Fall of 2014 my osteoarthritis had become intolerable.
The pain in my hips and knees prevented me from sitting at my desk for an 8 hour shift, it prevented me from walking my dog and it prevented me from spending 'quality time' with Mrs. Rusher. At that time I was on oxy, along with every anti-inflammatory known to man, and had been for about 6 months. A fucking zombie of a person, spending 2 hours at work per day just to keep my job, and burning HUNDREDS of banked hours and vacation time to spend the rest of the day at home in bed. This went on for months. On a particularly good day, my wife suggested we visit some friends and get out of the house. I didn't want to, of course. I was having a good day, and didn't want to push it. She insisted, which she usually doesn't, so I capitulated.
We went to play some dice, and our friend pulls out a nice sized phatty and asks if I want to puff. Now I had done more than my share of indulging in high school and college, but once I joined the workforce for real, I left it behind. Once a month, or a few times a year, it became a rare treat. We smoked. We laughed. I laughed out loud for the first time in years. We played dice. I looked over at my wife, and saw she was holding back tears, and getting very emotional.
I asked what was wrong, and she pointed out that I had been sitting, comfortably, for over 3 hours, and there was no sign of pain in my face. I was shocked; I did the standard 'self-diagnostic routine' I had gotten used to through the last 4 years since the arthritis really started kicking up, and sure enough, I was feeling good. Not pain free, but not IN PAIN. People who have chronic pain will get this.
The very next day, I went to my doctor and requested a script for MMJ. He agreed immediately, my doctor of the last 7 years. I went out and bought a 1/2 oz to cover me off while waiting for my LP weed. During that time, I started detoxing. I went through headaches, nausea and vomiting, sleeplessness and being a fucking moody bitch. If not for the street meds to calm me down, I'm fairly certain I would have simply continued the oxy.
Then I came here, and made a COMPLETE ass of myself by glorifying LP weed. I was just so excited for the relief, finally. A few members here urged me (some not so gently) that LP weed wasn't what I thought it was, and suggested I use the LP bag for filling up with 'street meds' in order to protect myself from the cops when in public. I did, and then, in Apr of 2016, I started growing my own.
I'm back to full time days at my desk, and there is some discomfort, but I'm not a mindless zombie fuck lying in bed. My work life is better, my dog is happy for the walkies again, and Mrs. Rusher gets all the attention she needs.
I had never planned to tell this story in a forum like this, so thank you
@cannadan and others, I think I really needed to tell it, even if I didn't know it.
Cannabis is medicine. Anyone who thinks otherwise is getting paid not to, or is morally impaired, in my opinion.
