posted
Hi all, I'm fairly new to the site-- didn't even know what "LLMD" meant a couple weeks ago. I'm really overwhelmed with gratitude for all the support & advice I've gotten since I joined. It's really reassuring to be part of a whole community going through the same struggle together.
I'm on a waiting list to see an LLMD in Maryland, but in the meantime I don't have much relief from my arthritis-- I think my body's grown too tolerant of my over-the-counter painkillers.
So, this got me thinking... my father works for a nonprofit organization that is trying to legalize medical marijuana. I asked him if he knew about any medicinal benefits of marijuana for Lyme patients or for arthritis in general. He said he doesn't know of any-- most MM studies have focused on muscle pain, not joint pain-- but that it's an area that hasn't been explored much. I was just wondering if anyone out there had tried it. I am NOT trying to get anyone in trouble here as I know it's a very controversial subject, but I am in dead earnest. I would be very interested in hearing anything on the subject, whether it's from a published study or just anecdotal evidence.
Additionally, if anyone has any other arthritis treatment/therapy tips, I'm running out of ideas! I've worn knee braces, done physical therapy, learned various massage techniques, etc. Last night, I even spread peanut butter on my knees and got my Saint Bernard to lick it off, hoping that they might feel better! Didn't really help the pain much, but it definitely got me to smile, which in its own way was therapeutic.
-------------------- Currently infected with Lyme, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Mycoplasma, & Q-fever.
10 months into treatment, currently on Bicillin, Rocephin, Doxy, Biaxin, and Mepron. Posts: 87 | From USA | Registered: Sep 2010
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-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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lymie_in_md
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14197
posted
Along with all fish oil and tumeric, supplement vitamin k2 and vitamin A. This should go along way to help your bones normalize.
Also eating eggs is very good for inflammation, it contains quite a large amount of choline. In the evening eat some steamed spinach which contains quite a lot of mineral called betaine. Between the betaine and the choline you should notice a big difference in your inflammation issues.
Betaine with choline helps reduce homocysteine levels and therefor inflammation.
-------------------- Bob Posts: 2150 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
Krill Oil has a little research behind it concerning Arthritis relief. I also take Turmeric and Ginger, although I do not have Lyme Disease.
It does help lower inflammation in general, which is a good thing for a Lymie.
Dan
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- bashibazouks,
The authors of "The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook" are just ten minutes from you. I saw them both when I was visiting my brother in your area. Excellent support.
Topic: How to find a LL ND (naturopathic doctor), acupuncturist, etc.
Includes how to find an ILADS-educated LL ND, an Acupuncturist, a doctor of Oriental Medicine (O.M.D.), or a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine (D.Ay.), certified herbalists or nutritionists, etc.
Includes many articles and books on complementary / integrative methods - & RIFE links. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
New studies have indicated that the THC in marijuana has antibacterial properties in it. There have been several discussions here about that
You can google marijuana + antibacterial properties for more info. It also is known for it's analgesic effects.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Have you considered dietary triggers as part of the arthritis puzzle? Dairy is a common trigger for arthritis pain and many people (general population, not nec. lyme patients) who remove dairy from their diet see big improvement. My mom for example has osteoarthritis and at 70 yrs. old could hardly move her hands, had hip and shoulder pain that was disabling--she stopped dairy and now her hands are comfortable and normal, her hips no longer bother her and the shoulders are much better (she seems to have residual damage there though). It took a few months, as I recall, for the change to be dramatically noticeable. At 78 she is going pretty strong and needs no pain meds.
It seems to me that this is an experiment that it wouldn't hurt you to try, doesn't cost anything and could make a difference. In fact, a lot of the Lyme advice you read warns against dairy so perhaps it's a prudent move to make anyway.
Posts: 261 | From Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
Dear B, I have had the arthritis of stabbing pains in the knees very badly. I thought of accupuncture as a last resort. Well, it worked! Not only for arthritis but for immunity to fight the lyme. I go to an accupuncturist who is licensed and has studied in China.
It can be expensive - but when you think of your health - it's worth it. Find a great one and give it a try for 2 - 3 months. What do you have to lose - some money. What do you have to gain? Your health back.
Good luck!
Posts: 65 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2010
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I have used amino acids for pain. I had severe tendonitis for 8 months that kept me from sleeping. I tried a very expensive supplement for joint support which worked immediately. The first night my pain was gone. I noticed what was in the supplement and decided to try to put together my own less expensive version. I continue to be pain free.
I take 500-1000mg magnesium, B12, B100, vitamin D3 (in winter) fish oil, 100mg hyaluronic acid but the key seems to be adding
500 mg DL Methionine and 500 mg lysine. Methionine is the precurer to SAME-e (which you could also try) which is very helpful against pain and depression. Methionine also helps rebuild damage to tendons etc. Google it for more information.
I live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and my GP spends most of his time these days prescribing it to every pot head in the state. There is a "dispensary" right next to his office. He tried to give it to me twice and lectured me about how it works against pain. I am willing to bet the idiot has misdiagnosed at least a hundred people with lyme by now that have left with marijuana cards rather than a lyme diagnosis, as he believes I am the ONLY CASE he has ever seen.
If it just made you forget your pain, it would be ok, but it affects your mind. You become foggy in your thinking, something we lymies are always complaining about so who in their right mind would want to intensify this? You also lose motivation - "in the great scheme of things, why bother?" And morals are clouded as well - "if it feels good, do it".
So you don't take care of yourself the way you HAVE to with lyme.
Wait until you see the LLMD before you resort to marijuana.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Careful with curcumin. It chelates lead and cadmium. I can't tolerate it at all and my heavy metal tests do show elevated lead.
Lead - circumin http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14729307 Possible chelation of lead and cadmium by curcumin as its mechanism of neuroprotection against such heavy metal insult to the brain was investigated using electrochemical, ultraviolet spectrophotometric and infrared spectroscopic analyses. The results of the study show that there is an interaction between curcumin and both cadmium and lead, with the possible formation of a complex between the metal and this ligand. These results imply that curcumin could be used therapeutically to chelate these toxic metals, thus potentially reducing their neurotoxicity and tissue damage.
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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