California Pain Mgt/ Cannabis Question-Moving Help!

[Tudo]

I used to own this one:

hope you got it as I didn't want to leave it, Boca Raton Fl 33428

Bought it for 178, sold it for 235 and lost 30K, it went crazy after that and went to some insane number like 575K and then back on down to 300K. Figure 100K in renovations and you have a 1/3 acre in west boca with 2100 and change under a/c with a pool for roughly 400K and there is no place in california that has what south fla has. Nowhere. Got Keys? Nope. Got tropics? Nope.

When I bought that house I was offered a company to essentially take over in beverly hills that had been in business since the 1930's. I flew in january and couldn't believe how COLD los angeles is temperature wise and then the traffic. Holy crap. I passed and flew back to fla.

Here we are 15 years later and unless we want to continue hoping that they wake up in Fla ( they won't. Not in my lifetime and I'm a tad below 60 . Anyone wanna bet on that one? ) or move to california. It's greatly stressful so, there's a bowl of 3 Kings here

 

[Tudo]

Oh, do not want a large home. Been there done that. Need about 1800 sq ft under a/c/heat and a minimum of 1/4 acre and no way 4 seasons. Can't deal with the cold anymore.

 

[TribalSeeds]

I have a herniated disc and a pinched nerve. I first noticed back pain at work. Then my hip was hurting really bad for a few weeks. I ended up leaving the job and two weeks later my leg went out and I couldnt stand up straight.
For a few years I hadnt even been to a doctor. The doc I ended up seeing recommended I do physical therapy... It just so happens the doctor and the pt were in the same facility and everything... He prescribed vicodin and a muscle relaxer. When I picked up the prescription there were like 10 of each with instructions for 2-3 per day.
That shit wasnt working so I ended up seeing a chiropractor. My physical therapist was hot as hell, but what a bitch! She was upset that I was seeing a chiropractor even though I didnt really get any relief from her until I saw him a few times.
I was in serious pain and there wasnt much improvement so I went to see a surgeon. He walked into the room and lifted my leg and I cringed with pain. He said we'll schedule a surgery and walked out. He didnt even prescribe meds or anything. I just walked out without scheduling an MRI. I filled it out, but threw it in the trash because I didnt like the guy at all.
I went back to the original doc to get him to prescribe more pills because they were only giving me 10 at a time and I could barely walk into the fucking store! Anyway he prescribed like 50ct bottles or whatever. I told him to schedule an MRI but he couldnt because the other doctor had already gotten authorization from my insurance. Motherfuckers!
Anyway, so I had the MRI done and took that to a neurosurgeon. She didnt spend more than a minute with me before she wanted to prescribe nerve pain killers and schedule me for some shots into my spine with another doctor. I said I wasnt taking the drugs they prescribed me and I wouldnt take nerve pain killers. She starts trying to give me a hard time by saying that I dont need to act like a tough guy, its ok to feel pain... Im like bitch I cant handle drugs. I smoke weed instead and it doesnt make me feel like those drugs were doing. I said I cant function on drugs so I smoke weed. That was the end of the appointment...lol
When I was leaving their office I noticed an advertisement for aquatherapy. A few days later they called to ask if I needed the other doctors information again. I said that Id call when I was ready. I asked them about the aquatherapy and they said they would get back to me. The next day the other doctors office called me to try and schedule an appointment. I said Id call them when I was ready. Then I called back the other doctor to ask again about aquatherapy. They told me that wouldnt work and wouldnt even give me the info. They told me to schedule the surgery/shots.
Well I talked to my pt and chiropractor about aquatherapy and they both didnt seem to think it would be a viable option. I was able to find a place to do the therapy on my own since I was in serious pain and not taking any pain meds for atleast a month since becoming MMJ.
Hell, even the aqua therapist didnt think Id get much benefit from aqua therapy, but I did it anyway. Two sessions of aqua therapy and I was almost as good as new.
The doctor they reffered me to called atleast 3 times to schedule before I got pissed at them and told them I would find another doctor for the procedure when I was ready.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

In January the jet stream swung up into the arctic then dipped way down into So Cal. Coldest temperatures in six years.

Claremont is north of Foothill Blvd at the base of the mountains. As the lowland neighborhoods with affordable housing slide more downhill, people who can afford to are moving to nicer locations. It was the middle class that was hit hardest in the recession. If you have your money in the stock market you're doing great now. So the wealthier folks can afford to pay to have the neighbors they want. These areas have maintained high property values.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

I was in serious pain and there wasnt much improvement so I went to see a surgeon. He walked into the room and lifted my leg and I cringed with pain. He said we'll schedule a surgery and walked out.

If all you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail.

Once they cut on you there is no going back.

 

[SeaMaiden]

Ain't THAT the fucking truth! I had docs who wanted, still want, to cut into my back. I tell them fuck that noise! I *know* what happens and I *know* they hardly know shit, and I *know* what the prognosis post-op is. Feet & backs, for whatever reason, are never ever 'better' after being cut into.

TS, what you didn't like was his prima donna attitude. Surgeons are known for it. I won't say all surgeons are like that, but IMO they can be hard to find.

I found greatest relief through acupuncture. The pain management doc I was seeing put me on this stuff related to Neurontin and it made me incredibly sick, so I stopped taking it. He wanted to do epidurals I said, "WHAT? I DON'T WANT INVASIVE PROCEDURES!"

(Yes, I yelled. Doctors don't intimidate me in the least, and I argue with them rather openly. Some can hang, some can't--fuck them if they can't. Be ready to answer my questions and concerns intelligently, because I *will* call your ass out. My doctor-daddy taught me how.)

So they asked me what I *did* want and I said I wanted to try acupuncture. Doc sighed, shaking his head. "Ok, I'll do it, but I don't think it's going to work."
"Well, it's not going to make me sick at the very least, and won't screw me like surgery will. We both know that's the truth of the matter."
To which he had to agree.

It's important to find a good practitioner, and I don't know how I landed with such a great one, but I did. I've heard from plenty of folks who've found no relief, but it made my previously unlivable life livable again. I was able to drive, use the toilet by myself, all those important, little things.

Oh, do not want a large home. Been there done that. Need about 1800 sq ft under a/c/heat and a minimum of 1/4 acre and no way 4 seasons. Can't deal with the cold anymore.

Then definitely stay out of the high desert areas, and know that even the lower elevation deserts can get pretty damned cold in winter, too. You're going to have to go a bit coastal.

You know what? Are you familiar with the Sunset West Gardening Book? They have their own zones that are a response to both cold and heat, as well as precipitation. Look at their zones, see which zones you think you'd like best. That would make it a good bit easier to figure out the where and all.

 

[TribalSeeds]

I just checked and its fucking 81-84 and cloudy in FL...lol
Im on the coast in so cal and its been 60-40 and sunny out here which is as cold as its ever been.

 

[Tudo]

If all you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail.

Once they cut on you there is no going back.

No truer words have been spoken and remember the doctors are more than doctors. How much more? Oh so much more. The ones I've met command such respect for the professionalism that permeates the atmosphere wherever they go. Look, here's the heart surgeon that chopped me open! He had a great pitch telling me it would be 5 years before they got the davinci and would do keyhole surgery and then 1 month after getting my sternum cut, there it was plain as day a BILLBOARD advertising the arrival of the davinci and a pic of the guys face less than 2 miles from home.
No fking way am I letting them near my cervical spine no matter how good the pitch:

 

[dddaver]

I just checked and its fucking 81-84 and cloudy in FL...lol
Im on the coast in so cal and its been 60-40 and sunny out here which is as cold as its ever been.

Always check not only temps but the humidity level also with those balmy temps.
for FL.

Ooh, my aching back and joints! What is the western med solution? Narcotics, get dull, the pain is still there, but you are so fuzzy nothing else matters. Either that or let some knife happy sumbitch carve you up. And that's not much more than just legalized assault, with BAD results sometimes too that they would not like you to know about. They'll just point at the successes and usually not even mention the possibility of the horrible failures. Surgeons sure can put a happy spin on it all. But the potential risks far outweigh any benefits that might be gained by getting cut. Screw that!

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

You don't find out the true story until after you've played the role of the Thanksgiving turkey. Meeting with the doctor who does post surgery evaluations, his experience was that a quarter of the people were glad they did it, a quarter really regretted the decision, and half didn't think it was worth the trip to the hospital.

Herniation pressure on nerves can result in permanent damage resulting in paralysis, so for some it's a must. But if you're in discomfort and hoping to get your old life back you may be asking for too much. And there is no going back. There's so many other options to try first.

 

[Tudo]

Crusader Rabbit that's 100%. Speaking strickly for myself, I've been able to get the opoioid intake down from 5-6 pills a day to 1-1.25 a day. The cannabis is a big factor as is the excercises I found at rebuildyourback.com

I too have been thru accupunture ( in 3 countries! Vietnam, Thailand, US ) and it didn't do anything. Deep massage. The philippino who did that must have been a rugby player or maybe a professional leg breaker, oh I'm sorry is that not the correct terminology? Ok, a debt collector or something serious as she would get into telling me how unhappy she was in the US, that back in manilla she was a queen and here she has to work and there were times I was afraid she'd pop my carotid artery and I wouldn't have to worrry about anything ha. The mayo facial was a trip. She would get into this trance and I would fall asleep and start snoring and let me tell you I can start chopping em down after a while hahaha. I eat chiropractors for breakfast. Surgeons get an erection when viewing my mri.

The excercises at rebuildyourback.com , cannabis, change of diet have all helped. Now the possibility of moving to southern california where it's dry and 3 seasons whereas we have 2 seasons and it's hot and wet.

The implant surgery thing yesterday, actually nearing the end of this year long fun excursion into oral surgery land was not what I expected and I thought we'd be done in a couple days then fly to ca and look around. Turns out these were placed real deep and therfore they had to cut real deep to open them and man has it been painful. But next week the conversion and then we're outta here. Prolly 2nd week of march now for a week.

 

[Tudo]

Crusader Rabbit are you done with the surgery?

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

By stretching to maintain range of motion and keeping active if I'm careful I can keep the irritation/aggravation/inflammation down enough to function pretty normally. But it's a very close line to walk and quite easy to stumble and step across. A couple years ago I was getting drop foot and thought the knife was in my near future but the issues have subsided somewhat. I've been told of the advantages of doing it now (or many years ago!) when my body has/had the advantage of youth and would still heal. But it is a roulette game. And new procedures become less invasive and more precise with reduced scarring.

I had a multi disc lumbar surgery that devastated what strength there was in my back. They flay you like a fish and then fold it all back and staple you up. I'm a prime candidate for a 2 disc cervical procedure. There's another thoracic screamer in between that is inoperable. In the cervical mess they would want to fuse vertebrae but then that puts more load on the remaining functioning discs.

If the injuries are aggravated and angry they become limiting but with time and care they relax and subside so that life becomes normal again. I've learned new ways of moving and doing things. But it's a game of slowly losing abilities. I want to avoid going under the knife again but recognize that eventually I will likely be faced with a situation in which surgery seems the best option.

 

[justpassnthru]

Tudo, I have similar issues as you. All the areas I mentioned will be fine for your back. L.A. is on the coast and it does get cold and foggy. It doesn't stay that way. I think I was in L.A. that week, years ago, when it was so cold, when you were there. The humidity is much higher in L.A. and not so much inland.
Just stay out of the areas that snow. jpt

 

[Tudo]

I was just re-reading this thread and I really do appreciate all the tips. My health condition since I started this thread hasn't gotten worse in terms of the level of pain ( I cannot remember what it's like to be pain free. ) but the tolerance levels on the meds I have to take just to deal with the pain meds has increased and I'm getting scared as to what the near future holds in this regard and am trying everything from teas to softeners etc and I'm just afraid of where it all leads from here. Somehow I believe that the people who are truly researching cannabis from the medicinal standpoint will somehow come out with a tincture or oil or whatever that will attack my pain like the oxy does so I can just stop those things altogether. To rehash, I have been successful in limiting my intake of opioids, with the near constant intake of cannabis which of course is an ideal trade, from 5-6 pills a day to 1.25 pills a day which is definitely not even close to being enough without the cannabis but I am just able to get along and run my end of the family business with it which is huge. Unfortunately it's the meds that have to be taken to counter the constipation from even 1.25 pills a day that this tolerance has built.

California is #1 on the list because of the weather, we do not want any cold weather, were interested in Hawaii but can only find 1 edta chelation doc on the affordable big island and that's a requirement to keep my heart pumping, lots of them in southern california and I can honestly tell you that if I had been able to get to the airport and catch a flight in the last 6 months we would have done so. But the truth is I have missed more doctors appointments because of this scourge and flying to Ca has been impossible but it has become a real mission.

And I've got a lot of support from my wife so I'm very fortunate in that regard. I've zero'd in on some places in san diego cnty to riverside, to Temecula. The price point is important as there's not going to be a mortgage as we don't know how much further my ability to make a living will decline but let me put it to you this way, I don't expect it to go up in my 60's lol.

So the ultimate goal is to be situated in a place as those years approach, preferably in a single family house on a quarter acre or more land with trees not desert, preferably priced below 400k and not have to fight off the natives in the local grocery store or have the equivalent of police story when entering the local hospital. Not the city and not rural. Suburban. Residential. Remember the Monkees ? Like west boca raton. Not pretentious egotistical "boca" but retirement and family oriented west boca. Least that's what we're hoping to find. Neither one of us drinks, at all, ironic we stumble on Temecula.

Starting yesterday my wife and I are starting a new program in an effort to get me strong enough to get on an airplane and go look. Hopefully I can pull that off this year . Thank you for hearing me out and offering your support, ideas, option options. This is a huge move that nobody anticipated making, especially at our age, at a time when business and health sucks. I guess when this shit is supposed to happen to most of us eh?

The ultimate goal? I've been working since I'm 14 years old. We need to get settled so this old man can start sitting back for the first time in his life and do nothing

 

[Tudo]

Oh, duh in all my ramblings here's the main things slowing us down

1) how difficult will it be for me to find a doc who will continue writing me prescriptions for my pain meds that I've taken now for nearly 4 years? The Wife says that will be no problem and to stop with the delusions of being honest with them until we find the right one. In the meantime to buy a whizzinator and just go to pain management.
2) Being strong enough to get up at a reasonable time and get to the airport and fly then rent car drive in a place never been, cottage vacation type rental ( so as to have more than 1 bathroom )

The cost of living in socal while it feels like a fking financial torpedo when you planned and saved for tupelo Mississippi and land in Socal, now that's a freaking eye opener indeed but that's still ok, just less in capital and more in dirt, shingles and wood. Would prefer it the other way around but it's ok.

So it's the FEAR of finding a doctor and finding the strength just to get there. My, what kind of country do people live in fear of finding a doctor to give them medications to help them. Whew.

 

[Drift13]

Just be thrilled you aren't dependent on the VA. I know the hoops the wife & I had to jump thru when we moved from Chicago to Fla. Yes both of us see a pain mgt. Dr. The one thing we learned was each area has it's own set of rules. If we ever do a major move again we will try to find doctors before we move.

 

[Tudo]

Just be thrilled you aren't dependent on the VA. I know the hoops the wife & I had to jump thru when we moved from Chicago to Fla. Yes both of us see a pain mgt. Dr. The one thing we learned was each area has it's own set of rules. If we ever do a major move again we will try to find doctors before we move.

How would you do it from a distance? I have ideas but am eager to hear yours

 

[Drift13]

First thing I would do is see what Medicare plans are in the area I'm looking. Then ask for list of their Dr.'s. From there some searches on Duckduckgo.com to see if anything pops on those doctors. Also ask your local Dr. if he/she has anyone they know in the area. Let me think on this some more and I'll get back to ya.

 

[Tudo]

I'm a few years away from medicare. You just threw me. What do you mean check what medicare plans are available? We're forced to take this and then it's not available everywhere?