The Young and the RA

So I read an amusing article today, and I just had to share it with you, my loyal readers. An article in the Wimbledon Guardian about a 67-year-old English man who was growing cannabis for his rheumatoid arthritis. The man said that smoking pot helped relieve his joint pain.

Interestingly enough, this man’s actions backup research that was done in 2005 in the UK. According to an article in Medical News Today,

“The researchers found that in comparison with the placebo, patients who had taken the CBM had statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, inflammation (measured by a Disease Activity Score involving 28 joints - DAS 28) and intensity of pain (measured by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire SF-MPQ). “

The study also showed few adverse side effects, and the only one mentioned in the article was dizziness. As for the chances of people abusing pot, the article said:

“Dr. Robson said that fears that the CBM could be abused by patients hoping to get a ‘high’ were probably unfounded. “It seems that in practice this is a very rare event. More than 1,000-patient years of treatment with Sativex in clinical trials have been accumulated and to date there has not been a single documented case of abuse. The fact is that the motivation of medicinal users of cannabis-based medicine is entirely different from recreational users: the former simply want symptom relief and the ability to go about their normal lives, and for them intoxication would be a distinct disadvantage; for the latter, smoking marijuana is infinitely more intoxicating than Sativex and is still easily available.”

I can’t say I have ever been a recreational drug user, and the idea of being high doesn’t really attract me, but if it means easing the pain I feel during flair-ups, I’d be willing to try it. I know many people have to live in a lot worse pain than I do, so I think it would be wonderful for them to get relief.

Until next time,

S.P. 

*It is important to note that marijuana doesn’t prevent erosion. It only treats the pain, not the disease. That is why it is important to get on medications such as methotrexate or a biologic to deal with the disease and keep yourself out of a wheelchair.