In November of 2017, when I was struggling with pain in my hip/leg, my nephew, Blake, suggested CBD to help manage the pain.
I said “no thank you – I don’t want to take anything like that”.
I smoked a little in high school and was not a fan of how marijuana made me feel. Blake said that CBD was nothing like that, but he couldn’t convince me to try it.
A few months later, after doing some research, I decided to try it. I went to the local health food store and they suggested Charlotte’s Web. So, $120.00 later, I walked out with a small box, got in my car, pulled out the bottle and squeezed a few drops under my tongue. The taste was earthy but not bad. A little later, I think I felt a little bit of “calmness” but at the same time, I also felt some tightness in my chest and my heart seemed to be beating more quickly. I think I attributed it to a pain response because just about anything I did (sit, walk, get up, lean over with dogs, lie down) hurt.
The next day, I took another dose and got the same tightness in the chest feeling. I think I tried it one more day and decided that CBD didn’t work for me and I started giving it to Riley, my 12-yr old Golden Retriever, who was suffering from seizures. After that, pain relief for me consisted of a couple of beers in the evening and hoping that my body was so exhausted at around 11pm, that when I finally crawled into bed and adjusted my leg in such a way that my hip joint didn’t hurt, I would fall asleep and the pain would subside.
Looking back, I now know that my response I had to Charlotte’s Web was actually an allergic one. Not sure what in their formula was an issue, but it was enough that I stopped taking it. And, it was enough for me to say no to my sister-in-law, Debbie, who suggested in March of this year that I try the Zilis UltraCell CBD. Read that story here. I am very glad that Debbie insisted (she’s evil that way), because the UltraCell CBD has definitely made me feel and move much better.
What’s my point?
First I would say do your research. I read a lot about CBD and about CBD products. I relied on several websites as well as the local health food store’s recommendation to select Charlotte’s Web. But I also learned that not every CBD is the same – formulas are different and in many ways, HOW they work is different too – read about the water-soluble UltraCell here. After signing on to sell Zilis UltraCell, I have been reading as much as I can find. Check out some articles I found here and some videos that I found here.
Second would be to try the product yourself and be prepared to take it for more than a few days. For me, I don’t think my reaction to the Charlotte’s Web CBD was going to change. So, it was a good thing that I was given another product to try AND that I was encouraged to keep taking it. For me, it was almost 3-4 weeks before I could feel a difference. If you are interested in trying the UltraCell CBD or the new UltraCell CBG, please contact me.
Third thing to remember is that it probably won’t be a lightning bolt of “WOW! I feel AMAZING!” but more likely a gentle spark in your head when you get up and realize that you aren’t as stiff, or you realize that your Type A++ personality is a lot calmer, or you can finally button your shirt with your arthritic hands. Keep in mind that stress wreaks havoc on your body. The longer you have been under severe stress, the longer it will take for your body to find some sort of balance, or what we now understand to be “homeostasis”.
And finally, I’m sure you want to know if CBD can change your life – if it’s really the amazing cure-all for anything that ails you. The answer is probably not.
But then again, the research and the first-hand testimonials that I have read or heard might tell another story. For my mom, she can now button her shirt without using a button hook helper. She has been suffering from severe shoulder pain and has been wearing pain patches for years. She no longer wears the patches and she can now raise her arms a little past her shoulders. She was struggling with anemia for almost 2 years. Her doctor suggested that she had several small lesions in her small intestine that were bleeding and should be cauterized. However, her last several blood panels are showing continued improvement in her iron levels. She did give up the NSAIDs (but not her wine) and she is faithfully taking the Zilis UltraCell CBD every day.
Written on July 28, 2018 – about a week after my surgery:
How I spent my summer vacation.
Hip resurfacing surgery (July 20, 2018) went well and I am now working on the recovery part. Hip joint now doesn’t hurt but the muscles that were cut are extremely angry. I am off the opioids (yeah!) and am moving slowly … but surely. Previous hip pain was sucking the life out of me and I am looking forward to getting my life BACK!!!
Written on January 25, 2019 – about 6 months after my surgery:
This is the surgery that I selected to have done to repair my very arthritic and painful right hip. It took lots of research to find Dr. Thomas Gross, an orthopedic surgeon in Columbia SC, who has performed over 5000 resurfacing surgeries. January 20 was my 6 month anniversary and I am not ashamed to admit that this surgery kicked my ass. Those first 6 weeks were very humbling.
In my follow up visit at 8 weeks, Dr Gross cleared me to start rehab, so Mike and I joined a local gym. I met with the trainer, we came up with a plan for my workout, and on my first visit, I hit the arc trainer (similar to an elliptical). I set the time to 10 minutes … on level 1 … and I was extremely light headed when I was done. Holy crap. Its a good thing that Planet Fitness is the “no judgement zone.”
Fast forward another 4 months. I am still mindful of my gait, but I am now walking pain free. My doctor said that after 6 months, I can start easing back into my sporting activities. Guess I was stretching the definition of “easing” because Darcy and I just finished three agility weekends in a row of traveling and trialing. All were fun, we were able to visit with friends and it was very evident that Darcy was very happy to be out running agility again. Because I was running with pain for several months and then we were out for over 10, we have a lot of work/training to do to be the amazing team we were becoming before my hip made other plans. I am now more determined to not only recover, but to be better, stronger, faster, and healthier than before, and considering the results of so many others who have had the resurfacing procedure, I think it is quite possible.
Stay tuned …
This was written on July 21 – one year after my surgery:
I was seated on the edge of the operating table wondering why there were nurses on either side of me holding my right and left arms. They smiled and one said “here you go … the best beach-side summer cocktail you have ever had”.
When I woke up, I was in a different room and another smiling nurse greeted me. “How are you feeling?”
“What? I don’t know. Wait, do I have a new hip??”
“Yep. You have a new hip”
That was one year ago. July 20, 2018.
Lisa, Darcy and Pippin at the Biltmore
In the last 365 days I have been humbled, frustrated, overwhelmed, encouraged, enlightened, amazed and determined. I had been walking so badly (due to the pain) for almost a year before my surgery that I really did have to learn to walk again, to find my gait again, to remember head up, shoulders back, one foot in front of the other, heel/toe … and no slouching. It took months to get there.
At 8 weeks, I had a follow up visit with my doctor, Dr. Thomas Gross, in Columbia, SC, and he asked me if I was glad I had had the surgery. At that point, I wasn’t really sure. When he asks me again, it will be a resounding yes. I am very thankful that we found the best doctor in the country who performed the hip resurfacing surgery that will hopefully be my one and only.
One year ago today, we were in this RV heading home from the hospital in Columbia. I was frail, vulnerable, overwhelmed and needy and tried to rest on the sofa while Mike drove the whole way home. I don’t say this enough, but I am so very grateful for Mike’s love, support and encouragement, even though I cursed him those first few days after we got home when he insisted that I get out of the chair and walk a little … and then a little more.
A year later, I am walking better, moving better and feeling better each day and hoping the effects of that beach-side summer cocktail never wear off 🙂
**About 7-8 months after my surgery, I was doing much better but still feeling stiff and was not moving as well as I thought I should be. My sister-in-law, Debbie, had just signed on with Zilis and insisted that I try the UltraCell CBD. I was very hesitant at first, but after using it for about 3 weeks, I definitely noticed a difference. I am also using the UltraICE product, which contains turmeric and other anti-inflammatory botanicals. The combination has been very helpful. Click here to learn more.
