Chicago is known for its long and freezing frosty winters, and every one of us often deal with temperatures in the downsides, bitter wind chill and feet of snow.
While I legitimately like residing in this area, the frosty weather is strenuous on our arthritis; During the winter, our fingers swell up prefer saUSAges, then my knuckles get sizable and stiff! It’s hard for myself and others to make a fist.
I struggle to do normal activities such as putting our hair into a ponytail, type on a keyboard and cut vegetables. I’ve already needed to split our rings off due to the swelling. It can be both painful and frustrating, but thankfully it’s only a problem while the two of us were in the frosty weather. I’ve also figured out that I can alleviate the majority of the pain and swelling with cannabis. I am thrilled that cannabis is a natural product that avoids the detrimental side-effects of pharmaceuticals, however the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes interacts with receptors in the ECS to combat pain and inflammation. Because recreational cannabis is legal in IL, I can walk into a dispensary and shop… All I need to do is show a valid government-issued ID, and I have access to a wide variety of consumption methods, strains and potency. They offer smokable flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, topicals, tinctures, edibles and beverages. The budtenders at the dispensary have been absolutely helpful in recommending products for our arthritis. They have steered myself and others toward balms, disposable carts and tinctures. Because of access to recreational cannabis, I’m able to get through the Wintertide and continue our correct life.