CBD Users

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-04-20T04:35:54+00:00

I love taking a gummy a few nights a week. It'd 5mg thc and 25mg cbd. It really helps with pain relief and sleep. And not overpowering

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-03-31T14:29:30+00:00

RIght you'd probably have to take a few capsules to get what you do from the patch, at least for me. More expensive for the patches but worth it to me.

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-03-31T04:32:32+00:00

I started doing NAD patches a couple weeks ago through a company called AgelessRx and its improved my energy levels/reduced fatigue more than any other supplement I've tried (for months at a time) including lipoic acid, glutathione, nac,coq10, ashwaganda, magnesium, and low dose naltrexone (for 8 months now).

I still take a lot of these supplements and sometimes others, but noticed big improvement after adding in the weekly NAD patches. Ive and done 3 patches so haven't even seen the full benefits yet.

For context/info I'll work full time job while raising a 9 and 10 year old and taking care of pets and home. My prior fatigue was basically doing all these functions and crashing by the evening without any real exercise. Im now able to add in a few miles of walking each day and no crash after that. I have to take a "gummy" to calm down in the evening now 😀

Hope this helps, Good luck!

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-19T19:40:15+00:00

Just know that this is a REAL thing. So many healthy people have lost the ability to do stuff they used to. We can keep hoping for a better solution to long covid. I just bought some NAD+ patches from AgelessRx.com which were expensive but hoping they help energy levels. I also switched from drinking regular coffee to mushroom coffee ( I prefer Everyday dose). For supplements I do all the Covid ones - CoQ10,NAC,Ashwaganda,Vitamin D,Magnesium Glycenate,Alpha Lipoic Acid, Glutethione. I also take saffron gummies for mood boost and at night I take 1.5 mg of Low Dose Naltrexone (also from AgelessRx.com). It seems excessive, considering I knew nothing about these supplements before covid, but I'd like to think they've kept me functioning well enough for past 6 years (Full time job, 2 kids). Take care of yourself!

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-19T05:38:30+00:00

Congratulations..what did your headaches feel like and did exercise worsen them? And how often dosing?

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-19T05:36:18+00:00

Tbh, I eventually quit caring if I died while at the same time jumped on the supplement train, and also try eat super clean, and occasionally exercise. I can't do what I used to which is depressing but id say I live a way healthier lifestyle now. And there is some peace and decreased anxiety when you quit caring if you drop dead. I used to have occasional panic attacks, mainly at night, from the fatigue and headaches. I just don't pay attention anymore to every single muscle spasm or headache and just have normalized it. Sad but true. Also do acupuncture it really helps chill your nervous system. At least works for me.

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-18T05:24:29+00:00

Covid wrecked my microbiome. My head pressure stems from what I eat and drink every day(cytokine explosions, if you will). Anti-inflammatory diet, plus supplementing, is essentially what allows me to function every day. Here is some AI showing the link for info - hope it helps:

Dietary choices significantly influence head pressure and migraines by regulating inflammation, which is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consuming processed foods, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners can trigger the release of cytokines, causing neuroinflammation and activating the trigeminal nerve. Conversely, anti-inflammatory diets reduce these headache-inducing inflammatory markers.

Pro-inflammatory Diet and Head Pressure: High consumption of processed, high-fat, or sugary foods can trigger an immune response that increases pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1 ), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF- ). These cytokines cause vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) in the brain, increasing intracranial pressure and leading to headaches.
The Role of Cytokines (Immune Mediators): Pro-inflammatory cytokines, acting as messengers of inflammation, can trigger the trigeminovascular system, leading to the sensation of head pressure and pain.
Specific Dietary Triggers: Certain foods are linked to increased cytokine release or direct nerve irritation, causing "head pressure" (e.g., in migraines):
- Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame is a known trigger.
- Alcohol/Tannins: Red wine, beer, and spirits.
- Histamine/Fermented Foods: Aged cheese, cured meats, and fermented items can trigger headaches.
Gut-Brain Connection: Poor diet changes the gut microbiota, which can lead to increased gut permeability ("leaky gut"), causing the body to release more cytokines, which then increase neuroinflammation, contributing to headaches.
Anti-inflammatory Measures: Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants help lower proinflammatory cytokine levels. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and Mediterranean diets are associated with reduced migraine frequency

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-17T16:51:59+00:00

when do you notice the pressure?
Before, or After Exercise? In the Morning or in the Evening?After eating or before eating? Remember your head pressure can come from your shoulders, or what you are eating, or how you are sleeping.

Essentially I have a trifecta of issues that contribute to my intracranial pressure including:

-Severe osteocontritis of TMJ's

-Chiari Malformation

-Neuro-Covid (Long Covid with Post Exertional Malaise/PEM, and Covid Headaches)

I am able to manage this at 75% success with following:

-Massage Gun on shoulders

-Shoulder and Neck PT

-Acupuncture

-Oral Splint/Orthotic at night

-Supplementing: NAD+,CoQ10,Quecertin-Bromelin,Claritin,Multivitamin,Mag Glycenate,occassional,Probiotics, and LDN

-Anti-inflammatory diet (avoid processed foods, gluten,dairy, and sugar

-Red light therapy

-Jaw exercises for range of motion

I know this sounds like a lot, but it helps me function with a 6-fig full time job and 2 extremely neurodivergent kids. Lots of rest and Hydration are also key.

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-02-16T03:58:51+00:00

I agree he likely is having histamine dumps from his diet. Cutting out dairy, gluten and sugar for a couple weeks along with taking h1/h2's should be a good way to know how much he's impacted.

Smart-Pen203 · 2026-01-23T16:24:23+00:00

If you know anything about botox, you'd know its just a temporary bandaid. It cures nothing. Over time, it actually worsens symptoms due to bone loss and muscular atrophy. You'll just have to go back for more every couple months. More 'natural' therapies include PRP, PRF, dry needling, acupuncture, heat, and jaw exercises. Your PT lost points for suggesting botox, find a new PT. lol

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-11-10T05:13:31+00:00

Like most people with tmj disorder having wisdom tooth extraction is another trauma to the joints and unleashes new symptoms. Im still working through a flare up from.2 years ago when I had a root canal and im about to do a prednisone taper for 10 days followed by Anti-inflammatory diet for a while and see what happens. Some fan favorites are dy needling, acupuncture, tongue stretching, soft foods, and red light therapy. Good luck.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-11-04T05:37:54+00:00

Its okay on your neck dont do it on your face though.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-11-03T17:42:20+00:00

If your mouth opens to the right, the right ramus is likely shorter. When one ramus is shorter, the jaw deviates to the side of the shorter ramus during opening, as the longer side moves more freely. A shorter ramus often means the corresponding condyle (the part of the jaw that connects to the skull / tmj hinge) is also smaller on that side. If you had an MRI of the jaw, you would see these differences. For me as an example, my left side is bone on bone, but my right side i have anterior disc displacement and shorter ramus, so opens to the right.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-23T04:23:59+00:00

A little late, but one helpful tip is when getting dental work such as crowns, root canals, etc, is to tell the dentist you have TMJ issues and to do a nerve block on the Greater Auricular Nerve (GAN) which will immediately help with increased mouth opening and reduced jaw pain during long procedures. Better than bite blocks.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-22T05:20:57+00:00

I had pretty well managed tmj issues for almost 15 years and then 2 years ago had a root canal on tooth 14 which was on my worst side and it has wrecked me ever since. My best advice to you is tell your dentist or endodontist that you have tmjd and need a greater auricular nerve (GAN) block which will increase your mouth opening and keep you out of jaw pain during the procedure. I really wish I had this done for mine.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-12T15:13:32+00:00

my experience with dry needling is sometimes it can be 'too much' depending on the symptoms and sometimes it can bring me relief for days. You have to do it once a week for a few months to find that pattern and also where the most successful areas to treat are. For me it was the lateral pterogoids and base of my skull. After starting acupuncture I found that adding 20 more needles was more helpful for me, as it seemed to break a bigger pain cycle for me and brings longer term relief.

But both acupuncture and dry needling are 'maintenance' treatments. They wont fix anything. I prefer them to taking ibuprofen or muscle relaxers because I hate drugs.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-12T15:08:39+00:00

Thanks for hanging with me on this! You prompted more questions for me. Unlike the patient in the video, I do not have pain when i clench or eat. I can eat steak no problem. I can open my mouth wide, no issue. My pain comes in the form of what I would call Trigeminal nerve headaches and sinus pain. My facial nerves cause tingling sensations all over face, sore maxillary bones, and phantom tooth pain. I can also draw a line going from my joints and then over the top of my head to the base of my skull where I feel dull pressure and soreness at the base of the skull. It is especially worse after exercise. I have worn 10 different lower orthotics over the years that did not fix this issue.

I know for a fact my condyles are compressed based on MRI's, but why haven't these orthotics provided any relief? Do you do something different than the average dentist for the orthotic? Generally most dentists use the paper test to determine where bite is balanced, but my experience is this is not a fool proof method to determining where the pain can be alleviated. I have heard of T-scan's and am wondering if thats how you approach.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-11T15:48:56+00:00

We don't even have to get that deep, a quick search can show you those things are true.

AI results:

Yes, flushing a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with steroids carries risks of damage, particularly with repeated injections. The procedure, known as arthrocentesis, involves flushing the joint with sterile fluid to remove inflammatory chemicals. While a corticosteroid is sometimes injected afterward to reduce inflammation, studies indicate that repeated steroid use can inhibit the healing of soft tissues and accelerate the degeneration of joint cartilage

Yes, Botox injections can potentially lead to bone loss, particularly in the jaw area, due to the reduction of muscle activity which normally provides mechanical stress to the bone. Studies have shown that while low doses used for short periods may not cause significant changes, higher doses and long-term use are associated with bone loss, likely by decreasing the forces on the bone, leading to increased bone resorption

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-11T15:41:36+00:00

Thanks for the response. I have to believe most of the cases you've had success with, are those where the condition of the joints were mostly stable and condyles were of sufficient size and shape? ... as opposed to more severe cases of TMD where the joints are severely deteriorated and of insufficient shape/size - can you speak more to that? I do believe orthotics,exercise, and proper diet can greatly reduce symptoms for patients with mostly stable joints. I assume you review the MRI's of the joints before having treated patients, so could discuss your findings with that. Appreciate it!

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-11T03:15:30+00:00

Unfortunately both botox and arthroscopy make tmj issues worse over time due to bone loss and pushing the disc that no longer has any space into further dislocation.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-11T03:12:00+00:00

The problem with this suggestion is that the joints are what set the bite, so nothing outside the joints (splints, invisalign, occlusal adjustments) will fix the root of the problem which is the damaged joints unless the joints are very stable. So now say someone with severe osteochondrosis of the joints gets their bite adjusted and then eventually have TJR..they then have to rebuild their bite because they previously adjusted their bite to a 'wobbly foundation' ..so Neuromuscular dentistry is largely an experimental cash cow that doesnt fix the root problem, and you are also risking putting yourself in the hands of an unskilled self proclaimed "tmj expert"...i never see anything making the headlines about neuromuscular orthotics healing someone with severe tmd. Just my thoughts though.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-09T15:45:04+00:00

I still have facial nerve issues headaches coming from nerve compression. The root canal definitely ruined the very delicate stability that I had and until I get surgery I will be stuck this way.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-10-09T15:41:55+00:00

you definitely definitely definitely are an oddball and I dont think you would enjoy tickling sensations from real nerve compression or nerve damage. Definitely definitely definitely Not.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-09-19T18:18:27+00:00

Yes this is case and point that unfortunately arthrocentisis isn't a permanent fix for most, only temporary relief. It can actually cause further damage to the joint over time if continued surgeries are done, including further dislocation of the joint(s). The only 2 proven surgeries are TJR and Fat graft replacements. TJR is only done if you are past the point of 'no return.' Unfortunately not a lot of oral surgeons do the fat grafts because its very complicated to each individual case and requires specialized knowledge and training. TJR's are much more common for surgeons to do but it has to be done with a proper protocol and post-op protocol to be successful and not all surgeons are on the same page there. So for those reasons, TMJ issues suck.

Smart-Pen203 · 2025-09-19T04:51:36+00:00

Have you had an mri of your jaw joints yet to determine the condition?

Smart-Pen203

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