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Cannabis Helped Chronic Pain -

Traditional Medicine Didn’t

BY BARBARA FALLON

One minute in September 2016 it is a
typical end-of-the-day drive home for
Brittany Lengyel, a 20-something year old
driving home from her nanny job. The
next moment there is a crash, her car
flipped, and she was rescued from under
the water. Her life was altered for the next
several years, not only from her traumatic
injuries but from her treatment. First
responders transported her from the acci-
dent scene to an Emergency Room where
she was diagnosed with a brain bleed and Brittany Lengyel
after 5 days in ICU discharged to home to
recuperate. mal life, getting married and having a fam-
Within a week she was rushed back to ily slipping away. It was also an emotional-
the emergency department with typical ly trying period for her family who had
symptoms of stroke victims-slurred already lost a younger son following a
speech, lack of muscle control, inability to traumatic accident. He took his own life
communicate thoughts out loud. after inability to cope with constant pain.
Neurosurgeons found the bleed had Brittany was determined to follow a differ-
enlarged and a craniotomy was performed. ent path.
Following that hospitalization, she Eventually she moved back to Florida
returned home but was back in the hospi- with her mother; and, although not a
tal within a week with an infection. A believer in hemp or cannabis, she was will-
repeat craniotomy was performed, she was ing to try something different in pain
on IV antibiotics 24/7 but still didn’t see relief.
much improvement. “I could be bitter or get better,” she said.
A few months later, she sought out “I found a support group and a physician
another neurosurgeon because of debilitat- directed cannabis clinic and was intro-
ing chronic headaches. He ordered a brain duced to CBD oils, tincture and edibles for
scan which indicated some screws from my constant pain. I was soon able to start
previous surgery had become unattached weaning off prescribed addictive pain
and were causing her severe head pain. killers and re-gaining control of my life.”
Prescribed pain killers were not helping. According to Lengyel, she also followed
He performed another brain surgery and a path to spiritual growth and now volun-
sculpted a new skull. Finally, the infection teers at a clinic to pay it forward.
was cleared, and rehab services were “I have a mindset to recover and share
begun to re-learn activities of daily living. my story with trauma patients and cancer
However, before long funding ran out patients to spread some hope among those
and without insurance, Brittany moved to who feel helpless and frustrated by lack of
Michigan with her father’s family to con- recovery despite traditional medical inter-
tinue neuro-rehab services. vention,” she said. “I also speak publicly –
During this ordeal, which included per- especially to health professionals –
sistent excruciating pain and suffering side because I want them to help patients con-
effects from different prescribed medica- sider use of medical cannabis when appro-
tions, she felt her dreams of living a nor- priate.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com December 2018 41