California Pain Mgt/ Cannabis Question-Moving Help!

[justpassnthru]

Medicare has its own situation. Hopefully, you'll be established with an M.D. that also accepts Medicare..by the time you are on Medicare. With the guidelines and new stresses of Medicare, many docs don't want to take on new Medicare patient, but continue seeing patients they have seen for years, that become Medicare.

If one doc in a town is bad, it doesn't mean, ALL docs are bad. Like any field, you have to search for the right one.

Tudo; It sounds like your pills are taking over your body and its functions. Often when that happens, addiction is a worry and the pills can beget more pain; whether real or imagined, it is real pain, regardless. With the utmost respect I suggest you figure out a way to take a holiday from those pills and find a great strain of medicinal marijuana to medicate with instead. More pain pills and your body is going to shut down and die a slow death. Find a good couchlock blend and start slowly cutting down on the pills...seriously. I say this with concern and kindness.

I know people say medicinal marijuana does not help their pain, but the truth is, if used like a medication and properly..it does help for pain..I know! Find yourself a good couchlock strain and an oil you make yourself or from a good friend. The oil doesn't work for pain, until you've been on it for awhile, even a few months(all the while increasing the dose)...one day, you'll wake up..pain free, I did.

Maybe you need to bite the bullet and listen to the wife for a change!!!
Move to Cali asap and get the natural medicine you need, forever! The area you are looking in, you can grow outside in a greenhouse...and enough to help you! The money you'll save in buying your meds, may well lead you toward retirement and not so much stress in your life. Working and stress can play havoc on pain.

Try some real Headband for pain. See if you can use that instead of the entire dose of the pills you are on. Many here quit large doses of opiates, benzo's..etc by using mmj; bite the bullet, listen to your wife and move! Then you'll be able to medicate organically and maybe, even doing that safely will help alleviate some of your painful stress. jpt

edit: the housing market here has been on a price UPswing, best not put it off any longer.

 

[Drift13]

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?

When we moved from Illinois to Florida we had to change Medicare Providers. Because the one in Il. didn't have plans in Fla.
With Medicare you can either use Medicare or you can go with a "managed" plan. The wife uses Wellcare & I use Optimum/Freedom. We have less out of pocket costs with a managed plan. Plus with me having the VA I can choose a plan that give me part of my Medicare deduction back, yep cash back in my pocket. When you have been disable for as long as I have every little bit helps.
Hope this helped to explain...

 

[Tudo]

I just returned from another dentist appointment. I am in the 15th MONTH of total reconstruction and implants. I was not able to make the last 3 appointments because of the side effects from the drugs which are supposed to aid with the side effects from the prescription narcotics I am unfortunately in such a state I cannot eliminate from my diet. I've done good with a 75% reduction but any further "taking the pain" could spark a heart attach or stroke as I am also the victim of a failed open heart surgery and have been told "they need to go in there again" which I am not going to do. Period.

However I was told about a drug in the UK that apparently tricks the receptors into believing it's not a narcotic and they bypass the side effects. That is NOT available in the US.

The hunt is on

In the meantime, thank G-d for cannabis. Without it and I'll speak strictly for myself, as bad as I think it is and it is bad, it would be multiple times worse without the weed. 100% positive of that fact.

 

[SirSteely]

Tudo,
I too suffer from DegenDiscDisease and arthritis of the spine, in the winter is when it gets bad for me. Im also a transplant to Cali from FL.
I can say that my doctors here(HMO) have asked me if Ive looked into MMJ for my pain relief, they did not recommend it per se, but they are aware of its benefits. I do not use opiates for pain anymore, it was just too addicting. I think its great if you get off the hard stuff, and I think you will be able to find a Doctor in Cali that understands. Best of luck.

 

[RetroGrow]

Tudo, and others suffering from herniated discs in the lower lumbar area, as I do. I have four herniated discs and something wrong in my cervical spine in the upper neck which causes excruciating headaches that go 24/7. My back pain is chronic, and I haven't been able to work for over three years. I also suffer from severe arthritis, which makes the back pain worse. Also need a knee transplant, which I can't afford. Basically, I am a shut in, after having been extremely physically active for years, running, skating, swimming, yoga, martial arts, deep stretching on the beach, etc. I am also in Florida. I have to take narcotics daily. My family doctor who I have seen for over 30 years gives me what I need, no problem. Yoga and stretching really help, although lately, I have had to cut those out also as my condition has deteriorated. I can't take NSAIDS because my stomach won't tolerate them. Yesterday, I had a shot of cortisone, and feel like a new man today, although I know that will last only about two weeks, and I will be back to square one. I only get the shots when I really can't deal with the pain anymore, but today, I was able to go out and walk a mile and a half almost pain free, something I could not have done yesterday.
But, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for many with disc problems. Recent research suggests that 40-60% of herniated discs and accompanying pain are caused by a bacterium, namely, Proprionibacterium acnes, the same bacteria that causes acne. The bacterium get into your discs and causes swelling and leakage of fluid which impinges on nerves and causes pain. The study was conducted in Denmark, and it was found that a 100 day course of antibiotics fixes the problem. I am still not sure which antibiotic they are using, but shouldn't be difficult to find out. May very well be worth looking into. I am going to, after my disability claim goes through. I don't want to be "cured" before I get my money, as I have already been waiting 16 months. Stat of Florida is one of the worst to get disability, because of all the immigrants here to game the system. The courts are backed up for two years.
Here are some links about this subjechttp://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/antibiotics-for-low-back-pain/

http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20130510/antibiotics_back_pain

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/803858

There are many others. Just Google "Antibiotic Therapy For Herniated Discs"......
I too want to get to California, but don't have the finances at the moment, and am unable to work .It hurts, as I know I could grow out there and make a good income without having to leave the house.

 

[Tudo]

Retro Gro I wish my problems were in the lumbar and I do in fact have lumbar problems after falling off a roof 25 years ago and landing on a stone right where my spine connects to my ass. I was on crutches for a year and the doc told me I'd have a rainy day back the rest of my life. Once a year I'm on crutches for a couple weeks and the pain in the lower is so bad I've got to take extra lax because of it just to go to the bathroom.

My problem is the cervical and there's NO DISC left between 2 of them. Or so slight that it's like having no disc and that pain radiates and makes my lower back pain look like fun.

My heart goes out to you and everyone that understands what I have. 24x7 nightmare. Best of luck

Oh, justpassinthru, I've got a stash of some of the best Headband I've ever seen. My pain is beyond anything cannabis has been able to deal with alone. But thank G-d it's been able to reduce my intake of this other poison and somehow I believe in my heart that there WILL be something found that can replace the poison opioids with something just as powerful. Time will tell

 

[Tudo]

I wish I could do a poll in this thread about degenerative disc disease and what weather minimizes the pain.

I used to love the heat and humidity and I was a regular beach boy ( literally when I had zero money and slept directly on Ft Lauderdale beach!

) ( hey, that's almost 40+ years ago

)

I did a search for "what weather is better for degenerative disc, hot and humid or dry?"

I found a forum where they are each telling their opinion and it seems that the overwhelming opinion is that HOT bothers them which I agree. Warm feels good which I also agree. HUMIDITY seems to bother almost 100% which I 100% agree and that DRY is helpful.

This I do not understand as dry would mean the discs get more dry and more painful no? Isn't nerve pain from the cervical bulging discs like arthritis on steroids? How is arthritis effected by dry vs humid?

I made yesterdays dentist appointment. My dentists husband is also a licensed pharmacist and he told me about a new approved drug that maybe an equivalent to the one they have in the UK now. It's called amitiza for those who suffer from it and you can use the same pharm lookup the docs use at Medscape.com to look up what's what on it. I just faxed it to my regular doc and hopefully I'll have a chance to report on how it affects me

 

[justpassnthru]

Tudo, I think the barometric pressure has more to do with my degenerative disc pain.

Thanks for sharing the info!...good thread! jpt

 

[SirSteely]

Tudo, I think the barometric pressure has more to do with my degenerative disc pain.

Thanks for sharing the info!...good thread! jpt

I too think barometric pressure affects my pain levels , second is cold weather.

Best of luck Tudo.

 

[dddaver]

Sometimes I read things on here and have to check the name just to make sure I didn't write that.

I too live in FL right now. I too have degenerative disk disease, but mine is in the lumbar area and an MRI also revealed spinal stenosis (narrowing) in the cervical area (c-7?, it's been awhile, I don't remember). I too have a bad knee that I think the MCL (inside ligament) that according to my medical records that is the problem has detached because every step I take the knee locks then snaps like, and the knee has absolutely no strength, and can't bear any weight, so I limp bad, just got a cane, avoided that like the plague but had to have one. The doc said a few years ago that's an easy fix on the knee and the military should have done that when I hurt it way back in 1999. But my question is why didn't he refer me to an orthopedic surgeon himself then? I'm 58 now and the older I get the longer it would take to heal. ASSHOLE, FUCK-EM. I also have wicked Arthritris and this humidity and rain everyday is kicking my ass. My balance is totally fucked too. I'm just a physical wreck. 3 different neurologist had no answers. Fuck doctors.

I too have dental work being done because an old root canal (2006) has a fractured root they never noticed before on x-ray once a year, every year since, and is now is abscessing and has puss draining out of it. I haven't decided to try to fix it by drilling, Apical surgery, or go for extraction and maybe an implant. I am on disability and therefor Medicare. I also have Tricare for Life cause I retired from the Air Force.

I just wanted to chime in and say it's a small world, there are many here among us in the same boat. I've been watching your quest Tudo. Good luck to ya. I also want to move out of this hell-hole but moving was by far the worst part of my military career, I'm sure not enthused about the prospects of picking up and going AGAIN, and I have a little less support like movers and getting housing and stuff like that. I'm sort of settled too, been here 12 years. I have a couple Grand-kids just 80 miles away. I really think the physicality involved in packing up and selling the house and moving is just really too much. The wife passed and so did my folks over in Pensacola. So only my 2 grown daughters near me with their own lives and the Grand-kids near are the only things really holding me here, besides this decrepit old bod. Never thought a boy from a little town in central NY who grew up there till he was 26 would end up in the FL panhandle which is really just southern Ala-fuckin-BAMA.

I'm thinking a drier place though. But it's a pipe-dream for me. Too much, I think. I do hope you make it out dude, and cheers to rest of you old decrepit fucks!

 

[RetroGrow]

Sometimes I read things on here and have to check the name just to make sure I didn't write that.

I too live in FL right now. I too have degenerative disk disease, but mine is in the lumbar area and an MRI also revealed spinal stenosis (narrowing) in the cervical area (c-7?, it's been awhile, I don't remember). I too have a bad knee that I think the MCL (inside ligament) that according to my medical records that is the problem has detached because every step I take the knee locks then snaps like, and the knee has absolutely no strength, and can't bear any weight, so I limp bad, just got a cane, avoided that like the plague but had to have one. The doc said a few years ago that's an easy fix on the knee and the military should have done that when I hurt it way back in 1999. But my question is why didn't he refer me to an orthopedic surgeon himself then? I'm 58 now and the older I get the longer it would take to heal. ASSHOLE, FUCK-EM. I also have wicked Arthritris and this humidity and rain everyday is kicking my ass. My balance is totally fucked too. I'm just a physical wreck. 3 different neurologist had no answers. Fuck doctors.

I too have dental work being done because an old root canal (2006) has a fractured root they never noticed before on x-ray once a year, every year since, and is now is abscessing and has puss draining out of it. I haven't decided to try to fix it by drilling, Apical surgery, or go for extraction and maybe an implant. I am on disability and therefor Medicare. I also have Tricare for Life cause I retired from the Air Force.

I just wanted to chime in and say it's a small world, there are many here among us in the same boat. I've been watching your quest Tudo. Good luck to ya. I also want to move out of this hell-hole but moving was by far the worst part of my military career, I'm sure not enthused about the prospects of picking up and going AGAIN, and I have a little less support like movers and getting housing and stuff like that. I'm sort of settled too, been here 12 years. I have a couple Grand-kids just 80 miles away. I really think the physicality involved in packing up and selling the house and moving is just really too much. The wife passed and so did my folks over in Pensacola. So only my 2 grown daughters near me with their own lives and the Grand-kids near are the only things really holding me here, besides this decrepit old bod. Never thought a boy from a little town in central NY who grew up there till he was 26 would end up in the FL panhandle which is really just southern Ala-fuckin-BAMA.

I'm thinking a drier place though. But it's a pipe-dream for me. Too much, I think. I do hope you make it out dude, and cheers to rest of you old decrepit fucks!

Welcome to my world!
Florida is a cesspool...dying to get out of here.
But moving is a nightmare too.
Just have to pay movers to do the work, 'cause I sure can't anymore. Back & knees destroyed. Arthritis everywhere. Doctors say " spinal fusion", I say "FU"!
Nightmare scenario....

 

[Tudo]

Never thought a boy from a little town in central NY who grew up there till he was 26 would end up in the FL panhandle which is really just southern Ala-fuckin-BAMA.

I'm thinking a drier place though. But it's a pipe-dream for me. Too much, I think. I do hope you make it out dude, and cheers to rest of you old decrepit fucks!

 

[Drift13]

I'm guessing there's a bunch of us down here, all with similar problems. Having both of my hips replaced in 6 month was a g-d send & a burden. Only difference for me is my 90'something year old parents are still alive in SW Fla. & my MIL(mother in law) in SE Fla. So moving on is not an option at this point in time. I just hope & pray we get this Med. Canna passed in 2014 and then start fixing what's screwed up with it after.

 

[Tudo]

To anyone who knows about the area, would you really feel negative about this area in Riverside? It's called Victoria Woods and this listing I think is in the low-mid $300's

2463 Gloucester Way, Riverside, CA 92506

https://maps.google.com/

I gotta tell ya I don't see how it's so bad here, this look like a great hood doesn't it?

 

[Tudo]

Right after the 1st of the year we're going to look at houses in some parts of Riverside Ca ( Canyon Crest is one of them? ), Temecula and Palm Springs since I'm so old

If anyone can please suggest any smaller towns that we older folk can get along in, under 500K for a typical 3 bedroom house on a 1/4 acre of land if that number is at all possible. This will be my final resting place at some point. Wife has always said when I go she's back to Asia as the only reason we're here is because of me so she said we move ANYWHERE that makes me happy. I can't take the cold anymore so socal appears to be the place to go?

I really can't take much more where we are. This is going to be a VERY difficult trip for me healthwise and I reckon the 1st couple days will be spent in a vacation rental nursing my wounds before we can go and look at properties.

I had an opportunity 20 years ago to take over a big part of a major company in my industry in Beverly hills. I drove around and looked at these little houses in bh and asked the president of the company if they were in the 200-300k range. He laughed and said "oh no people buy them for 750K knock them down and build bigger ones. I had a 2200 sq ft house in Boca Raton which was at the time valued at 175K. Now those houses in Beverly hills are well over a million and the house in boca about 350K

Fla is a good deal if you can put up with the laws and when you're young I guess doing a little time ain't such a big deal ( to me it was ) but at 60 years old it would be like murder and no I do not think the south is going to follow what the rest of the planet seems to be leaning toward.

Thank you for any continued advice, help, directions, moral support et'al

 

[supermanlives]

come to cali or another med state . cali has the most lax med mj anywhere no contest and a great source of genetics. get out florida asap. I am surprised I made it out of their myself. growing an selling there was nerve wracking to say the least. lived in lauderdale too los olas blvd I think it was in a condo 1 street over from beach. was a fun time

 

[rambone]

Right after the 1st of the year we're going to look at houses in some parts of Riverside Ca ( Canyon Crest is one of them? ), Temecula and Palm Springs since I'm so old

If anyone can please suggest any smaller towns that we older folk can get along in, under 500K for a typical 3 bedroom house on a 1/4 acre of land if that number is at all possible. This will be my final resting place at some point. Wife has always said when I go she's back to Asia as the only reason we're here is because of me so she said we move ANYWHERE that makes me happy. I can't take the cold anymore so socal appears to be the place to go?

I really can't take much more where we are. This is going to be a VERY difficult trip for me healthwise and I reckon the 1st couple days will be spent in a vacation rental nursing my wounds before we can go and look at properties.

I had an opportunity 20 years ago to take over a big part of a major company in my industry in Beverly hills. I drove around and looked at these little houses in bh and asked the president of the company if they were in the 200-300k range. He laughed and said "oh no people buy them for 750K knock them down and build bigger ones. I had a 2200 sq ft house in Boca Raton which was at the time valued at 175K. Now those houses in Beverly hills are well over a million and the house in boca about 350K

Fla is a good deal if you can put up with the laws and when you're young I guess doing a little time ain't such a big deal ( to me it was ) but at 60 years old it would be like murder and no I do not think the south is going to follow what the rest of the planet seems to be leaning toward.

Thank you for any continued advice, help, directions, moral support et'al

Another Florida transplant checking in from California. I still miss Florida every single day mainly because all of my family and childhood friends are there, plus the fishing. I love it out here though, you should check out some of the desert cities. Towns like Indio and La Quinta(covered by Imperial Irrigation District) have dirt cheap energy rates compared to the rest of the state. There are large houses in gated communities going for under 300k.

 

[Tudo]

Thanks for the tip. I see it's further east than palm springs. I'm wondering how the low humidity will effect my neck. ( the big question ) Some people tell me the low humidity is much better for degenerative disc disease then high humidity.

We're going to find out as my Wife who has been a little reluctant to go out there to look primarily because of the difficulty it will be for me to even get to the airport. Tonight I fessed up that I don't think I have the ability to walk all the way from the gate to wherever ground transportation is without great pains not just in the legs but as you know walking is not the best thing for degenerative disc disease in the neck. So we're damned if we do and damned if we don't, it becomes a matter of where are we the least damned, let's go there!

Tonight we had a heart to heart talk on this and I told her that if we go I'm going to have to find out if they can supply a wheelchair to get me to the gate, then from the gate and I'm happy to report that the wife is with me 1000% and only wishes she could do it all herself and save me the pain. So this is good.

Unfortunately the places I looked initially, Temecula and some parts of riverside, the inventory seems to be very low this time of the year while simultaneously the prices have risen in the past 18 months rather significantly so if we're going we better go on and git .

I looked in Indio and yes it does appear to be some great houses even lower than our price range but I think we need to be a little further west primarily because I was able to find an edta chelation doc in "corona" . California seems to be an EDTA paradise and believe me this is important as I was victimized at the hospital with a failed open heart surgery and I believe the chelation has been having great benefit to my heart and vascular problems to which there are many. Closer to Los Angeles/Beverly Hills I found a couple DOZEN places that do chelation but alas I don't think we can buy a house in the price range in that 30-50 mile radius that I do not want to be further out for obvious reasons.

Am grateful for any more suggestions.

Oh and we need a consistent high speed net connection. We have 50 megs cable where we are now and I'm not sure we can get similar in the places we're looking which is a real shocker. I would have thought California would have been wired everywhere. Guess not.

 

[Tudo]

Supermanlives that was my old stomping ground, I lived on Hendricks Isle.

 

[justpassnthru]

Did you check out Grand Terrace, Honey Hills and Reche Canyon?
Those are good areas and you really don't need to be too vigilant of 'good' areas, all are good! jpt

edit; I drove thru Canyon Crest recently and it seems to be getting a bit questionable in some areas. I have been in the IE a long long time.

oh and, after my last back surgery I found air travel and using w/c's for transport and connections was easy; the airlines are very accomadating