As I explained in my ABOUT page, I started this blog for a grad school class. Now the time has come for my final project for the class, and I need to learn more about my readers, get advice for improving my blog, etc. So please help!!! Only 10 questions, and I’d really appreciate any input you can give.
Thanks,
S.P.
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.
I thought I would talk about something more personal in today’s post. As I mentioned in my earlier post about my diagnosis, I have had problems with my left middle finger since the very beginning. I lost movement in it about four months after being diagnosed with RA. I am now, four years later, looking at having surgery to fix the problem.
I went in about a week ago to a hand surgeon to see what my options were. From there I was sent to have an ultrasound done of my hand. (I know! An ultrasound of my hand! I didn’t even know they could do that.) The procedure took over an hour to do, but it was amazing everything it showed. (I am hoping I can get pictures of it to put up on the site. When I see the hand surgeon for my follow-up appointment, I’ll ask. I think you will find them very interesting.)
According to the ultrasound technician, my finger and hand showed signs of tenosynovitis, inflammation of the lining of the sheath that surrounds the tendons in my finger and hand.
The good news is that the tenosynovitis is not active and thus not causing erosion, and also the surgery to get rid of tenosynovitis is a lot less invasive than if I had a snapped tendon. If my tendon had been snapped or gone completely, they would have to take a tendon from my wrist to replace it, and then I’d have to have eight or so weeks of physical therapy. All in all, a lot of time and energy.
But, according to the surgeon, if it is tenosynovitis, they just go in and remove the inflammation, and I can be up and moving it in the same day! (Or practically the same day.) A lot less invasive, right?
I have to go back and see the surgeon to hear the final word on what kind of surgery will be done, but the results of the ultrasound were promising! I’ll keep you in the loop.
I also found it interesting to learn that there are other reasons a person can get tenosynovitis. One blog I found mention “texting” as a cause, which I found amusing.
Until next time,
S.P.
