[hexter19]

Hello all! I am a sufferer of chronic back pain. My situation started 3 years or so ago when I was injured on the job. My back went from sore to down right excruciating and the orthpedist treatment was not helping. Eventually about a month after the accident happened I woke up and could not feel my body from the waist down. I went to the ER and was told I had nerve damage and needed to see a neurologist. They sent me to John's Hopkins and a few days later I had surgery (lumbar lamenectomy). And a promise for a spinal fusion in my future. Now I have some minor permanant paralysis on the outside of both my legs, as well as patches of a burning sensation here and there, my crotch and anus area is numb with weakened bladder control, and I cant stand for more than 30 minutes or so without great pain in my back and legs. Sometimes my back and legs hurt for no reason.
I don't want to take pain medication because I have heard of the horror stories of addiction, and needing more and more drugs to continue working. I was an avide MJ user when I was younger and only stopped because of feelings that I was doing "wrong" in societies eyes and needed to "grow-up" and "get serious" about life. All that really happened was I stopped and regular everyday life got a lot more boring and less enjoyable!
Well, recently I endulged the idea of starting to smoke again. I remember some of the amazing things that I experienced from MJ. I know that it helped me immeasurably with headaches, a toothache, he pain from when I had wisdom teeth removed, and a severe burn, cuts, and aches I got from a motorcyle crash. My back isnt getting any better, could MJ possibly help me with the cronic pain? Has anyone out there used this for chronic spinal issues?
I live in MD and I researched the laws and understand that we have legal medical marijuana. But I cant seem to figure out how to get it! I dont know any friends anymore that have it. How do I find a co-op or do I grow my own? Can anyone help me with these 5 or so questions?