A New Page In My Chronic Pain Journey

My name is Oro Cas and I am a chronic pain sufferer. A fifty foot fall in my 20’s, a lightning strike at 40, and 30 years of driving tractor-trailer have taken a toll on my body and nerves. As of my last spine series, I have 3 dead discs, 2 ruptured discs, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and degenerative disc disorder. Needless to say, I am a patient at a pain clinic where over the past two years I have gone from 10mg of Oxycontin once a day to 20mg twice a day.

I’m getting close to a time where there will have to be some major decisions made. Decisions that I dread. Do I have surgery with the hope of better mobility and pain relief? The opinions from two neurosurgeons were no help. One said call me when you’re ready for surgery, the other said you have a 50-50 chance. Surgery could make things better, but it could also make things worse.

My other decision is the best way to manage my pain. Do I continue with the ever increasing dosage of my pain medication, becoming a couch zombie, or do I try and find something that will work in conjunction with my pain medication, so I can level off my dosage.

I’m too young to resign myself to life in my recliner, so I went on the hunt. The first thing I did was get signed up in my state’s medical cannabis program. Cannabis is a great supplement to my Oxycontin. With the myriad of today’s science in the production of Cannabis, I can pick the strain best suited for my needs. The only problem … It’s cost prohibitive. To be truly effective on a continual basis I would have to spend on average of $600 a month.

So while I use medicinal cannabis as often as possible, I’m also on the hunt for products that alleviate my pain and muscle spasms, and is maybe something I can pass on to others that are sailing with me on the chronic pain boat.

After much searching and researching, I happened to see the name of an old friend on Linkedin. After catching up, we got to the point in the conversation where I mention having to curtail many of my outdoor activities due to my spinal problems. My friend tells me about a product that has given him great results with his own back pain and turns me on to his website.

I like what I saw when I looked into the product, and today I received my first shipment, so I’m inviting you to travel along with me. Maybe something I find might help someone else in their journey for relief from chronic pain. So, as I record my results, I’ll be sharing them here. REDOX is Here!

Best Day Ever… so far

Yesterday was the “Best day ever… so far for good reason but I need to start from the beginning.

Three days ago I met up with a couple that I was buying a small table from. The sale originated on FB Marketplace while I was searching for book shelves along with anything else that would help us get our “Storage Store” up and running.

We met in the parking lot of a local business and proceeded with the deal on the table along with some friendly conversation about buying and selling and then it happened. The question I get asked quite frequently which is “Do you use cannabis?”

Of course my answer is always yes to that question since I am a card carrying medical cannabis user.

From there the conversation was all about our personal experiences with the new cannabis laws and the state run dispensaries when suddenly the gentleman asked me if I was getting my meds delivered to my front door.

I knew there was a way to get delivery if you lived in or close to one of the big cities but since we live in the far western tip of Maryland I always figured there was no way to get this service.

It turns out I should have checked into the possibilities back then because there really is a way to get your cannabis delivered if you live anywhere in Maryland except the Eastern Shore and some parts of southern Maryland.

So today I am sitting here waiting for a confirmation call or text letting me know my order is on its way to my front door. O HAPPY DAY!!!

It is time for everyone to embrace cannabis for the medicine that it really is and the fact that I can have it delivered to my door is proof we are headed in the right direction.

Report: Marijuana Legalization Association With Increase in Home Values — TheJointBlog

Legalizing marijuana is associated with an immediate increase in housing prices, according to a new report published by the online service Clever Real Estate. According to the study, “States that legalize recreational cannabis see an immediate bump in home values following legalization, even without retail dispensaries opening up. From 2017 to 2019, cities where recreational marijuana…

Report: Marijuana Legalization Association With Increase in Home Values — TheJointBlog

Report: Federal Marijuana Legalization Would Create $86 Billion in New Tax Revenue by 2025 — TheJointBlog

New Frontier Data, which claims to be “the authority in data analytics and business intelligence on the global cannabis industry”, today announced new economic data detailing the potential impact of federal cannabis legalization in the United States. The federal legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis would create $86 billion in additional U.S. tax revenue between 2019…

via Report: Federal Marijuana Legalization Would Create $86 Billion in New Tax Revenue by 2025 — TheJointBlog

New Jersey: Opioid-Dependent Patients Now Eligible For Cannabis Therapy — Patients for Medical Cannabis

Trenton, NJ: Opioid-dependent patients are now eligible to access medical marijuana under a new initiative package implemented by Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy and the Department of Health. “We are pleased to announce that, as of today [January 23], opioid use disorder is a condition for which physicians can recommend medical marijuana to patients,” Health Commissioner […]

via New Jersey: Opioid-Dependent Patients Now Eligible For Cannabis Therapy — Patients for Medical Cannabis

CBD Blocks Psychoactivity of THC = Huge Win for Patients Needing High Dosages THC

By Dragana Komnenov PhD

RxLeaf

CBD binds to a different site on the CB1 that, when filled, prevents THC from binding. This is very big news for cancer and chronic pain patients who need high doses of THC to manage their symptoms.

Cannabis is a complex mixture of hundreds of different cannabinoids, terpenes and other chemicals that may modulate the effects of THC, the main psychoactive constituent of the plant. A number of studies now support the view that CBD may reduce the negative psychotropic effects of THC while also enhancing its positive therapeutic actions.

Continue reading “CBD Blocks Psychoactivity of THC = Huge Win for Patients Needing High Dosages THC”

Catch-22 is Alive & Well ~ How I Learned To Live With Chronic Pain Without Opioids

In the Spring, my wife, Paula Cas wrote a post about my battle with chronic pain, pain clinics, and opioid use. Catch-22 Is Alive And Well.

Just wanted to post a short update about how things have been going since then.

After a lot of research, trial and error, I have come up with non-Opioid, no prescription treatment for my chronic pain that works for all but my worst pain days … Rainy days or extreme cold.

A high THC strain of Medical Cannabis usually with the colors purple or blue in the name in flower or dab form. I also found a website with high quality hemp based CBD Oil products, 750mg twice a day most days and 1500mg twice a day on bad days, that has been great help for pain and sleep. The final product in my new pain management program is from a company where my wife is involved. Plexus Worldwide offers a product called Nerve and Plexus Ease which has done wonders for my neuropathy.**

I have once again put the back surgeon on hold while I continue t0 do all I can to keep surgery, braces, canes and wheelchairs at bay as long as possible.**

**I am not a health care professional. This article is based on my own experience and is no way meant to be construed as anything other than a sharing of those experiences. As in all matters do your own due diligence and consult your personal physicians.

Old Age Is Hell

The body gets stiff

You get cramps in your legs

Corns on your feet

As big as hen eggs

 

Gas on your stomach

Elimination is poor

Take Ex Lax at night

And then your not sure

 

You soak in the tub

Or your body will smell

It’s like I said folks

Old age is Hell

 

Your teeth start decaying

Your eyesight is poor

Hair falling out

All over the floor

 

Sex life is short

It’s a thing of the past

Don’t kid yourself friend

Even that doesn’t last

 

Can’t go to parties

Don’t dance anymore

Just to put things mildly

You’re a helluva bore

 

Liquor is out

Can’t take a chance

Your bladder is weak

Might pee in your pants

 

Nothing to plan for

Nothing to expect

Just the mailman comes

With your Security check

 

Now be sure your affairs are in order

And your will is made out right

Or on the way to the graveyard

There will be a helluva fight

 

You look pretty good

You look fairly well

Thank God your alive

Old age is HELL !

Catch 22 Is Alive And Well

Paths I Walk

By Paula & Oro Cas

Catch-22:  A dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.

I sit looking at this document wondering how to write about the craptastic Catch-22 that has appeared in my husband’s life. My husband is one of the millions of people who suffer with chronic pain. His journey to where he is today began 35 years ago when he worked for a traveling carnival. While working to repair a ride, the clutch holding the ride’s car opposite the repairmen failed sending the cars around the track. Hubby and two other workers fell 50 feet resulting in multiple fractures and life threatening injuries. Combine those injuries with 30 years of commercial truck driving, a near fatal lightning strike resulting in damage to his nerve sheaths and joints, along with degenerative disk disease, stenosis, scoliosis, and osteoarthritis ……

View original post 1,292 more words

Antibiotics Are Killing You

What you DON”T know about antibiotics is killing you.

How many people do you know who have never taken an antibiotic in their lifetime ? Probably not very many. The fact is a large majority of people in this country and around the world have been prescribed an antibiotic at one point or another.

Would you have been willing to take that pill or injection if someone told you beforehand that there was a good chance your entire body make up would be changed ?

The lady who wrote the story I’m sharing is an incredible person with an inner strength that can only be understood by myself and others who are living with the physical effects  of this problem.

If your body seems to be breaking down quicker than normal then you will want to check Amy’s post out because she has shared a wealth of information on the subject.

This is the link to Amy’s story.  >>> This antibiotic will ruin you.