02/07/2015
Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Stuart Parsons, a military veteran of 10 years, suffers from a spinal condition called Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). Though typically developed over time, Parsons’ DISH was caused by trauma when he was hit hard from behind in a military accident. Four of the spinal discs in his neck became fused together and pushed forward, creating pressure on the esophagus. As a result, Parsons experiences chronic pain, nausea, and eating and breathing difficulties.
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) urged Parsons to manage his pain using opiates, but as a recovering drug addict, Parsons adamantly refused. After some deliberation, he decided to instead try the legal medical cannabis Washington state had to offer.