May 2017 - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

Tips for Talking to Your Doctor about Medical Marijuana

May 30, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Medical cannabis is legal in Minnesota for specific qualifying pain conditions. However, many patients who may qualify for medical marijuana don’t know how to approach the subject with their doctor. In this article, we are going to offer a few tips for talking with your pain management doctor about medical marijuana.

Find Out if You Qualify

You should always feel comfortable asking your physician about whether specific treatment options are right for you. However, not every patient qualifies for medical marijuana in Minnesota. In order to be prescribed medical cannabis in Minnesota, you need to have a qualifying condition. Do a little research on your own and see if your condition is listed under the Minnesota medical marijuana qualifying conditions.

Ask Your Doctor

If you suffer from a medical marijuana qualifying condition, the next step is to ask your doctor if medical cannabis would be a good treatment option for your situation. Even if you do have a qualifying condition, medical marijuana may not be a good treatment option for every patient. There are many pain treatment options for a given condition or injury, and it’s important to consult a pain doctor who can evaluate your specific situation and recommend a course of treatment that fits your unique needs.

Make Sure You Have an Approved Doctor

It’s also important to make sure you have a pain doctor who is approved to prescribe medical marijuana in the state of Minnesota. Not all physicians are automatically able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients – they must be approved.

Minnesota Medical Marijuana Doctors

The pain doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN are approved to prescribe medical marijuana to qualifying patients in Minnesota. Our board certified pain doctors have decades of experience helping patients manage acute and chronic pain. We are also trained in a wide variety of treatment options – from prescription medication, to stem cell injections, to medical cannabis. Contact us today at our Edina or Minneapolis pain clinics to set up your appointment with one of our board certified pain physicians.

Medical Marijuana in Minnesota – How the Process Works

May 22, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Medical marijuana has been legal in the state of Minnesota for a few years now, but there is still a lot of confusion regarding the steps you have to go through to get medical cannabis. In this article, we are going to talk a little bit about the medical marijuana process in Minnesota – how it works and the steps you have to go through.

Step 1 – Contact an Approved Minnesota Medical Marijuana Doctor

The first step in the process is to contact a Minnesota doctor who has been approved to prescribe medical cannabis in the state. Not all physicians are approved to prescribe medical marijuana, so it’s important that you find an approved doctor (like us!).

Step 2 – Certification

Once you contact an approved medical cannabis provider and submit your information, the next step is to wait for certification. Your provider needs to certify that you have a qualifying condition in order to prescribe you medical cannabis. Once you’re certified, you will get an email from the Office of Medical Cannabis with your registration information.

Step 3 – Registration

Next you have to register with the Office of Medical Cannabis. You’ll need to give them all of the following:

Name, address and phone number
Government-issued ID: state ID, driver’s license, or passport
Government assistance plan ID: Medicare ID, Medicaid ID
Credit card to pay Annual Registration Fee

Step 4 – Visit a Minnesota Medical Marijuana Patient Center

After you’ve registered and been approved you can visit a medical marijuana patient center. There a pharmacist will review your account and recommend types and dosages for your situation.

Step 5 – Self-Evaluation Form

Finally, you have to fill out the self-evaluation form via the registry before going back for more medical cannabis.

Edina Medical Marijuana Clinic

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN our board-certified pain management physicians have been treating patients in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota for decades. Whether you’re suffering from a chronic pain condition or acute pain from a recent injury, our pain doctors have the skills and experience needed to help you effectively manage your pain. We work with each and every patient to develop a pain control strategy that fits their needs. We offer a wide range of treatments for chronic pain, from injections, to medical cannabis, to stem cell therapies (PRP injections and prolotherapy). Contact us today at our Edina or Minneapolis pain clinics to set up your appointment and get on the road to a pain free life!

Who Qualifies for Medical Marijuana in Minnesota?

May 15, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Medical marijuana has been legal in the state of Minnesota for a few years now. Since it’s so new, many chronic pain patients are unaware of the benefits of medical cannabis, or even the fact that it’s legal for medical use. This article focuses on the necessary requirements needed to qualify for medical marijuana prescription in the state of Minnesota.

Qualifying Conditions for Minnesota Medical Marijuana

The ability of a pain management physician to prescribe medical marijuana in Minnesota is limited. Medical cannabis can only be prescribed to patients with the following conditions and/or symptoms:

Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Glaucoma
Seizures
Intractable Pain
Crohn’s Disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Terminal Illness
Tourette’s Syndrome
Chronic Cachexia

Medical Cannabis Fees & Insurance

Most health insurance plans do not cover medical marijuana prescriptions in the state of Minnesota. So if you do have a qualifying condition and you are prescribed medical cannabis, you will likely be responsible for any associated fees. There is an annual fee of $200 that is required to participate in the medical cannabis program in Minnesota. There will also be a clinic fee, as well as a fee to purchase the medical marijuana. If you have any questions about fees or qualifications, don’t hesitate to contact a Minneapolis medical marijuana doctor.

Minneapolis Medical Marijuana Clinic

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is one of the few pain management clinics in the state to offer medical cannabis to qualifying patients. Our Minnesota pain doctors are board-certified and have decades of experience treating patients for acute and chronic pain conditions. We are trained in the most innovative treatment methods – from injection therapy, to stem cell treatments, to medical marijuana. If you or a loved one is suffering from one of the qualifying conditions listed above, you may benefit from medical marijuana treatment. Contact our Minnesota medical marijuana doctors today to see if you qualify. Our primary medical marijuana clinics are located in Edina and Minneapolis, but we serve patients throughout the Twin Cities.

4 Types of Chronic Pain that can be Treated with Medical Marijuana

May 8, 2017/2 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Medicinal marijuana can be used to help manage and control pain caused by a variety of conditions and injuries. Medical marijuana is now legal in the state of Minnesota for the treatment of specific conditions. In this article, we are going to talk about a handful of pain symptoms and conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana in Minnesota.

Intractable Pain

Intractable pain is defined as severe and constant pain that is incurable. Typically, patients suffering from intractable pain aren’t even able to leave the house. Medical marijuana can provide some pain relief to patients suffering from this type of chronic pain.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition in which the stomach lining and gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed – causing chronic pain, diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and other symptoms. Medical marijuana can help reduce the severity of these symptoms.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerves in your eyes. The condition occurs when fluid builds up in the eye and places too much pressure on the optic nerves. Left untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness. Medical marijuana has been shown to help prevent glaucoma and reduce associated pain.

Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms can be caused by many factors – injuries, nerve issues, cramps, and more. Medical marijuana can help reduce muscle spasms and associated pain by relaxing the body.

Minneapolis Medical Marijuana Doctor

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board certified pain doctors have decades of experience treating Minnesota patients for all types of pain – from chronic to acute. We offer a variety of pain treatment methods – including medical marijuana. If you are suffering from any of the painful conditions listed in this article, you may benefit from medical cannabis. All of the pain conditions listed in this article are eligible for medical marijuana prescriptions in the state of Minnesota. Contact our Twin Cities medical marijuana doctors today at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics to set up your appointment.

Tips for Coping with & Treating Unrelenting Pain

May 1, 2017/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain, Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Unrelenting pain is pain that just won’t let up. This type of pain can cause significant issues in a patient’s day to day life and severely impact quality of life. In this article, we are going to talk about unrelenting pain – and what to do when your pain won’t go away, even after it seems like you’ve tried everything.

The Nature of Pain Relief

Many chronic pain patients struggle to find pain relief that works and lasts. Pain is complex and difficult to treat because it affects each patient differently. The same can be said of pain treatment options. A patient suffering from tennis elbow may find pain relief from steroidal injections, while another may not get any relief at all from the same treatment method. So a successful pain management strategy has to be tailored specifically to each individual patient.

When It Seems Like You’ve Tried Everything

Finding the right pain relief strategy can take time. You may have to try several different treatment methods before you land on one that works for you. Here are some tips for finding pain relief that works when it seems like you’ve tried everything already:

Don’t Get Discouraged. The last thing you want to do is give up on your treatment path. Many patients will get discouraged and simply give in to the pain. But this only worsens the situation and the pain. Keep a positive attitude, and keep looking for treatment methods that may work for you.
Get Another Opinion. All patients are different when it comes to pain. The same applies to pain doctors. If you aren’t getting effective care with one pain management physician, it never hurts to get a second opinion from someone else.
Try New Treatments. Don’t be afraid to try new treatment methods (as long as they are approved treatments). There are a lot of new and exciting treatments being developed in the realm of regenerative medicine that can offer effective pain relief.

Minneapolis Pain Relief

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our Minneapolis pain relief doctors have been helping patients with acute and chronic pain conditions for over two decades. Our pain physicians are board-certified and trained in all the most innovative treatment methods – including PRP, prolotherapy, and other stem cell treatments. We work hand-in-hand with our patients to determine the best treatment strategy for each individual person. If you are experiencing unrelenting pain that just won’t go away, make an appointment with a pain doctor who can help. Contact us today at our Twin Cities pain management clinics (located in Minneapolis and Edina) to set up your appointment and start living your life pain free!