[golf.007]

hi all and thanks in advance for reading the following. I have been a regular cannabis smoker since the age of 15 smoking it every day with only the odd week off when I have been on holiday or there has been nothing about. Iam now 31 and have a few issues. About 8 years ago I went to greece for a week on holiday. It was in this week that I noticed a slight tremor in my hands and feet. At the time I was naive and put it down to the change of me not smoking weed for a week. I should also mention my dad has progressive MS. To cut a long story short for the past 8 years I have kind of come to the conclusion I have MS even though I have never actually been medically tested. I have been thinking that if I have then there is nothing they can do anyway and I dont want a life knowing how I am going to deterate. After being with the love of my life for the past few years I have stopped growing as she does not aprove and cut down dramaticaly on how much I smoke. (only about 1.5g a day).
I have been out the loop for a while but have recantly read that cannabis may help to protect the brain to stop symtons getting worse.
Iam now wondering how much I need to smoke for this protection and what strains?
Has anyone got any info on this subject it would be great.
Iam now at a stage in my life that I need to no if I have MS or not, I want to ask the woman I love to marry me but think she deservs to no because if I have MS I will have no option but to grow my own as I simply can not afford to buy 3 £20 bags a week.
Sorry for bad spelling folks hope all can get the jist.

Going to my gps on wednesday afternoon to start on the road of finding out whats up with me

[golf.007]

I should also say that my symtoms have never gone away but sometimes get worse fror short periods of time. I did go to my gp about 3 years ago and got some blood tests taken wich were fine and refferd to a neurologist. I decided then that I didnt want to no so never went.

[playingedges]

golf.007, on 28 February 2012 - 12:47 PM, said:

Going to my gps on wednesday afternoon to start on the road of finding out whats up with me

Good on you mate. I hope the outcome is a positive one.

There are plenty of very knowledgable folks here who will offer their practical wisdom on cannabis and MS.

I'll link to this as it is fresh on my mind and I linked to it earlier today

Quote

Both animal and human studies provide strong evidence of the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids to provide relief from a number of neurological disease states [49]. The use of cannabinoids to treat people suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) is an excellent example of the importance of "medical marijuana" as an agent of harm reduction[50] MS is a neurodegenerative disease in which the immune system attacks components of the nervous system. The axons of many central nervous system (CNS) neurons are surrounded by a myelin sheath that acts much like an insulator around a wire. MS is associated with the degradation of the myelin sheath that leads to loss of axon function and cell death, thus producing the disease symptoms.

Cannabis-based therapies for the treatment of MS can provide symptomatic and true therapeutic relief. On the one hand, cannabinoids help to reduce spasticity in an animal model of MS (chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CREAE) [51]. However, the involvement of the cannabinoid system in the etiology of MS goes much deeper. MS is in reality an autoimmune disease. In order to appreciate why cannabinoids can have in important role, beyond what has already been mentioned, in treating MS on a mechanistic level [52], a brief introduction to immunology is required.

-- Harm reduction-the cannabis paradox

Best wishes
PE

[golf.007]

thank you, great help

[namkha]

there's some info on MS and how cannabis can help in a book called Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids --- the gist of it is that it can give symptomatic relief, protects the nerves, and may also slow the damage to the nerves - there is a lot of other info in there

Chapter 6 is all on MS --- it's pretty technical, and if I've understood right, the way it mainly works is that THC (and other cannabinoids in varying degrees) stimulates the cannabinoid receptors in your brain, which then sets of various processes that protect your nerves

one of the effects is to suppress the process by which MS is attacking the 'insulation' around the nerves

CBD has an additional beneficial antioxidant effect that protects against nerve damage

"Experimental potential of cannabis and cannabinoids in experimental models of MS" - Chapter 6 of the book

if it's of use, I posted a whole pile of other papers on cannabis and nerve damage, a lot of it about MS, in this thread Arnold Layne started
http://www.uk420.com...pic=287899&st=0

This post has been edited by namkha: 28 February 2012 - 05:23 PM

[rixy]

Hey golf, firstly i'd like to wish you the very best of luck in your quest with getting tested etc. I think Indica strains with a high content of CBD tend to offer the most benefits for medicinal stuff so that's a good starting point. To make things better for you, it would be best to vaporise rather than smoke if you can.

From personal experience of MS, i'd recommend that you look into something called CCSVI as there is growing evidence to suggest that there is involvement of the vascular system in nearly all people with MS, and CCSVI details what all of this is about and what people are doing about it.

What are your symptoms if you dont mind me asking?

Rx

[Al Swearengen]

Hi Mate, first of all I hope everything works out for you and your all clear. Your a brave man to get checked and your doing the right thing as its good to get on top of things. I am the same age as yourself and was diagnosed 5 years ago with relapsing recurring MS, cannabis in my opinion is vital medicine in prevention of the disease becoming more aggressive and keeping my attacks at bay, I do also take a medicine called LDN (low dose naltrexone) which stimulates the opiate and cannabinoid receptors. I think your missus will support you through whatever happens and what ever way you choose to manage your health. Whatvever happens Im always here and can help you with my experiences. Good luck, Good vibes and keep the head up, Al

This post has been edited by Al Swearengen: 28 February 2012 - 09:08 PM

[Arbuscule]

Hiya

I'm an mser too. There's loads of us here Please don't hesitate to pm and/ or post if there's anything we (the uk420 comunity) can do I hope your tests go ok mate

[golf.007]

Thanks everyone for your help and kind words. My symptoms are as follows. If im sitting or lying down Im fine but if I was to say pic a cup of tea up and hold it out infront of me my hand and arm will tremor. If Im sitting upright with both feet on the ground and raise my heel of the ground but leaving my toes on the floor my legs will go crazy and just bounce around. I never have any pain or stifness. Maybe once or twice a week I could be walking around and my knee normally my left will giveway just slightly.
Despite smoking cannabis with tobbaco almost every day for over 15years I have tried to keep myself fit. I swim a mile every morning and do various martial arts on evenings and have done for over 20years. I no in myself that my leg strength and core ballance are off compared to 10 years ago. If I lay on the floor and hold a sit up position my hole body will shake kind of like if I have just done my max reps. Basically its as if my muscles are turning on and off rapidly only when under load. Im a landscape gardener by trade and have over the last couple of years felt uncomforable up ladders not really dizzy more balance I guess.

Thanks again for everyones help and info.

[Arnold Layne]

Hope you get it sorted and find some relief, mate. Most unpleasant, you have my sympathies.

rixy, on 28 February 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

I think Indica strains with a high content of CBD tend to offer the most benefits for medicinal stuff so that's a good starting point.

Not always the case, rixy. In fact, I think its an urban myth of sorts. I know it is true in many cases; but I also know that many folks prefer THC rich strains, Sativas or Sativa rich hybrids.
I only mention this, so as to make sure folks don't rule out Sativas in their quest for decent medicine. I use dope to help with chronic pain. The urban myth would suggest I require an Indica. But in reality, a sativa rich hybrid proves best for me.

My point being: Keep an open mind, test everything, smoke all strains until the right one is found

[rixy]

Arnold Layne, on 29 February 2012 - 10:31 AM, said:

rixy, on 28 February 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

I think Indica strains with a high content of CBD tend to offer the most benefits for medicinal stuff so that's a good starting point.

Not always the case, rixy. In fact, I think its an urban myth of sorts. I know it is true in many cases; but I also know that many folks prefer THC rich strains, Sativas or Sativa rich hybrids.
I only mention this, so as to make sure folks don't rule out Sativas in their quest for decent medicine. I use dope to help with chronic pain. The urban myth would suggest I require an Indica. But in reality, a sativa rich hybrid proves best for me.

My point being: Keep an open mind, test everything, smoke all strains until the right one is found

That's fair Arnold. I think that half the fun is finding something that works well for the individual and there are so many wonderful and different things to try. I should have qualified what I said by saying that Indica/High CBD is often what a lot of people chose when making tinctures and oils etc, but of course that isn't the only method people choose to help medicate themselves. So apologies if I've caused any confusion

Rx

E2A sp

This post has been edited by rixy: 29 February 2012 - 01:23 PM

[MS?MJ!]

Hiya g007 from another MSer Hope the docs visit this afternoon went OK and you're on your way to getting some answers

[namkha]

rixy, on 29 February 2012 - 01:14 PM, said:

Arnold Layne, on 29 February 2012 - 10:31 AM, said:

rixy, on 28 February 2012 - 08:31 PM, said:

I think Indica strains with a high content of CBD tend to offer the most benefits for medicinal stuff so that's a good starting point.

Not always the case, rixy. In fact, I think its an urban myth of sorts. I know it is true in many cases; but I also know that many folks prefer THC rich strains, Sativas or Sativa rich hybrids.
I only mention this, so as to make sure folks don't rule out Sativas in their quest for decent medicine. I use dope to help with chronic pain. The urban myth would suggest I require an Indica. But in reality, a sativa rich hybrid proves best for me.

My point being: Keep an open mind, test everything, smoke all strains until the right one is found

That's fair Arnold. I think that half the fun is finding something that works well for the individual and there are so many wonderful and different things to try. I should have qualified what I said by saying that Indica/High CBD is often what a lot of people chose when making tinctures and oils etc, but of course that isn't the only method people choose to help medicate themselves. So apologies if I've caused any confusion

Rx

E2A sp

just to clear up this point:

the urban myth is that 'indicas' that give you 'couchlock' ever had any CBD in them in the first place

in fact:

1. until very recently 99.99% of typical 'indicas' you would be able to have got hold of at seedbanks have never had any CBD in them anyway (or negligible amounts - around 1% or less)

2. any couchlock you got from said indicas was due to specific terpenes + high THC - not due to CBD!

there is stacks of respectable scientific research showing that unlike imaginary high CBD strains real high CBD strains (e.g. the CBD crew strains, or landrace hash plants) can be very handy in the symptomatic relief of MS - and in protecting against the autoimmune attack and nerve-damage at the heart of how MS messes you up

Scientists Uncover How CBD Treats MS
http://www.freedomis...rol-metabolism/

there are links to the results of several studies on CBD and the immune system above

also, on CBD and neuropathic pain, often a result of the nerve damage caused by MS

Science help, please
http://www.uk420.com...pic=287899&st=0

what the research seems to be saying is that any high THC plant should be of great use in MS --- due to THC's neuroprotective properties

CBD is an additional neuroprotector, and like THC also seems to prevent the autoimmune destruction in MS

[golf.007]

so I went to my gp yesterday and i must of got my dates wrong. He showed me my records and it was infact 8years ago when I was first reffered to a neurologist which I canceld. He explained how MS is progresive which I knew and that in 8 years I would of noticed some big changes. I explained that I have noticed small changes mainly that in this time it seems that the tremor has moved from my fingers and hands to my arms and core and that my legs may be slightly more shakey. I also explained how I am still a daily user of cannabis and could this not of slowed the progresion down. He did not seem aware that there is a chance this could be the case and said cannabis is used to help ms sufferers who suffer pain and muscle spasam. My dad who has never had cannabis was diagnosed over 15 years ago can hardly walk but has not really got any worse over the past 8 years.

Well I now await for my appointment date with the neurologist. This time Im going

On the plus side the local speed and coke head drugs pusher who I am forced to hand my hard earned to has just sorted me 2 real nice bags

[carpodiem]

Hiya Golf

All the best my friend. I hope all goes well with your partner and that she can see the light in the way of your health. I must say, I think you're being brave what with one thing and another - all the best m8, to you and yours...

Peace Out Carpo