Real stories, Real impact: How we’re making a difference across the UK.

So, to round off the year on an inspiring note, we wanted share some of their stories, and reflect on the true difference we’re making every day to real people here in the UK.

And while we’ve interviewed over 50 patients so far, unfortunately, we simply cannot tell every tale in this blog.  

So, for now, here’s a collection of snippets from just a handful of these stories. We feel these stories amplify Releaf’s diverse scope of support, and, the success real individuals have found in improving their wellbeing, by taking back control of their health. 

We thought we’d start with Mary’s story, as it’s nothing short of inspiring:

Mary, 84, Chronic Pain

At the age of 84, Mary told us about how her spine curvature has affected her throughout her life, and how over the years she’d tried a number of treatment approaches with varied levels of success. But, after discovering medical cannabis may be a suitable alternative for pain management, Mary reached out to Releaf, and she’s very pleased with the results so far. In her patient story, Mary told us:

“I have to try and stay physically healthy at my age, so I do Aquasize about three times a week. It’s the only exercise I can still do, and being in the pool is very low impact, so that helps. Some days, I help my son at his office—he has an online business—but mostly I study: I'm a history student, and I'm doing my master's degree. 

Of course, the pain is not gone completely, but I didn’t expect that it would. The main thing is that I am not so tired. That's the best result so far….

I'm not so exhausted any more. I'm not looking at my garden and thinking, “Gosh, I am not going near those roses! Not today, maybe tomorrow!” Now, I just get to work. This has made a huge difference to me. I really was exhausted with all the pain, constantly thinking, “Oh gosh, I can't do that today.” That’s an awful feeling…

[With Releaf] it’s all very easy to access if you can turn on a computer. I always feel like if I really need something, I can always log into my account and speak to somebody quite quickly.”

Read Mary’s full story here.

Peter, 78, Trigeminal Neuralgia

Similarly, Peter arrived at Releaf after taking traditional opioid based painkillers for a number of years to treat the excruciating pain that accompanies Trigeminal Neuralgia. Although he’d been aware of medical cannabis for a long time, it wasn’t until Peter was 78 that he found out medical cannabis was not only a legal option in the UK, but an accessible one too. Since starting treatment with Releaf, Peter told us he’s noticed not only improvements in his pain, but also his relationship with, and outlook on, pain in general. Peter said:

“When you have a prescription, there is a psychological aspect to that which enables you to relate to the medicine differently than “street” cannabis. It's a paradigm shift. I always saw cannabis as a recreational thing, but this doesn’t feel like that at all….

Medical cannabis works on so many different levels, that's the interesting thing about it. Neurological pain is somewhat different from a chronic backache, for example, because the way the pain is received by the brain is not the same. With medical cannabis, it’s kind of like the pain gets put into another place. It's still there, the treatment doesn't necessarily eliminate it completely, but the perception of the pain is changed.

Before, with my treatment with OxyContin, it was like I had a baseline, and then the pain would peak, and I’d medicate in an attempt to bring it back down to the baseline. With medical cannabis, it’s a different approach. I’m kind of attacking the whole condition, rather than just treating the pain, and that results in fewer and fewer times when my pain peaks. ….

If I said it’s been life changing, that would not be an exaggeration. Medical cannabis can change people's lives. I just wish more people were aware that it’s out there and available.”

Read Peter’s full story here.

Jackie, 51, Arthritis

Jackie approached Releaf for the first time in July in the hope of finding an effective treatment for arthritis and the chronic pain she experiences caused by a condition colloquially known as hammertoes. After a few surgeries to try to relieve her pain, Jackie was left taking high volumes of medication, which combined with her day-to-day symptoms, took their toll on her mental health too, and Jackie was eager to explore an alternative approach. In her patient story, Jackie explains: 

“I had no idea that medical cannabis was even a legal treatment option until about 7 months ago, and I hadn't ever really considered it before. But, one day, I saw Releaf medical cannabis on the telly and thought, "Why not give it a go? What have I got to lose?"....

Does it totally take away my pain? No, but it relaxes me to the point where I'm no longer almost obsessing about it. In the evenings, I’ll grab my vape and have just a few pulls, and it relaxes me. My mind kind of comes off the pains that are almost always bothering me, and I find that it’s really working for me. It doesn’t take the pain away completely, but it helps me not to focus on it as much, which has made such a difference.

I have struggled to get a decent night’s sleep for years, but that has also changed now. The impact it has had on my sleep has been very surprising. I love curling up on the couch with a new show to watch. I love that feeling of finally being able to relax away from the pain, and slowly fading off to sleep peacefully is something that had escaped me for a good while. I have always said, "A good night’s sleep is so fundamental to having a good day the next day". Most days, I now wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

The cannabis has also helped me with the side effects of the painkillers, which I do still take, although less than before. I mentioned before that I suffer from constipation, and I find that ever since I started to vape the medical cannabis flower, it has been nowhere near as bad as before, which has been a nice little bonus.”

Read Jackie’s full story here.

Maruis, 45, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Maruis joined Releaf back in June in the hope of finding extra support for his PTSD, anxiety, depression, and osteoarthritis. At the time, he was encountering side effects on a daily basis from the treatments his GP had prescribed and was feeling let down by his doctors - but since joining Releaf, he’s noticed real differences. In his story, Maruis said:

“I have been totally blown away by the service from Releaf. It took maybe two or three days from signing up to having my initial consultation, which was fantastic. Dr Michal Modestowicz saw me, and wow, what a great doctor.

Dr Modestowicz made me feel completely at ease. From the very beginning, I felt comfortable sharing my experiences with him, and he really listened. On top of that, he made me feel like a human being. He didn't judge me, and he didn't make me feel like I was just another patient in the system.

Since then, I have had four additional follow-up consultations, and each time, I have felt exceptionally well cared for…

I'm blown away that I'm 45, and I live in a country where cannabis is now legal for medical treatments. With all the trauma I've been through, to be where I am now and to say that, yes, I can find something that works for me, and it's helping my quality of life. I feel quite overwhelmed by it, and thinking about it actually makes me a bit emotional.”

Read Maruis’ full story here.

Martin, 42, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Meanwhile, Martin, who is also in his forties, was sceptical about the thought of taking medical cannabis at first, but in April he took the plunge and joined Releaf. As a full-time illustrator and hands on dad, Martin was in search of alternative treatments to help manage the pain he encountered as a result of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and spinal arthritis - and since starting treatment, he’s also noticed the social anxiety he experiences due to autism has also reduced. Martin told us: 

“I’ve never been a smoker and have always been into fitness and training, so I wasn’t sure it would suit me. Sure, I’d tried cannabis recreationally a handful of times years ago, but I was never a regular user at all, and the idea of it actually being a legitimate medicine was a new concept to me. I guess the best way to put it was that I was curious, but also a little sceptical. 

But after clicking through to the Releaf homepage and spending some time reading through the content, everything looked very much above board and super professional. 

I saw all the options available and really liked the look of the subscription package. It covered everything - unlimited consultations, postage, and everything else - so I wouldn't have to worry about those details every month. So, I made an account, sent through my medical records, and booked in for my initial consultation…

[My treatment has] opened up opportunities that I don’t think I’d have gone for otherwise. It’s given me an option for relief that lets me stay active and in control, and it's also changed how I see my own capabilities. There were projects I might have turned down in the past because I’d have thought, “What’s the point? I won’t be able to manage it physically.” But I don’t feel that way any more. Now I feel like I can say yes to things without doubting whether my body can keep up.

So that’s really the core of it - it’s given me a lot of confidence in my abilities and in what I can achieve. Instead of feeling restricted or held back, I feel capable.”

Read Martin’s full story here.

Ollie, 39, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Ollie joined Releaf in September, after searching for alternative ADHD treatments. In his patient story, Ollie explains how medical cannabis has not only improved his day-to-day life and ability to be ‘in the moment’, but how the flexibility of his treatment, and Releaf’s patient-focused approach has made a true difference to his outlook on healthcare. He said:

“The thing that really separates my treatment at Releaf versus my GPs prescription is that it’s safe for me to adjust the dosage, depending on the situation….

In a month, a lot of changes can happen in my life that changes my symptoms: the stress changes, the seasons change; I change, so the opportunity to quickly consult with my doctor is incredibly valuable. That's what healthcare should be about: the patient should be in the driver's seat. That's what Releaf feels like….

Medical cannabis is not a silver bullet that cures my condition. It's not a panacea. My problems still exist. Situations I have to deal with can still be very high stress and high pressure. I still have to deliver huge results at home and at work. My treatment with medical cannabis allows me to just be in the moment; to be present, which benefits my day-to-day life. 

For me, it's about continuing to make small but regular improvements. I think to myself, how can I improve by 1% today? That's it. I’m not expecting huge, monumental changes, just small steps, one at a time. I'm very thankful.” 

Read Ollie’s full story here.

Hannah, 31, Anxiety

Meanwhile, Hannah, a 31-year-old working mum of one, also shared her story, and told us how medical cannabis has helped to improve her anxiety, and in turn, her overall wellbeing. Triggered and significantly exacerbated by the tragic passing of her mother, Hannah’s anxiety became overwhelming, and she retreated from the outside world for six months before joining Releaf. But, now, she’s determined to live life to the fullest, and make up for lost time. In her patient story, Hannah told us:

“It's definitely been a big improvement since I started with Releaf, because I've been able to do so much more and not worry about things. I’ve been able to go out and just get on with things that I normally would have struggled with. 

Usually, with my anxiety, if I had to go somewhere outside the city that I live in, I would start to panic. Now, I'm able to do that without being stressed.

Recently, I was even able to go for a little holiday out of town recently in Enniskillen, here in Northern Ireland, which I would never have done before I discovered medical cannabis. I was with my dad, my brother, my partner, and my kids, and it was amazing to be there and not be panicking all the time. The adults all knew I was taking medical cannabis, and they commented about how they had noticed a big positive change.  

I’d love to try and go abroad next year, which would be like a major step for me. I haven't been abroad since the anxiety started, so I'd love to be able to take my six-year-old on a summer holiday—that would be brilliant.”

Read Hannah’s full story here.

Omar, 31, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Omar also shared his story. As a freelance theatre director, Omar’s work schedule and commitments can be unpredictable, but unfortunately, so can the flare ups he experiences as a result of irritable bowel syndrome. After finding his health was getting in the way of not only his passion, but also his income, Omar decided he needed to find an alternative approach to symptom management, and, a doctor who would listen. That’s when he joined Releaf. Omar told us:

“The great thing about my doctor at Releaf is that she really understands that my condition is not just about pain. IBS is very complicated: it is as much a mental thing as it is physical, because once the pain starts, I can get worked up emotionally, and then my muscles that tense up and things go downhill from there.

I’d always suspected that what I really needed was more than just pain relief. I needed a medicine that would work in a multi-faceted kind of way: something that would relax my muscles, but would also affect my mood, disassociating me from the pain, preventing that negative, psychosomatic response. 

My vape pen and the flower are great for those stressful moments. If I'm not in a full-blown flare up—if I’m just starting to feel discomfort versus real pain—I start to get worried that a full-blown flare up is imminent, and things spiral down from there. When I have those feelings, the flower allows me to kind of take the edge off, so things don’t spin out of control. It’s something I can take that isn't going to disrupt my day and isn't going to influence my cognitive functioning.

The cannabis oil is different. It’s my last resort—for when the pain gets very bad—and I take quite a high dose. It's the only thing that has allowed me to sleep through the pain at night, and the length of time that I’m in pain is shortened from four, five or six days to one or two days maximum. That was a huge improvement.

I’ve been a patient at Releaf for three months, and I think my doctors and I have found a healthy balance with the treatment: the flare-ups are managed by the cannabis oil, and the discomfort is managed by the flower.”

Read Omar’s full story here.

Final Thoughts: 

Collectively, these stories are a true testament to patient-centred care. 

They show the resilience of real people here in the UK, and the real difference the right support can make. We remain dedicated to making a positive impact to lives across the UK, and we do this by treating each individual as just that, an individual. 

So, if you’d like to find out if medical cannabis may be a suitable option for you, fill out our free online eligibility checker - or, if you’re already a Releaf patient, and you’d also like to share your story, get in touch here.

And from all of us here at Releaf, Happy New Year!