A commando who underwent five spinal operations has told how he is finally able to play football with his children again after a medicinal cannabis prescription ended years of crippling back pain.
Rik Swaine, 40, from Wales, has chronic inflammatory arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, which was exacerbated by carrying 120 pounds of military equipment through danger zones around the world, leaving him immobile and bedridden for weeks.
The father-of-four said: “For years I dragged heavy equipment through hostile places. One day I could climb a treacherous mountain, the next day I could wade through swamps in a snake-infested jungle.
“People underestimate the amount of equipment a soldier carries and the potential long-term impact.
“Your weapons and rations are adding up and all that heavy lifting is taking its toll. In Sierra Leone it was not uncommon for me to have 120 pounds of gear on my back.
Rik Swaine (pictured), 40, from Wales, has chronic inflammatory arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, which was exacerbated by carrying 120 pounds of army gear through danger zones around the world, leaving him immobile and bedridden for weeks.
In total Rik (pictured in hospital) underwent five operations on his spine, five on his knees and two on his shoulders – but each time the pain returned worse than before
Rik (left with a rifle) said: “I spent years hauling heavy equipment through hostile terrain. One day I could be climbing a treacherous mountain, the next I could be wading through swamps in a snake-infested jungle.
“After eight years of service in the elite troops, the inflammation spread from my back to my knees and I just couldn’t take the punishment anymore. Because of the unbearable pain, I had to give up my beloved job.”
READ MORE: 9,000 Brits now use prescription cannabis for conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and PTSD
Ankylosing spondylitis causes back pain and stiffness in the early stages, but over time it can lead to fusion of the vertebrae in the spine and cause significant mobility problems.
Some people with AS experience severe, persistent back and hip pain and stiffness. Others have symptoms – or flare-ups – that come and go. Patients are encouraged to exercise and exercise to maintain mobility.
Rik retired from the military and moved into private security roles, including guarding diplomats in Iraq and fighting Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
“My equipment was a fraction of the weight I carried in the army, and because I didn’t have to travel long distances, there was less pressure on my knees. However, I still suffered from flare-ups in my back which meant I was out of action for days or weeks
“I ended up working intermittently for 10 years in Iraq and other trouble spots, but had to stop because the pain became too much.”
He was prescribed dozens of medications that did nothing to end his torment. In total, he underwent five operations on his spine, five on his knees and two on his shoulders – but each time the pain returned worse than before.
“A relapse can last a few days, but also weeks. I hoped it would get better with time, but the damage was clearly done and my condition only got worse. The pain and inflammation spread throughout my body.
“There were times when it felt like poison was running through my veins and I couldn’t get out of bed.
Sometimes the pain lasted for days and sometimes for months. I was completely demoralized and about to give up all hope.
“Even though I struggled to get out of bed, I found it impossible to play with my children. I remember one day my young son asked me if they could sit on my shoulders and I had to say, “No, I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“I couldn’t even mess with them in the ball pit. Sometimes it felt like life wasn’t worth it.”
Rik (pictured with two of his children) has returned as a health and safety worker and is now able to spend more time with his children aged 8 to 24
Rik (pictured ski) urged the NHS to make medicinal cannabis prescriptions more widely available for patients suffering from chronic pain, defined as pain lasting longer than three months
In 2018, after reading a newspaper article about medicinal cannabis, Rik contacted a private clinic that wrote him a prescription.
“Within five minutes my life changed completely and my pain started to dissolve. No medication I had taken before came close. It felt like a miracle, but the bad news was that it wasn’t free.
“As the prescription wasn’t available on the NHS it cost me £400 a month – money I just didn’t have as I was struggling financially.”
Last year, Rik’s case was acquired by the IAMBILLY Foundation, which works with global medical cannabis producers to find free medicine for people living with chronic pain.
The charity is run by Charlotte Caldwell, whose epileptic son Billy changed the law when he received the first NHS prescription for medical cannabis in 2018 after drugs his mother flew in from Canada were seized at Heathrow.
Around 25,000 people in the UK are currently being treated with medicinal cannabis for conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, although the vast majority of prescriptions are issued by expensive private health services and patients struggle to access the medicine through the NHS gain. .
Thanks to the foundation, the pharmaceutical manufacturer Cellen stepped up earlier this year to offer Rik a free program of its drug Satoline.
Rik has now returned to work as a health and safety worker and is now able to spend more time with his children, aged 8 to 24.
Last night he called on the NHS to make medicinal cannabis prescriptions more widely available for patients suffering from chronic pain, defined as pain lasting more than three months.
“I owe Cellen thanks for giving me a normal life. I went back to work to pay off my debt.
“I can kick around with my kids and join in the family fun. But I want others with chronic pain to have the same quality of life that I have now.”
Charlotte Caldwell, mother of Billy, wants the NHS to speed up funding for medical cannabis treatment through the Refractory Epilepsy Specialist Clinical Advisory Service (RECAS) – currently the only route to publicly funded healthcare in these cases.
She said: ‘In the meantime, we would like to see more medical manufacturers come forward and offer free treatments. No manufacturer should have to shell out thousands of dollars from vulnerable parents to keep their chronically ill child alive.’
Graham Woodward, clinical director of Online Leva Clinic in Cellen, said: “I am delighted that Rik has regained his life with access to Satoline.
“We want to continue to support as many people as possible because we believe in a world without unnecessary pain and suffering.
“By providing access to excellent care and the latest evidence-based medicine, we hope that many more people with life-limiting conditions like Riks will be able to transform their lives.
“We believe in a world without unnecessary pain and suffering by helping people access excellent care and the latest evidence-based medicine.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
