Brent Grundy turns to CBD oil for pain as COVID-19 prolongs Melbourne elective surgery

And with Melbourne elective surgery still on hold indefinitely due to COVID-19, he has no idea when the pain will end.

Mr Grundy was initially on a cocktail of drugs — taking up to 12 pills a day, many with negative side effects.

But now, he's turned to CBD oil to handle the pain until the long wait for surgery is over.

CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a chemical found in cannabis which can be used to treat illnesses such as pain, anxiety and insomnia.

It is not marijuana, or THC, which comes from the whole cannabis plant — rather, it is an extracted component that does not contain psychoactive chemicals.

The Australian medicinal cannabis industry is now fully regulated, allowing people to purchase therapeutic cannabis from a chemist with a script.

And there are moves from the Department of Health to make it available over the counter at local pharmacies as early at February 2021.

It's a booming market set to hit Shepparton, with medicinal cannabis company Cannatrek planning to set up a $160 million medicinal cannabis plant in Lemnos to meet rising demand.

But with limited scientifically-based evidence of the benefits of medicinal cannabis, some doctors are still cautious about prescribing CBD oil.

However, Mr Grundy swears by it.

“It's worked — and there have been no side effects,” he said.

“While I still have some pain, it controls it.”

Mr Grundy had been enduring pain for seven weeks before he went to see a GP in August last year.

A CT scan revealed his L5/S1 disc — the very bottom bone in the spine — had bulged.

The most common disc bulge in the entire body, it meant constant stabbing pain ran down the back of his leg, affecting all movements including walking, sitting and standing.

Mr Grundy was referred to a neurosurgeon at Melbourne's Austin Hospital in December and was placed on the elective surgery waiting list.

Employed at ACM in Girgarre, he's been unable to work since August last year.

“I'm a single dad, so I have no choice but to do all the work around the house,” he said.

“But it's tough. When I do housework, I really feel the pain. I can't pick Jaxson up. I can't even bend down, it's too painful.”

Initially, Mr Grundy was prescribed Targin and Lyrica to combat the pain.

But battling strong side effects from the Lyrica, including memory loss, he was transferred to Panadeine Forte, Endone, Entrip and anti-inflammatories.

Taking a litany of tablets morning, noon and night, Mr Grundy soon found his body became accustomed to the painkillers.

“In the end, Panadeine Forte wasn't doing anything,” he said.

At that time, a friend added Mr Grundy to a medicinal cannabis support group on Facebook.

“A guy on there got in touch with me — he had a company that supplies CBD oil in Perth,” he said.

“I spoke to my GP about it, and he was happy for me to try it.

“Initially, my GP gave me a referral to a place in Melbourne that was going to cost me $500 before I even got the CBD oil.

“But by working with this guy in Perth, he was able to go through the application for the oil with my GP over the phone.”

Armed with a script, Mr Grundy picked up the CBD oil from the local pharmacy — $230 for the tiny bottle, which has lasted him about four months.

In addition to the oil, he also visits Active Spine every fortnight for a remedial massage.

While he still has the pain, the Shepparton father said it was not nearly as much as before.

And the CBD oil is tiding him over until he's finally given the go-ahead for surgery.

“I called the Austin two weeks ago and they said they're waiting to hear back from DHHS on when they can resume elective surgery,” Mr Grundy said.

“I don't know when life will be back to normal — that's the hardest thing.

“You have your good days and bad days. But on the bad days you think, ‘When is this going to end?'

“I can't wait until it's done, and I can go for a bike ride with my son again and get back to work.”