Pain and Injury doctors like Dr. Kalter in Smithtown New York offer in order to abide by new regulations on prescribing opioids, offer alternative medicines, including marijuana to help patients cope with pain. Dr. Kalter like many other pain management physicians has taken an active role in focusing on providing prevention and early intervention measures to patients seeking alternative . Kalter Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Smithtown New York — believe in the therapeutic benefits of weed. Dr. Kalter is looking at marijuana as a safe effective alternative to pill popping, possibly addictive behavior.
Studies have shown that marijuana does decrease pain in some patients, as well as improve their quality of life. Patients with specialized conditions that are also painful, such as rheumatoid arthritis. While research is on-going with marijuana and CBD’s effects on pain, it’s important for physicians to stay up-to-date with research to give patients new approaches to what ails them.
In addition to the clinical trials already discussed, a handful of case studies and surveys have addressed the ability of marijuana to relieve pain. The survey responses suggest that marijuana—and by extension cannabis—can ease certain chronic pain syndromes. For example, in a recent survey of more than 100 regular marijuana users with multiple sclerosis, nearly every participant reported that marijuana helped relieve spasticity and limb pain (see Chapter 7).8 Likewise, many paraplegic patients interviewed in an earlier survey stated that smoking marijuana relieved phantom limb pain and headache.9
The opioid crisis is a topic among patients physicians and the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, and doctors like Dr. Matthew Kalter, at Kalter PMR. Severe or chronic pain are qualifying conditions for a marijuana card in almost all states with a medical marijuana program, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for marijuana legalization. New York being one of those states.
“Medical marijuana among our existing patients have little to no risk and potentially high results in lessening pain,” said Dr. Kalter. “Our patients who have been put on medical marijuana have gotten great results.”
– 12 months on medical cannabis
– Chronic Pain
“Medical marijuana was a blessing to my life. I developed chronic pain after a car accident September 2016. My pain became overwhelming. I decided to try medical marijuana. Dr. Kalter was kind, and sympathetic. I was surprised that the pain went away for the whole day. I am able to work again, enjoy life again, all because of medical marijuana.”
First and foremost you must be diagnosed with a qualifying condition:
Eligible Conditions
Symptoms
As the first step in applying for medical marijuana, a patient must obtain appropriate certification from his or her treating physician. It is possible that at the time of the consultation, the physician might not yet be registered with the Department to certify patients for marijuana use. In such a case, the physician can refer the patient to another doctor who is registered to certify patients for marijuana and who is also qualified to treat the patient’s eligible condition.
After receiving a signed certification from the doctor, the patient needs to apply for a registry ID card, which may be done online at the following website: https://my.ny.gov/. There is a $50 application fee, which may be waived if the patient demonstrates financial hardship.
If the patient is under the age of eighteen (18) or a person who is otherwise incapable of consenting to medical treatment, application for the registry ID card must be submitted by an appropriate person over twenty-one (21) years of age.
Detailed instructions on how to register to receive the registry ID card may be found here: http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/
New York State Medical Marijuana Program
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