Medical Marijuana
Original Post: There has been a lot in the news lately about legalizing medical marijuana. I would be interested to know if you have an opinion on its use for post-polio pain management. I am a 69 year old male and I contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5. About 5 years ago I had a TIA and my doctor put me on Plavix, prior to that I had taken Naproxen for several years with some success managing pain. Now I can't take Naproxen, aspirin, Advil or anything in that family of pain medications.
I experience chronic shoulder and foot pain and would appreciate any advice for pain management. I am going for PT now and I occasionally go to a massage therapist.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: The Post-Polio Institute protocol is that you treat the cause of the pain, not cover the pain up with medications. This is especially true for muscle pain.
Marijuana may cause a decrease in blood clotting so the combination of Plavix, anything that irritates your stomach like naproxen or ibuprofen plus marijuana could be dangerous. What is more, marijuana has been associated increased risk of side effects linked to musculoskeletal or connective tissue disorders, falls, muscle problems (pain, twitching, or weakness), numbness, reduced coordination, restlessness, and speech disorders. If you need medication for pain there are many other drugs that you can take that don't affect clotting, like Tylenol and tramadol.
Motrin is ibuprofen and can burn your stomach. Tylenol is acetaminophen; dose must be limited because it can kill your liver.
Additional Post: I just got a letter from a fellow survivor in the UK, saying that possibly as the result of taking strong painkillers for PPS, the early signs of the advanced terminal cancer he is currently suffering may have been hidden. And, he feels that had he not been taking the painkillers, the cancer might have been discovered earlier, and may have been treatable.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: This post is just one of the many reasons The Post-Polio Institute never recommends covering up the pain by treating it with drugs. For polio survivors, the goal is always on trying to treat the CAUSE of the pain.
I use the example of: Someone reporting chest pain, going to the ER and them giving him/her a dose of morphine to relieve their pain, then sending her home to die of a heart attack.
Pain is a MESSAGE, not a disease.
Listen to your body, don't drug it into submission.