Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. Now that cannabis is legal in MD, does it offer any help with pain management?

I do not think it blocks pain receptors but could be wrong.

I don't know about acute pain after surgery (honestly wish I had some weed after my knee surgeries. The pain was unbearable) but I do know that on the nights that I take a gummy to sleep and relax, my back hurts a lot less that night and in the morning. I am convinced that it helps with overall inflammation.

Anonymous wrote:Hydrocodone IS an opioid. If you tell your doctor you don't want it you are worried about "drug seeking" for Motrin? Celebrex? Get real. If you can't take hydrocodone they aren't going to offer oxy.

Except that's exactly why my doctors did. And it actually helped. So maybe don't claim to speak for all doctors in all cases, yeah?

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. Now that cannabis is legal in MD, does it offer any help with pain management?

Former medical cannabis patient here: Yes, it can. But at the dose you need to help with heavy pain, you get side effects, especially if you're taking cannabis long-term. For pain that's easily resolved by "a gummy" (10mg or less), you're better off just alternating tylenol/advil.

There's a reason they suggest "t-breaks". Take them. Cannabis withdrawal is real, and the symptoms can be severe (nausea, insomnia, GI pain, psychosis). I strongly recommend having a sober person to help you monitor for adverse effects when using cannabis for pain management.

All pain meds have their risks and complications.

Hydrocodone IS an opioid. If you tell your doctor you don't want it you are worried about "drug seeking" for Motrin? Celebrex? Get real. If you can't take hydrocodone they aren't going to offer oxy.

I can't take any pain medication besides Tylenol. Everything else makes me sick to my stomach.

Anonymous wrote:Serious question. Now that cannabis is legal in MD, does it offer any help with pain management?

I do not think it blocks pain receptors but could be wrong.

One doctor I had did genetic testing on me. That is how I learned that certain genes we have cause our bodies to interact differently with different drugs. We can also be fast or slow processors of a drug.

With this in mind, it makes sense that you might not be able to tolerate it while another patient would be able to do so. We humans are not 100% all the same. It's my opinion that doctors should understand this simple concept, but many of them seem not to understand it.

The best way I know to get help from a doctor is to describe the symptoms without any opinions and then ask their advice. Many of them studied long and hard to become doctors. I am grateful for that. However, they can also be arrogant and out of touch due to this long period of study.

Anonymous wrote:You can take the Tylenol and ibuprofen together. There was a study that showed that pain relief was similar to opioids.

True for most. Folks on a few medicines are limited to Tylenol.

Always good to check for Rx medicine incompatibility - either with MD or with Pharmacist (not with a Pharmacy clerk/tech).

Serious question. Now that cannabis is legal in MD, does it offer any help with pain management?

I can't tolerate opioids either. I just alternate ibuprofen and Tylenol.

You contact your doctor and describe the reaction you are having. You then ask, “Is there a different medication that you recommend that is less likely to cause this side effect?” An open-ended question is unlikely to raise concerns about drug seeking.

Also to all writing about nausea, it is a common reaction to opioids. Let your doctor know, as there are numerous anti-emetics they can prescribe.

My doc prescribes zofran (ondansetron) when I need to take opiates. Just be sure to add a stool softener because both are severely constipating.

Opioids make me vomit, but after arthroscopic knee surgery last year I had 2 days of opioid Rx along with an Rx for anti nausea medication and an anti nausea patch behind my ear. I wasn’t sick at all and mostly slept for those two days. After that I switched to 800 mg of Motrin and was fine.

I can’t handle opioids either. They make me feel sick and my heart race. It doesn’t seem uncommon.

Anonymous wrote:Did you have surgery? I just had orthopedic surgery and was prescribed Celebrex. I was doubtful but it worked really well. Opiods make me throw up a lot.

I had recent surgery and was switched from hydrocodone to Dilaudid due to itching. Worked very well.