From the age of 48, I felt them daily: the stabbing pain in both wrists. Holding or lifting things became a burden. The doctors gave me various diagnoses, such as osteoarthritis and tick bites. But the treatments helped me little. They were probably misdiagnoses.
I couldn't relieve the strain on my joints. Every day I worked on the construction site, milling the asphalt off the road with a large milling machine. This machine I used was a colossus: around 26 tons. It took me about fifteen minutes to climb down from this 3-meter-high contraption in the evening! That's how sensitive and painful my wrists were to any strain. I got used to taking painkillers in the morning. And if I knew I had a tough day ahead, I increased the dose as a precaution.
New diagnosis and strong medications
I'm someone who focuses on the good things in life. That's why I was able to somehow push the pain aside. Until, at the age of 51, it hit me with full force and shook my everyday life. I suffered a severe flare-up of pain. You can imagine it like a bad case of the flu: all my joints hurt terribly, and every movement was agony. I was immediately admitted to the hospital emergency room. After some tests, the medical team diagnosed me with rheumatoid arthritis. It's a chronic inflammatory disease. It restricts the affected joints and can even destroy them completely.
As a result, I reduced my workload to just a few percent of a full-time position. Fortunately, the disability insurance (IV) provided me with financial support.
To reduce my inflammation and pain, the doctors prescribed the disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) methotrexate indefinitely. I was also treated with cortisone. I was only supposed to take this medication for a few months. However, two years after I stopped taking the cortisone, I had another flare-up of pain. I had to undergo further cortisone treatment. It almost seemed as if I were addicted to it! With every attempt to reduce the dosage, my condition worsened.
CBD drops bring improvement
My sister, who works in the medical field, recommended CBD to me one day. She explained, "You won't get any side effects from it. It's pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory." So I thought, "I'll give it a try!" I took 2 x 5 drops of the CBD mixture every day. Within 5 months, I was able to successfully wean myself off cortisone without a relapse.
When I told my doctors about the effective therapy, their reactions varied widely. I heard everything from "It's just a substitute drug" to "Try it. Nothing bad can happen anyway." The rheumatologist, of all people, had no opinion on CBD. He never gave me a prescription for it. The health insurance wouldn't cover the costs anyway.
A medication that I like
The remedy, which causes uncertainty among doctors, allows me to live an independent life. Today marks three years since my last flare-up of pain. I still occasionally feel my wrists, but overall, I'm in good health.
I've finally found a CBD strain that tastes good. My chosen blend contains 20 percent of the plant-based active ingredient. After taking it, I experience no changes in perception, and my joint pain stays away. What more could you want?
Finally, a life to my liking again
Today I can even knead large quantities of bread dough without experiencing any pain in my hands. I'm already known throughout the neighborhood for my fragrant spelt breads. Since retiring, I've been baking and cooking all sorts of delicious treats for them.
Thanks to CBD, I'm living my life exactly as I want again. I hope I continue to feel this good.
