Topic: What Is CRPS?

What Is CRPS?

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that usually affects one of the body’s extremities (an arm, leg, hand or foot) and is caused by a malfunction in the nervous system, usually as the result of an injury.

James North, MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist, explains it this way:

“The nerves in the body communicate with one another through neurotransmitters. So, if you experience a minor stimulant, like the wind blowing on you, it might trigger the release of one neurotransmitter to one receptor. However, a more intense stimulant, like smashing your toe, could release hundreds of neurotransmitters into hundreds of receptors. Unfortunately, for people with CRPS, one neurotransmitter can bind to hundreds of receptors. As a result, their pain response doesn’t match up with the stimulation; there is an amplified response. The wind on their skin could cause as much pain as a smashed toe.”

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Topic: Ketamine Therapy

Ketamine Therapy

Imagine being so sensitive to stimuli that your body’s pain response reacts to a simple touch the same way it would to being hit by a hammer. For those who suffer from CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), such reactions are a daily reality. Worse yet, the pain associated with CRPS can be difficult to manage.



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Music therapy has proven effects on pain levels and overall quality of life for those with chronic pain.

Whether through listening to select types of music or engaging in making music with an instrument, music therapy has a documented positive effect on individuals dealing with chronic pain. One study at the Cleveland Clinic demonstrated significant relief of chronic pain for people with long-term pain symptoms when listening to music for just an hour a day. The same study showed a reduction in self-reported depression symptoms. How does it work?

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Topic: TIME FOR A MORE RATIONAL CANNABIS POLICY

TIME FOR A MORE RATIONAL CANNABIS POLICY



Individuals who suffer from severe chronic pain are caught in a double bind. Opioids contribute to the enormous societal harms of unintentional overdose, diversion and addiction, and data on their long-term effectiveness are conflicting and inadequate (Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, et al. The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health pathways to prevention workshop. Ann Intern Med. Published online Jan. 13, 2015 doi:10.7326/M14-2559). But for patients who are helped by opioids, policies and regulations to address societal harms are, in some cases, impeding access to treatment, making it difficult even to find a knowledgeable physician. The need for safer and more effective analgesics has never been greater.



Answers do not lie in pitting one serious disease (i.e., chronic pain) against another (i.e., addiction) but in seeking scientific breakthroughs that lead to serious analgesic benefits without addictive properties or risk for respiratory depression. Rigorous research of cannabinoids has the potential to unlock a medicinal benefit on a societal scale. But committing to the necessary research requires rethinking how we classify cannabinoids as a controlled substance.



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Topic: DEA INFLICTS HARM ON CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS

DEA INFLICTS HARM ON CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS



In an effort to curb opioid drug abuse and addiction, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued new rules that limit the accessibility of hydrocodone, putting chronic pain sufferers who rely on the drug in an impossible situation.

The DEA’s new restrictions come after the decision to relabel hydrocodone as a Schedule II drug, making it difficult for users with chronic pain to receive the medicine they need. The recent changes include the elimination of phone-in refills and a mandatory check-in with a doctor every 90 days for a refill.  

Hydrocodone is one of the most widely used drugs to fight chronic pain in the United States, serving a consumer base of about 100 million people. Many who rely on hydrocodone suffer from debilitating chronic pain, which greatly disrupts and decreases their quality of life.



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Topic: Majority Of Chronic Pain Sufferers Feel Treated Like ‘Drug Addicts’ By Pharmacists

Poll: Majority Of Chronic Pain Sufferers Feel Treated Like ‘Drug Addicts’ By Pharmacists



GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) – The majority of people who suffer from chronic pain feel they are treated like drug addicts during their pharmacy visits, and nearly one-third of pain sufferers showed concern they are being embarrassed by their healthcare provider.

The National Pain Foundation, a Golden, Colo.-based non-profit that aims to “transform the way pain is fundamentally understood, assessed and treated,” conducted a survey of over 300 people afflicted with chronic pain to assess treatment they receive from healthcare providers.

More than half (52 percent) stated that they “are concerned that they will be treated like a drug addict by their pharmacist”. And an additional 29 percent said that they “are concerned that they will be embarrassed by their pharmacist”.

The survey found that nearly 1 in 5 (17 percent) reported they were “treated poorly or very poorly” by their pharmacist, and many respondents said they had been degraded, humiliated and even been accused of being a drug addict taking “enough meds to kill an elephant,” one comment alleged.



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Topic: Facts About Reflexology

Facts About Reflexology

 What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a science which deals with the principle that there are reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all of the glands, organs and parts of the body. Stimulating these reflexes properly can help many health problems in a natural way, a type of preventative maintenance. Reflexology is a serious advance in the health field and should not be confused with massage.

Is Reflexology New?

The idea behind Reflexology is not new - in fact, it was practiced as early as 2330 B.C. by the Egyptian culture. Reflexology as we know it today was first researched and developed by Eunice Ingham, the pioneer of this field. Her first book on the subject was published in 1938. And since 1942, Reflexology workshops have been conducted year round.



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Washington, D.C. Medical Marijuana Laws

Washington, District of Columbia — On November 3, 1998, 69% of D.C. voters approved Initiative 59. Congress blocked the implementation of the law until December 2009. The D.C. Council then put the law on hold temporarily and enacted amendments to it, B18-622. The revised law went into effect in late July 2010, and regulations were issued on April 15, 2011. A few modifications were made in 2011. In 2014, the council approved temporary and emergency legislation (which does not require Congressional review) to expand the law. The law is codified at District of Columbia Official Code § 7-1671.13 et seq.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient must have a qualifying condition and physician's recommendation that medical marijuana is necessary for the patient's treatment. The physician must be licensed in D.C., have a bona fide relationship with the patient, and have responsibility for ongoing treatment of the patient. 



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Washington Medical Marijuana Laws

Washington — Measure 692, a ballot initiative, passed with 59% of the vote in 1998. It was modified by SB 6032 in 2007, SB 5798 in 2010, and SB 5073 in 2011. It is codified at Wash. Rev. Code § 69.51A.010 et seq. An administrative rule is available at WAC 246-75-010.

Qualifying under the Law: Washington is the only medical marijuana state without a registry identification card program. In 2011, Gov. Christine Gregoire vetoed the sections of a bill, SB 5073, which included a patient and caregiver registry and dispensary regulation and licensing. To qualify for protection under Washington’s law, a patient must have a signed statement on tamper-resistant paper from a Washington-licensed physician, physician assistant, naturopath, or advanced registered nurse practitioner who advised the patient of marijuana’s risks and benefits and advised the patient that he or she “may benefit from the medical use of marijuana.” 



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Vermont Medical Marijuana Laws

Vermont — S. 76 was passed by the Vermont legislature in 2004. The law was expanded by S. 7 in 2007, S. 17 in 2011, and S. 247 in 2014. The law’s citation is Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18 § 4472 et seq.

Qualifying for the Program: Vermont is one of two states where the department issuing ID cards is the department of public safety. (The other state, Hawaii, will move its program to the health department by 2015.) To qualify for an ID card, a patient must have a statement from a Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, or New Hampshire-licensed physician, naturopath, advance practice nurse, or physician’s assistant who has treated the patient for at least six months that the patient has had a qualifying medical condition. 



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Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Laws

Rhode Island — S. 710 was passed by the Rhode Island legislature in 2006 and amended several times, including by S. 791 in 2007, H. 5359 in 2009, S 2834 in 2010, and H 7888 in 2012. The law is codified at R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.6. Regulations are at R21-28.6-MMP(5923).

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient must have a qualifying condition and a statement from a prescriber who is licensed in Rhode Island or a physician licensed in Massachusetts or Connecticut that the patient has a bona fide relationship with that physician and that the “potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks" for the patient. A minor patient only qualifies with parental consent and if the adult controls the dosage, frequency of use, and acquisition of marijuana.



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Oregon Medical Marijuana Laws

Oregon — Measure 67, a ballot initiative, passed with 55% of the vote in 1998, and was modified throughout the years. Most notably, in 2013, the state legislature approved and Gov. John Kitzhaber signed HB 3640, which allows regulated dispensaries. The law is codified at Or. Rev. Stat. § 475.300. Temporary rules for the dispensary program are available at OAR 333-0081000 et seq.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient must have a qualifying condition and a statement from a physician who has primary responsibility for treating the patient that marijuana may mitigate their symptoms. A minor patient only qualifies with the consent of his or her parent or guardian and if the adult controls the dosage, acquisition, and frequency of use of the marijuana. 



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New York Medical Marijuana Laws

New York — Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed twin bills A.6357-E and S.7923, known as the Compassionate Care Act, into law on July 5, 2014. This law is codified at N.Y. Public Health Law Art. 33, Title 5-A.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify, a patient must have a written certification from his or her physician. Physicians must first register with the health department and take a two-to-four hour course. A certification must specify that the patient is in the physician’s continuing care for the condition, that the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative benefits from marijuana, and that he or she has a qualifying condition. 



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New Mexico Medical Marijuana Laws

New Mexico — S.B. 523 was passed by the New Mexico legislature in 2007. Its citation is N.M. Stat. Ann. § 26-2B-1 et seq. Rules are available at 7.34.2-7.34.4 NMAC.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient must have a qualifying condition and a statement from a person licensed to prescribe drugs in New Mexico that "the practitioner believes that the potential health benefits of the medical use of cannabis would likely outweigh the health risks for the patient." 



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New Jersey Medical Marijuana Laws

New Jersey — Gov. Jon Corzine signed S.B. 119 into law in early 2010. Its effective date was delayed by S. 2105, which was also enacted in 2010. The law is codified at N.J. Stat. Ann. C.24:6I et seq. Regulations are available at N.J.A.C 8:64.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient will be required to have a qualifying condition and a physician's certification authorizing the patient to apply to use medical marijuana. The physician must be licensed in New Jersey and must be the patient's primary care or hospice physician, or the physician responsible for treatment for the patient's debilitating medical condition. 



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New Hampshire Medical Marijuana Laws

New Hampshire: Gov. Maggie Hassan signed HB 573 into law on July 23, 2013, after it was approved by the legislature. The new law went into effect immediately, but the health department was given a year to craft rules for the patient registry and 18 months for alternative treatment center rules.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card, a patient must obtain a written certification from a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse and send it in to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).



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Nevada Medical Marijuana Laws

Nevada — Question 9, a constitutional amendment ballot initiative, passed first in 1998 and then with 65% of the vote in 2000. It was implemented by AB 453 in 2001, which was revised by AB 130 in 2003, AB 519 in 2005, and AB 538 in 2009. In 2013, the legislature enacted S.B. 374, which added a dispensary program. Question 9 is codified at Article 4, section 38 of the Nevada Constitution. The statutory provisions are codified at Nev. Rev. Stat. 453A. Rules are at NAC 453A.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card in Nevada, a patient must have a qualifying condition and a statement from a Nevada physician who has responsibility for caring for or treating the patient that marijuana "may mitigate the symptoms or effects" of their condition



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Montana Medical Marijuana Laws

Montana — I-148, a ballot initiative, passed with 62% of the vote in 2004. It was amended by

SB 325 in 2009, and it was replaced with a much more restrictive law, SB 423, in 2011. Some of SB 423 went into effect on July 1, 2011 and some was enjoined in court. As of July 25, 2014, litigation is still ongoing. The law is codified at MCA § 50-46-301 et seq. The original law was codified at MCA § 50-46-101 et seq.

Qualifying for the Program: To qualify for an ID card under the revised law, a patient must submit an extensive written certification form, completed by the patient’s physician that, among other things, states that the patient has a qualifying condition. 



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Minnesota Medical Marijuana Laws

Minnesota — Gov. Mark Dayton signed SF 2470 on May 29, 2014. The bill is codified at Chapter 152, Section 152.22 to 152.37 of the Minnesota Statutes.

Qualifying for the Program: To enroll in the program, a patient must have a qualifying condition and submit a certification to the health department from their treating practitioner. The practitioner — who may be a physician, a nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant — must agree to enroll in the program as well and will be required to submit data on the patient’s health records.



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