Have you ever heard of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
Neither had I, until 2011 when I was diagnosed. A progressive disease that affects the autonomic nervous system much like muscular dystrophy, it is characterized by constant and intense pain.
For years, doctors threw opioids at the symptoms. At one point, I was on a potent cocktail of Oxycontin, Dilaudid and morphine, and was spending more time in the hospital due to the side effects of the drugs rather than my underlying condition. I was living in a haze and felt disconnected from the world around me.
And then medical cannabis came to New Jersey. I had never tried marijuana — I was a competitive tri-athlete and fitness nut, so it felt pretty radical. However, when my doctor introduced me to medical marijuana, it offered a glimmer of hope that my pain could be managed in a way that gave me greater control, and I could have a better quality of life. I was prescribed different strains for different times of the day. One strain allowed me to be alert and focused even while treating the pain, and one helped me sleep at night when the pain tends to be worse. I got part of my life back.