medical cannabis Archives - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

Medical Cannabis for HIV/AIDS Patients

September 25, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

HIV/AIDS prevents the body from effectively fighting off infection. It is a serious condition that (unfortunately) has no cure. However, there are treatments available to patients that can help reduce the symptoms caused by HIV/AIDS. In this patient education article, we are going to discuss the benefits of medical cannabis for patients with HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS

HIV (short for Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. The virus specifically attacks the body’s T cells – whose function is to fend off disease and infection. As the virus progresses, it can destroy such a large number of these T cells that the body is unable to defend itself against diseases and infections.

There are 3 stages of HIV:

Acute HIV Infection
Clinical Latency
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

The symptoms of HIV/AIDS can range from mild to severe. Here are a few of the most common symptoms:

Flu-like symptoms: fever, sore throat, fatigue
Weight Loss
Recurring Infections
Nausea
Headaches
Pain in the abdomen and throughout the body

Medical Marijuana as Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for AIDS. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to reduce symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients. Medical cannabis can help curb many of the symptoms of HIV/AIDS – including headaches, nausea, and pain. Contact an approved medical marijuana provider to see if you are a good candidate.

Minnesota Medical Marijuana Clinic

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota, we make it a point to provide compassionate, one-on-one care to every patient we treat. Our double board-certified pain management doctors have decades of experience providing care for patients throughout the Twin Cities. We are also certified to prescribe medical marijuana in Minnesota. With clinics in Edina and Minneapolis, we are fully equipped to diagnose and treat your pain. Contact our Minnesota pain doctors today to set up your appointment.

Medical Marijuana for Tourette Syndrome

September 5, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder that causes involuntary tics such as blinking or shouting. These symptoms can cause a lot of pain if left unchecked. In this article, we are going to talk about Tourette syndrome – its causes, symptoms, and how medical marijuana can be an effective treatment option.

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a disorder affecting the nervous system that causes a person to make involuntary and repetitive movements and/or sounds, such as:

Eye blinking
Shoulder shrugging
Shouting offensive words or sounds
Stuttering

The exact cause of the condition is unknown – though genetics are thought to play a role. Typically, symptoms begin to manifest in childhood. Sometimes Tourette symptoms dissipate with age, but they may last well into adulthood.

Treating Tourette Syndrome with Medical Marijuana

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Tourette syndrome. However, that does not mean that the symptoms can’t be mitigated. The tics associated with Tourette syndrome can be severe and cause a lot of pain. Tourette syndrome is a chronic condition that can last for many years, or even for the patient’s entire life. Medical marijuana can help reduce the anxiety and stress associated with Tourette syndrome, and also decrease the severity of the patient’s tics.

Minneapolis Medical Cannabis Clinic

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our pain management physicians are approved to prescribe medical marijuana to Minnesota patients with qualifying conditions. Our doctors are board-certified in pain management and have been providing pain management care to patients throughout Minnesota for the past two decades. We are trained in a wide variety of pain relief treatments – including regenerative medicine techniques (PRP & Prolotherapy), and medical cannabis. If you are suffering from Tourette syndrome, give us a call today to see if medical marijuana can help. Contact us today at our Twin Cities pain clinics (located in Minneapolis and Edina) to set up an appointment with one of our physicians and see if you are a good candidate for medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis Now Available for PTSD Patients in Minnesota

August 21, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

As of this month (August 2017), medical cannabis is now available as a treatment option for Minnesota patients with PTSD. Medical marijuana can be extremely effective in treating the symptoms of PTSD in military veterans and other patients who have experienced traumatic events. In this article, we are going to talk about how medical marijuana can be used as an effective treatment option for PTSD and its related symptoms.

What is PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a condition in which the patient experiences anxiety and flashbacks resulting from a specific traumatic event – or series of events. Many military veterans returning from combat experience PTSD as they re-integrate into civilian life. However, PTSD does not solely impact veterans. Anyone can experience PTSD if they have been involved in a traumatic event. For example, a serious car accident may cause PTSD in the future. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include:

Insomnia and/or nightmares
Severe Anxiety
Depression & Loneliness
Flashbacks to the traumatic event(s)
Mood swings

Using Medical Marijuana to Treat PTSD

Medical marijuana has been shown to be an effective treatment option for PTSD symptoms. While, medical cannabis likely won’t work to completely resolve the PTSD, it can work wonders to mitigate the symptoms of the disorder. For example, medical marijuana can help reduce anxiety and stress, and help patients sleep through the night.

Minnesota Medical Cannabis Doctors

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board-certified pain management doctors are certified and approved to prescribe medical cannabis to qualifying Minnesota patients. We have been treating patients in the Twin Cities area for over two decades and have the experience needed to provide you the treatment you deserve. If you are experiencing PTSD and are curious about medical cannabis as a treatment option, contact our Minnesota medical cannabis doctors today at our Minneapolis or Edina clinics to set up your appointment!

Medical Marijuana for Glaucoma in Minnesota

August 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Glaucoma is one of the conditions that qualifies for medical cannabis treatment in the state of Minnesota. In this article, we are going to talk about the benefits of medical cannabis for treating glaucoma in Minnesota.

Treating Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition in which the nerve that connects the eye to the brain is damaged. This is typically the result of excessive pressure in the eye. Symptoms of the condition are often very subtle. Sometimes patients don’t experience any symptoms other than a slow loss of vision, but the condition can cause pain in the eyes as well. Treatments can include medications, surgery, and medical marijuana.

The Medical Cannabis Process in Minnesota

If you do have glaucoma and you are interested in receiving medical cannabis as a form of treatment, you first have to go through the appropriate process. In Minnesota, medical marijuana is only available to patients suffering from certain conditions (glaucoma being one of those qualifying conditions). If you do suffer from glaucoma, the first step is to speak with an approved medical cannabis doctor. This physician can diagnose your condition and determine whether or not you are a good candidate for medical marijuana. Once your physician has approved your prescription, you will then receive an email from the Minnesota Office of Medical Cannabis with further instructions. You are required to register with the office before finding a medical cannabis patient center to receive your prescription.

Minneapolis Medical Cannabis Doctor

If you are suffering from glaucoma or another qualifying condition, medical marijuana may be the best treatment option for you. At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board-certified pain management doctors have over twenty years of experience treating patients throughout the Twin Cities area. Our physicians are also approved to prescribe medical marijuana to patients in the state of Minnesota. Contact us today at our Edina or Minneapolis pain clinics to set up an appointment with one of our skilled pain physicians and see if you qualify for medical cannabis.

Medical Marijuana for Intractable Pain

July 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Intractable pain is a rare type of pain that is constant, intense, and incurable. Even though the root cause of this type of pain cannot be cured, there are methods for reducing and managing the pain – including medical marijuana. In this article, we are going to talk about how intractable pain can be effectively treated with medical marijuana, as well as the process for obtaining a prescription for medical marijuana in Minnesota.

What is Intractable Pain?

A patient diagnosed with intractable pain typically experiences extreme levels of pain on a constant (or near-constant basis). Intractable pain patients are often housebound and can’t get up or leave the house as a result of the unrelenting pain they are experiencing. This pain can be caused by a variety of conditions and injuries including: degenerative spinal conditions, fibromyalgia, neuropathies, and more.

By definition, intractable pain cannot be cured by any known method. However, the pain itself can be mitigated with treatment options such as medical marijuana.

Medical Marijuana Process in Minnesota

If you are experiencing intractable pain, you may be a candidate for Minnesota medical marijuana. The process for getting a prescription for medical marijuana in Minnesota starts with contacting a local medical marijuana doctor who can diagnose your condition and determine your candidacy. If you are certified for the program, you will then have to register with the Office of Medical Marijuana before you can visit a Minnesota cannabis patient center to receive your prescription.

Minnesota Pain Doctors

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our board-certified pain management physicians have over two decades of experience treating patients in the Twin Cities area. We treat a wide variety of conditions and injuries – from intractable pain and chronic pain conditions to sports-related injuries. We work with each patient to address their unique pain circumstance and strategize a way to manage the pain. Our treatment options include everything from steroid injections, to medical marijuana, to prescription meds, to regenerative stem cell treatments like PRP therapy. Contact us at our Minnesota pain clinics (located in Minneapolis and Edina) today to schedule an appointment with one of our pain doctors.

Can I Get Medical Marijuana for my Back Pain in Minnesota?

June 19, 2017/0 Comments/in Back Pain, Medical Marijuana /by Matthew Thorson

Medical cannabis is still relatively new in Minnesota and a lot of patients have questions about the process itself and whether or not medical marijuana is an option for their condition. In this article, we are going to talk about the conditions that qualify for medical marijuana in Minnesota and answer the question: “can medical marijuana be prescribed for back pain in Minnesota?”

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana

In order to receive a prescription for medical cannabis in the state of Minnesota you need to be diagnosed with a qualifying condition. Not all conditions are eligible for medical marijuana treatment in Minnesota. Here are the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana:

Intractable Pain
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Seizures
Cancer
Severe and persistent muscle spasms
Glaucoma
Terminal illness with severe pain, nausea, and/or wasting
HIV/AIDS
Tourette’s Syndrome
Chronic Cachexia (wasting and/or severe nausea)
Crohn’s Disease

If you have one of the above conditions you could qualify for prescription medical cannabis. Lower back pain is a very general symptom that could be caused by a wide variety of conditions (including some of the above). So to answer the question of this article, yes medical marijuana can be prescribed to treat low back pain as long as it is caused by one of the above qualifying conditions.

Twin Cities Medical Marijuana Doctor

The first step in the process is to find a Minnesota pain doctor who is able to prescribe medical marijuana (like us), and make an appointment to discuss your situation. Our Minnesota pain doctors are board-certified in pain management and have decades of experience treating patients with all types of conditions and injuries. We are also qualified to prescribe medical cannabis in Minnesota. Contact our Minneapolis / St. Paul medical marijuana doctors today to see if you qualify for medical cannabis in 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.

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