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Oranjello

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Joined: 04 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
TMJ and medical marijuana
Posted: 08-04-08 13:01pm

I noticed a lot of people on this board have been having trouble with TMJ and I was once in equally bad shape. I wanted to share my experiences with medical cannabis for the treatment of TMJ.
I was diagnosed about 8 months ago and initially received a splint from my dentist. While the splint initially provided some relief, my nighttime grinding was so severe that the dentist couldn't keep up with the damage I was doing to the splint on a nightly basis. The daily headaches continued and the symptoms expanded and worsened. One day I woke up with double vision in my right eye that lasted for several days. My jaw and teeth were in so much pain that I had a hard time focusing on work or leisure.
Finally out of desperation, I obtained a recommendation for medical marijuana (I live in CA, luckily) a few weeks ago. I take a few puffs about an hour before bedtime, and I regain the ability to control my jaw muscles. I tell them to relax and they do. My mind clears of the worries and stresses of the day and I am filled with the sense that everything is going to be okay. I fall asleep almost instantly and when I wake up, my jaw is relaxed and loose.
Two weeks later, my teeth don't hurt and I no longer have a headache all day every day. I've stopped taking advil and aspirin (4-6 of each per day) and thus the nausea and acid reflux have abated. I don't even need my night guard any more! I am more productive at work and more engaged in personal and leisure activities.
I would like to end this account by reminding you that it is merely an anecdote -- one man's experience with medical cannabis for the treatment of TMJ. It would be wonderful to see a controlled longitundinal study done on TMJ treatment with cannabis, but thanks to our ridiculous federal drug policies, which consider marijuana more dangerous than cocaine or morphine, that is not currently feasible. If you are lucky enough to live in a medical marijuana state, I suggest talking it over with your doctor.
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edgaras

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Joined: 15 Feb 2008
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longitundinal study done
Posted: 09-05-08 15:01pm

"My friend" tried cannabis as well, he cook it slowly in virgin olive oil in microwave to make it edible as he does not like to smoke.

The effects were - increased appetite, decreased pain, anxiety, some clumsiness.
It is quiet effective method to go through an aggravation of symptoms, especially when reduced appetite exist (Dysorexy).

I have met a person who is on appetite stimulant Marinol, (pure TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL) because he was constantly underweight.


I do not think that longitudinal study will be done with cannabis smoking. However, different type of medicine with active ingredients of cannabis, such as Sativex, which is now sold in Canada for MS (multiple sclerosis) pain, could be used in such studies.
Smoking cannabis poses potential liability issues due to carcinogenic effect of smoke.
I do not think any professional medical institution would attempt to use carcinogenic method of marijuana ingestion. However, again, other various methods exist for ingesting, either professional extracted, pharmaceutical grade sublingual Sativex spray, or perhaps some oil suspension of THC for the oral use to allow absorption through the stomach.
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Oranjello

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Joined: 04 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
Carcinogenicity of Cannabis
Posted: 09-20-08 16:41pm

has NEVER been studied in a representative population. The only studies that have been completed were performed in very heavy (20 joints a day) long term (10 years or more) marijuana smokers. That's nowhere near the usage of myself or anyone I have ever know for that matter. Even with this skewed population, the results were inconclusive at best. My recommendation wasn't written by an actuarian -- it was written by a trained, competent, and licensed physician. I think he understands the risk/benefit profile well enough to make a decision thats in the best interests of his patients. All things considered, opiate-based painkillers are much more dangerous.
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edgaras

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Posted: 09-21-08 03:34am

there is no argument there, Oranjello.
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