"It's The Only Thing That Has Ever Helped"

Getting feedback from patients who have suffered with chronic pain for years and have been able to try medical cannabis for relief, I often hear these words. "It's the only thing that has ever helped."

An untold number of Iowans suffer from some form of chronic pain. Whether it be back pain, arthritis, knee pain, headaches, abdominal pain, or another form, chronic pain is difficult to control and can have a terrible effect on mental health and overall health. People who suffer with chronic pain have difficulty staying active, they suffer with depression, they miss out on important events in their and their family’s lives.

Contemporary medicine teaches providers to prescribe a plethora of medications in an effort to improve these people’s lives. Opioids, muscle relaxers, anti-depressants, even seizure medications to reduce the pain and combat the chronic pain. These medications, generally ineffective for control of chronic pain, come with dangers and side effects as well. The providers often prescribe more medications to combat the side effects of the initial medications! These providers want to help their patients, but they are generally constrained by their training and education, insurance companies, and the companies for which they work.

Many Iowans are taking advantage of the Iowa Medical Cannabidiol program and accessing medical cannabis for the first time ever. They are using the cannabis products as an adjunct to their medications for their pain with great results! I receive feedback daily that people are able to be more active, are able to finally get good rest, and have a better mindset when facing their daily lives. More and more, medical cannabis is showing to not only improve people’s lives, but to empower them to take control of their health.

While the Iowa program still has a lot of room for improvement and improved access for Iowans, many are finding that the program we have has been more than sufficient to improve their chronic pain issues to a manageable level so that they can live their life to the fullest extent.

If you have chronic pain and have found contemporary treatments ineffective, medical cannabis may be the “only thing that has ever worked” for you too!