Arnold-Chiari Malformation

[bremmicool]

Hi Icmag users. Finally my account was activated!

I'm was wondering if anyone on these forums has experience with using medicinal marijuana for Arnold-Chiari?

Any information would be appreciated, but I'm specifically looking for what strain would be most beneficial for threating the symptoms, and you guys experiences

The symptoms are:

Headaches aggravated by Valsalva maneuvers, such as yawning, laughing, crying, coughing, sneezing or straining

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Dizziness and vertigo

Nausea

Nystagmus (irregular eye movements)

Facial pain

Muscle weakness

Impaired gag reflex

Restless Leg Syndrome

Sleep Apnea

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)

Impaired coordination

Dysautonomia: tachycardia (rapid heart), syncope (fainting), polydipsia (extreme thirst), chronic fatigue

My mother suffers a great deal from this disease and her pills have no affect on her, she pretty tied to a bed for 2-3 days every other week so after reading some statements and watching videos she decided to try using marijuana as a last resort before having a high risk operation that holds no guarantee of improving her situation

 

[DoobieDuck]

Bremmi welcome to IC Mag, I'm very sorry to hear of your mothers illness. We have a Sticky in this forum here: Grannys List that may have info on that. Is it a nervous system illness? I'm sorry I have no knowledge of it.
Has she tried the cannabis yet, if so what kinds, how much, and how often? What kind of relief might she be getting?
Please keep in mind sometimes cannabis does not get rid of the symptoms or related pain, it helps patients cope with them and thus improves their quality of life. Keep us in the loop and we'll help if we can..wish her well..DD

 

[bremmicool]

Bremmi welcome to IC Mag, I'm very sorry to hear of your mothers illness. We have a Sticky in this forum here: Grannys List that may have info on that. Is it a nervous system illness? I'm sorry I have no knowledge of it.
Has she tried the cannabis yet, if so what kinds, how much, and how often? What kind of relief might she be getting?
Please keep in mind sometimes cannabis does not get rid of the symptoms or related pain, it helps patients cope with them and thus improves their quality of life. Keep us in the loop and we'll help if we can..wish her well..DD

Thank you.

Its a malformation to the brain which means the lower brain puts pressure onto the spine and can in some cases hinder the spinal fluids from running and therefor be paralyzing..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold–Chiari_malformation

She hasn't tried any cannabis at least not as a treatment for her symptoms.

I know it doesn't rid anything but she has periods where I'm sure it could help relieve tension and maybe help with her nausea.

At the moment she is taking a heavy dose of opiates whenever her situation becomes intolerable.

I found this video on youtube if anyone is interested in more about Arnold-chiari and what medical marijuana can/does for patients.
They video is a bit long and has a lot of medical terms but it seems Marijuana has improved this young lady's life quite substantially

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ema_vH5Z_CQ

To specify further:
I'm looking for information about different strains that might help out our current situation; Nausea, Migraine and of cause stress relief.
As I've been told some strains are better suited for medicinal purposes rather than getting your high.

 

[accessndx]

Direct answer to the initial question: Paradise Seeds: Opium.

I find that it is extremely helpful for those types of issues. Overall it's functions like a para-sympathetic upregulator. Any type of CNS disorder is going to drive the body into hyper-sympathetic states. You're describing activities of daily living that exacerbate her condition by causing direct pressure on the base of the brain, the brainstem and the cranial nerves. Alot also depends on the TYPE of Arnold Chiari malformation....because there are degrees of it. Some are very difficult to rein in, while others may respond to more conservative measures. Which type is she: I, II, III, IV?

I'm not going to mince words however: these types of disorders are related to congential and acquired abnormalities with relation to the brain and skull. It's structural in nature, and is not going to be as responsive to functional changes with relation to drugs, and other modalities. Even though the consensus is not complete, clearly surgical alternatives are necessary to restore proper function prior to intervention with any pharmacologics and lastly herbal or nutritional intervention. That doesn't mean she can't ameliorate her symptomotology with things like marijuana. In fact, there's no reason she shouldn't. Just be aware that things such as position of the head and activies that affect cerebral and cervical movement can potentially exacerbate the issue and create symptoms. To that end, muscle tension and a propensity to become inflammed in that region locally will have a definitive impact.

That's why strains that put the kibosh on muscle tension and increase parasympathetic activity are the best for practically all pathology.

But I digress: Paradise Seeds Opium was the original answer you were seeking. I also don't have stock in the company.

Good luck, and have her speak with a competent neurosurgeon.

 

[DoobieDuck]

Bremmi many thanks for the links and facts. Cannabis works in different ways on different people. So I always suggest trying small amounts, a little at a time of course. But different strains affect me differently than others so that may be the case with her too. She will be the one that feels how it effects her. Of coure, first and foremost is helping her cut back on her opiod intake. If you can do that you will see improvent in other areas.
May I suggest an Indica variety first for her appetite problems and sleep issues. I use a small amount of indicas in a cup of hot green tea, it makes me hungry and always sleepy. I can dose off deeply after using it. Good sleep helps just about everything, including stress. The Gannys list sticky in our forum has a lot on appetite or eating issues as well as sleep and migrains. Good luck, I'm no doctor, but I'm usually here every day for support, DD

 

[bremmicool]

thank you for the replies guys! appreciate it

She is type 1 ( I think no mention has ever been made by a doctor, its new to me that there are other types.) has had consultations with a surgeon but she had some kind of nerve problem in her youth, which was operated upon so a new operation would most likely put her in a wheelchair so its out of the question for now! But her condition continues to decrease and surgery will in time be the only option.

ill look into those seeds and have her try an indica strain asap. but marijuana being illegal here and cheap hash or dirt weed being the only options i feel more compelled to grow her some so I can ensure its organic and the right strain.

 

[ACType1]

Hello I am new to this site but had some questions and hope some one get give me some feed back.

In 2009 I was told that I had Arnold Chiari Malformation type 1 and had the surgery done and was fine for a year but now the headaches have started to come back coupled with alots of neck pain and pain at the site where they cut into the back of my neck. Plus I have pain in other places in my body due to other medical reasons. I am 30 years old and have smoked off and on at different times in my life. I also do not like to take pain pills as I have two childern and they take too much out of me.

Does or will Medical Cannabis help tp reduce the pain and my pain pill intake? If so how do I approch this with my doctor being that I live in Oklahoma and this state is very much in the bible belt? I am willing to try it as I want to be able to play with my childern without being in so mich pain.

Please help me and feedback will do.