Richard Inskip, a 48-year-old originally from South Shields, has described how flare-ups of his autoimmune condition can leave him "crying like a baby" in pain. Despite the challenges, he considers his illness a "blessing" and credits medical cannabis with transforming his life.
Diagnosis and Early Struggles
Richard was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) as a teenager. This condition causes inflammation in areas of the body, particularly the spine. He spoke candidly about the severity of flare-ups: "I'm 48 years old and the bad flare-ups can literally have me on the floor crying like a baby. I'll go from touching my toes to hardly being able to touch my knees, and that can last from three weeks to three months."
Despite the pain, Richard sees a silver lining. "In some ways it's been a pain in the bum – well, more like a pain in the back – but it's almost been a blessing because would I be so conscious about my own health and fitness if I didn't have this condition as a constant reminder? It's the reason I get up and train on days where I don't want to train."
Impact of COVID-19
After catching COVID-19 in 2021, Richard's symptoms worsened dramatically. His condition had been in remission, but the virus triggered the worst flare-up he had ever experienced. "The pain was unbearable to the point that I would try to sleep and I would be in so much pain during my sleep that I'd actually be dreaming about being in pain, and then I'd wake up in the pain that I was dreaming about. That flare-up lasted six weeks. Since then it's just slowly been worsening each year."
Medical Cannabis as a Solution
Six months ago, Richard was prescribed medical cannabis through an online Care Quality Commission-registered clinic. He said the medication helps him control what he describes as "10 out of 10 pain." He uses cannabis in its original flower bud form, vaporized to avoid combustion. "I have a combination of one that energises you and one that relaxes you. So, if I do choose to use the medication in the morning, I'll use one that will help energise me and in the evening I will use the one that helps me sleep."
Richard emphasized the importance of education about medical cannabis. "My dad still views it as an illegal drug but my mum's a nurse and thinks it's great. I think education is a really important element now, because you shouldn't feel any anxiety or worry if you are using medical cannabis as part of a strategy to manage pain."
Living an Active Lifestyle
Despite his condition, Richard remains active. He works in surfing and skateboarding marketing, events management, and sports therapy, allowing him to travel the world. "I try to travel to as many places as I can to surf and skate. I know my time is limited to continue skating and surfing at quite a good level with this condition progressing, so I try to pack in as much as possible."
Richard has a message for those newly diagnosed with AS: "Getting an AS diagnosis can be quite traumatic for a young person. I think it's important that people know that there is a future for them, and that it can be managed."
