  For those that don’t know, Class III prescriptions fall under the same legal prescribed DEA classification, such as Tylenol.  To add insult to injury an average month supply of Marinol will cost you ~$500.00.  A medical marijuana script-license provides you the right to produce and self medicate without the outrageous cost to alleviate chronic pain but has a double jeopardy possibility of imprisonment at the federal government’s discretion!  Is the government trying to figure out a way to make money by controlling a multi-billion dollar industry at the expense of suffering people in pain?  How much lower could we stoop as a nation?

    Currently, laws that effectively remove state-level criminal penalties for growing and/or possessing medical cannabis are in place in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.  Thirty-six states have symbolic medical cannabis laws (laws that support medical cannabis but do not provide patients with legal protection under state law).  Reference,  Compassionate Use Act, 1996 – Key organizations; Drug Enforcement Administration, (DEA) Federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Americans For Safe Access (ASA).

“By comparison, the side effects associated with cannabis are typically mild and are classified as “low risk.” Euphoric mood changes are among the most frequent side effects. Cannabinoids can exacerbate schizophrenic psychosis in predisposed persons. Cannabinoids impede cognitive and psychomotor performance, resulting in temporary impairment. Chronic use can lead to the development of tolerance. Tachycardia and hypotension are frequently documented as adverse events in the cardiovascular system. A few cases of myocardial ischemia have been reported in young and previously healthy patients. Inhaling the smoke of cannabis cigarettes induces side effects on the respiratory system. Cannabinoids are contraindicated for patients with a history of Cardiac ischemia.  In summary, a low risk profile is evident from the literature available. Serious complications are very rare and are not usually reported during the use of cannabinoids for medical indications (Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana, ASA PDF Brochure# 888-929-4367).”

“Institute of Medicine, “Nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety… All can be mitigated by marijuana… For patients, such as those with AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, who suffer simultaneously from severe pain, nausea, and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs might offer broad spectrum relief not found in any other single medication (Marijuana and Medicine; Assessing the Science Base, 1999).”

“Where morphine fails, marijuana may work. That’s the major finding of British research into the pain caused by nerve injuries, a pain known to be somewhat resistant to morphine and similar drugs that are the gold standard for treating just about any other kind of serious pain.  It’s known that if you injure a nerve, the morphine receptors in the spinal cord disappear and that’s probably why morphine isn’t a very effective pain killer for such conditions as shingles, people who have had an amputation or perhaps if cancer has invaded the spinal cord (Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Report & London’s Imperial College, Andrew Rice).”

“One of marijuana’s greatest advantages as a medicine is its remarkable safety. It has little effect on major physiological functions.  There is no known case of a lethal overdose; on the basis of Animal models, the ratio of lethal to effective dose is estimated as 40,000 to 1. By comparison, the ratio is between 3 and 50 to 1 for Secobarbital and between 4 and 10 to 1 for ethanol. Marijuana is also far less addictive and far less subject to abuse than many drugs now used as muscle relaxants, hypnotics, and analgesics.

The Chief legitimate concern is the effect of smoking on the lungs. Cannabis smoke carries even more tars and other particulate matter than tobacco smoke. But the amount smoked is much less, especially in medical use.  The technology Dr. Grinspoon imagined in 1995 now exists in the form of “vaporizers,” which are widely available through stores and by mail order.   (Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet editorial, Dr. Lester Grinspoon, 1995).”

“There is indeed great concern in the medical community about the need to find better pain relief for damaged nerves, but that progress is being made (Dr. Kenneth Mackie, an associate professor in anesthesiology and physiology at the University of Washington in Seattle).”

“The use of medical cannabis has been endorsed by numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Public Health Association, and the American Nurses Association. Its use is supported by such leading medical publications as The New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet.”

    Although I’ve cited main points on pain relief through cannabis use, there is much more information with regard to the legality, use, risk and benefits of such use.  I found this brochure (referenced below) very informative where I decided it and other scientific references would be best to highlight cannabis information in a citation format.  I highly recommend you read this report in its entirety if you believe cannabis use would benefit your chronic pain problem.  Below I’ve left references for you to further your research on the topic.

Most of the citations I listed above can be found in (Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana Brochure#888-929-4367) put out by ASA (Americans for Safe Access), Free PDF report file: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/downloads/pain_brochure.pdf.  Brochure# 888-929-4367, ASA).

You can also make inquiries by mail to: Americans for Safe Access (ASA), 1322 Webster Street, Suite 402, Oakland, California 94612.  Visit their home page for much more information on current medical marijuana use, advocacy, dispensaries, legislation, etc., at www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org, or call ASA @ 1-888-929-4367.

    Be sure to check with your state public health division laws to find out more about medical marijuana use, grow site & use rights… e.g., possible zoning grow site, use, geography restrictions, limitations, etc.   State reciprocity, card issue and federal- state law use conflicts, etc.

 Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2009 Copyright, All rights reserved.  Mirror Athlete Enterprises Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.org, Sign up for your free eNewsletter.