Welcome to The Fibro Joint - The Case for Prescribed Cannabis

I've seen many articles as I trawl the interconnectedweb relating to the use of prescribed marijuana to treat chronic conditions such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson's Disease. I've also seen some blogs which extoll the virtues of the drug in treating Fibromyalgia.

Although still illegal in the United Kingdom, there are growing calls for it to be legalised to treat chronic pain conditions.

Jason Duke

Today I am pleased to introduce you to our guest writer, Jason Duke - founder of MedicalMarijuanaHelp.com - a US based site providing information on the use of cannabis as a medicine - where it's legal, where it isn't and practical use guides on the many varieties of cannabis available.

Perhaps his article will inspire others to lift up the mantle and begin campaigning for a relaxation of the UK laws: (The article appears in full HERE, but here's a snippet to grab your attention!

Cannabis Is An Excellent Treatment For Fibromyalgia
Cannabis is helping Fibromyalgia in men in many different ways. In this article, we will discuss what fibromyalgia is, how it affects men differently than women, the traditional treatment options for fibromyalgia, how cannabis can help and much more.  There is a lot of controversy surrounding fibromyalgia, how it effects individuals, what causes it, is it real and much more.
Fibromyalgia in men is more common than many people realize. This disease is considered to be an invisible disease. To many people, including some healthcare professionals, Fibromyalgia is thought to be all in the patient's head. This however could not be farther from the truth. Fibromyalgia is a real condition, and it causes real, severe pain on a constant basis. This disease is commonly associated with female patients as the number of diagnoses in male patients are significantly less than in females.
It is scientifically proven that fibromyalgia is a neurochemical disease and that those individuals who suffer from fibromyalgia show a consistently larger amount of substance P than what is average in most people. Substance P is a neurotransmitter that signals pain in the body. These patients also showed significantly lower amounts of serotonin which is also a neurotransmitter. Serotonin on the other hand is a neurotransmitter that inhibits pain.
Under Diagnosed
Because men are so less frequently diagnosed with this disorder many of them are not taken seriously about their pain. Unfortunately, the drug epidemic in the United States as well as around the world has led many doctors to believe that those who complain about having pain are simply drug addicts in search of pain pills. This has a severe negative effect for those who legitimately suffer from severe and constant pain such as the many men who suffer from fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is not just pain. For many men it is a fearful condition that leads to anxiety about common lifestyle activities and moments. Men suffering with fibromyalgia are not able to do what many consider to be "man things" such as working on cars, mowing yards, fishing, throwing a baseball with their grandkids and other activities without suffering from severe pain. This can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and much more.
Traditionally fibromyalgia is treated with a regimen of pharmaceutical narcotics that are typically opiate based. These pharmaceutical medications are highly addictive and have a long list of adverse side effects associated with them. Often individuals who are prescribed these opiates become addicted to them and see a deterioration of their health due to the side effects and long term use. READ MORE