by A woman with a rare disease says she was able to move from a wheelchair to roller skates thanks to medical cannabis. Jane Hinchcliffe, 44, struggled with chronic pain from an early age which led to a prescription for codeine at age 15. After a series of misdiagnoses, Jane was finally told that she had a functional neurological disorder (FND) in 2021 which caused her severe pain and muscle spasms. The disorder affects how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body, and symptoms can include loss of motor control, sensory problems, and fits or seizures. After a bicycle accident in 2014, Jane’s previously active lifestyle took a hit, leaving her couch-bound and using a wheelchair. With the long list of drugs that didn’t work and caused her significant side effects that led to her body weight doubling—from 9 to 18 stones in just a year—Jane was desperate to try something new. She decided to try a slice of medical cannabis cake at a festival which left her “amazed” at how effective it was for her pain. Jane then researched the idea of a medical cannabis prescription. She discovered the Lyphe Clinic where, after reviewing her medical history, doctors were able to legally prescribe medical cannabis as a treatment. Jane, who now runs her own business selling legal CBD, from Hull, East Yorkshire, said: “It’s great that I don’t need a wheelchair anymore, people ignored me before. “Thanks to cannabis I’m able to manage my pain effectively. “But it took years to completely remove the pain.” Previously, I had to keep going back to doctors for more pain relief, but ultimately it was all hurting my body. “Meds always made me very hungry and I went from 9st (126lbs) to 18st (252lbs).” Once I found Lyphe Clinic, I called them and booked an appointment. “It only took 15 days from that call to get the medical cannabis prescription in hand. “These days, I’ve started skating, something I thought would never be possible, and my wheelchair lives in the shed.” a 30-year span of misdiagnoses – which included “growing pains” and “fibromyalgia” – before she was finally diagnosed with FND in 2021. Her active lifestyle – which included running, cycling and walking – was disrupted when she fell off her bicycle in 2014 and broke her knee, leaving her in a wheelchair. She was prescribed a cocktail of pain-control medications, including opioids, amitriptyline, diazepam and laxative drugs. She said: ‘All that I did was break my left knee on the sidewalk. “It seemed to heal well but then it got worse and the pain was intense. “I wasn’t able to run anymore. I used to do it a lot and had to cut it back.” In 2019, Jane received a “wake-up call” when she attended Green Pride, a festival dedicated to changing cannabis laws, in Brighton, East Sussex. She said: ” Having traveled from Hull I had brought along a bottle of morphine which was prescribed to me, saving most of it for the day as I had to travel alone in my wheelchair on the train. “Once I arrived, I decided to try a slice of medical cannabis cake containing a certain amount of THC. “I was amazed to find that I didn’t need the morphine I was prescribed as medical cannabis was incredibly effective for my ache . “This was a real wake-up call for me about the positive impact medical cannabis can have when taken correctly.” In 2018, the UK government legalized the use of medical cannabis. Experienced doctors can legally issue prescriptions for cannabis medicines when they agree their patient would benefit from them. After her experience at Green Pride, Jane began looking for alternative medicine. This led her to the Lyphe Clinic where she was prescribed medical cannabis as a treatment. Jane said: “What is important to me now is breaking down the barriers and stigma behind medical cannabis to help others who are in dire need of it and struggle with chronic pain.” It is often frowned upon and rarely prescribed by medical professionals . “Before founding the Lyphe Clinic, I confess that I felt out of options and bought cannabis illegally.” However, this would aggravate my stress and anxiety levels, as buying this way is dangerous. “Having a legal prescription tailored to my exact needs gives me incredible peace of mind and pain relief. Now I’m able to fully live my life again.” Dr Luisa Searle, medical director of the Lyphe Clinic, said: “In cases like Jane’s, medical cannabis can be used to treat a variety of conditions related to chronic pain and mental health, especially when other medications and treatments have failed”. and I see day after day what a difference medical cannabis is making in patients’ lives, Jane is a prime example. “Her story demonstrates the importance of legalizing medical cannabis and why doctors should try to prescribe this treatment for those who have tried different avenues.”
