weed and surgery

[bsideindy]

Does using cannabis daily have any negative impacts when recovering from surgery? I always vaporize. I have a shoulder surgery coming up and don’t want to impact my healing in any way. I know that smoking cigarettes is very bad for healing and I want to know if there is anything similar with cannabis.

[cyborg]

The increase in blood pressure could make your wound feel unpleasant. I have had some friends tell me they quit their habit, cookies included, while they're recovered. I'm no expert though, YMMV.

[lynchdogger]

Worked for me. Squashed foot', intense trauma to area, eight broken bones including a Lyns Franc Fracture, intense pain, non weight bearing for 8 months. Weed may have slowed down recovery (doubt it but I am no expert) but sure was better than pain killers for me. Plus tgr stoned and a lot of time on your hands is much more entertaining. 100% recovered and full function. Woot!

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[lynchdogger]

The increase in blood pressure could make your wound feel unpleasant. I have had some friends tell me they quit their habit, cookies included, while they're recovered. I'm no expert though, YMMV.

Not my experience at all. Wrong weed = wrong high. Many types from what I gather. They should have sought professional help in their herb selection - say no to swag Hope friends are healthy now.

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[old goat]

The main concern with smoking MJ or anything else would be an increased risk of pneumonia and partial lung collapse after general anesthesia. I would think the risk with vaporized MJ would be minimal but I haven't seen any actual medical evidence about it. I don't see any risk of delayed healing, other than the risk of weight gain due to inactivity.

[Gepeto]

Six surgeries with the most fun being a TPF grade4 with just an epidural and mild drip of some cocktail that kept me slightly stupefied. Watched the whole 4.5 hour show on cctv while the surgical team played with their Makitas and knives.
I let the doctor know I wanted to get stoned out of my gourd and he said have at it.
Blew a splif the mangy moose Thursday rasta crowd would be proud of.


For a less testosterone driven more sincere answer:

Weed has been a major contributor in each of my recoveries. As soon as I was able to stop injectable pain killers I went home.
Used cush type weed to eliminate oral pain meds as quickly as was sustainable.
Pot will help improve your appetite much quicker post-surgery. Just have to make sure there are only good foods within reach.
Most effective use I found to be during early PT. Pushing range of motion exercises’ can be a real mind game and blocking everything out and working to your limit, but not exceeding it, can be made simple with the right weed.

From the medical side? I always thought that smoking impeded yourability to clot. In my experience, cigarette smokers are bleeders.

Vaping done right is a mist and not smoke. Wouldn’t that eliminate the pneumonia threat?


As to cyborg’s comment and lynchdog’s answer...
Whatever Cyborg’s friend was smoking would be best used when your keeping your lady happy.

[XXX-er]

The main concern with smoking MJ or anything else would be an increased risk of pneumonia and partial lung collapse after general anesthesia. I would think the risk with vaporized MJ would be minimal but I haven't seen any actual medical evidence about it. I don't see any risk of delayed healing, other than the risk of weight gain due to inactivity.

This^^ I have seen someone close go in for a simple(?) bunionectomy and almost die from pneumonia/lung infection, she spent 9 wks in ICU on the not sick enough to unplug and not well enough to go into recovery list ... just keep pumping 40-70% of O2 into her and cross the fingers

The left hand Brownies would be the obvious delivery method of choice for the OP so I suggest making a pan before getting cut on and store them in the freezer, I sometimes help out a quad buddy which includes driving the lift van, fixing the chair & the baking cuz they can't take smoke either

[snowforever]

Smash myself up all the time and my best herb always makes it better. Just had knee surgery 4 weeks ago( minor) and today I was slaying untouched B.C pow and puffin all day. Fuck ya weed for wounds play hard puff harder!!

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[reckless toboggan]

The flamable anti inflammatory.

[leroy jenkins]

I think weed is great post anesthesia, especially a sattiva. Reduces inflammation, nausea, pain, increases appetite, and makes you not want to fall back asleep.

Long term for recovery, who knows.

[detrusor]

As an anesthesiologist I would say the risk of lung collapse due to general anesthetic is pretty low. Now something called atelectasis, collapse of the alveoli, is really common. That's why everyone gets an incentive spirometer to promote deep breathing.

As far as mj, even a vaporizer can cause chronic bronchial irritation. If it gets bad enough to lower your arterial oxygen content that would impede wound healing.

In short, eat the brownies

[cyborg]

Not my experience at all. Wrong weed = wrong high. Many types from what I gather. They should have sought professional help in their herb selection - say no to swag Hope friends are healthy now.

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It was far from swag - Colorado dispensary stuff. Was not, however, selected by any medical professional.I think it might depend on the injury. Tooth, sinus, eye stuff might be extra sensitive. Bones and aches and bruising, probably more likely to be helped. I was just trying to be the devils advocate, as it's something you may want to consider if you have an injury before you scarf down something powerful.

Take it slow and see how you feel. If you can eat a brownie and feel better without having to take horrendous stuff like hydrocodone (I took one tablet after my wisdom teeth got pulled several years back - never again do I want to feel so drugged in that way), why not.

[XXX-er]

As an anesthesiologist I would say the risk of lung collapse due to general anesthetic is pretty low. Now something called atelectasis, collapse of the alveoli, is really common. That's why everyone gets an incentive spirometer to promote deep breathing.

As far as mj, even a vaporizer can cause chronic bronchial irritation. If it gets bad enough to lower your arterial oxygen content that would impede wound healing.

In short, eat the brownies

She was a freiends mom a 60-70ish upper middle class white female in reasonable health, not fat in fact very slight/frail in stature and not in any kind of shape, she never smoked pot I believe she had smoked cigerettes but quit at some point later in life on advice of a doc

[Banh Mi]

It could either help with pain or make it a little worse. Im having shoulder surgery at the end of march, and ill be in the same boat. As long as you vaporize, you should steer clear of most of the problems that inhaling hot smoke causes.

[ak_powder_monkey]

Couldn't be any worse than opiates right?