The Use of Medical Cannabis in Treatment of Chronic Pain
Recently, there has been much debate within the medical community about the use of medical cannabis, specifically in the treatment of chronic pain.
Many Americans, you will find, suffer from chronic pain in one form or another.
There have been certain studies that reveal that the use of medical cannabis has been beneficial in the treatment of their chronic pain.
While it varies, most common patients with cancer, glaucoma, and even anxiety have reported some relief from being treated with medical cannabis.
Even though chronic pain does not qualify for medical cannabis treatment in Texas, patients with qualifying conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s, terminal cancer, and peripheral neuropathy can benefit from medical cannabis in the treatment of their related chronic pain.
For an official list of the qualifying conditions for treatment with medical cannabis, click here now.
In March 2015, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a comprehensive report on the therapeutic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids. The report reviews 10,000 scientific abstracts from marijuana health research. Of these, more than 100 studies met their criteria for inclusion.
Their conclusion?
There is conclusive or substantial evidence that cannabis is effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults. However, there is only limited evidence that it helps with improving patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. They also found moderate evidence of short-term improvements in sleep outcomes for chronic pain patients who used cannabis or cannabinoids.
The committee did not address issues related to how to administer marijuana as medicine because it was beyond the scope of its charge from Congress. These issues include dosing, formulation, route of administration, safety precautions, usage instructions, and product labeling.
After many years of research, medical cannabis is now mostly accepted as a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain. For many patients, it is one of the only treatments that work for their pain.
Chronic pain is a major cause of suffering in America and around the world, affecting over 1.5 billion people worldwide according to the Global Burden of Disease study. It is now the most common indication for medical cannabis in the United States, representing over half of all medical cannabis patients.
Many kinds of pain can be treated with medical cannabis, including neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage), persistent postsurgical or traumatic pain, cancer-related pain, and inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Medical cannabis may also be effective for treating headaches, including migraine.
The benefits of medical cannabis in the treatment of chronic pain have been well documented. While the clinical evidence for efficacy is compelling, there are still many questions being asked.
Most common question… How can I take it?
There are two ways to use medical cannabis for chronic pain. You can smoke it or ingest it in edibles. Some patients combine both methods.
Inhaling medical cannabis is the fastest way to relieve pain, especially if you have episodic pains such as menstrual cramps or headaches. Smoking is also the best way to control a sudden flare-up of symptoms. However, smoking may not be appropriate if you have lung problems such as asthma or emphysema.
For more persistent symptoms, many patients prefer edibles. While edibles take a while before they kick in — up to two hours — the effects last much longer than inhaled cannabis. Edibles are also more discreet since you don’t smell like marijuana after eating them.
Physicians have been prescribing medical cannabis to patients to help manage the symptoms of various chronic conditions in states where medical cannabis is legal. For many patients, it is an effective treatment for chronic pain, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, appetite loss in AIDS, and other conditions.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in understanding how cannabis works within the body to achieve a variety of effects – not only for recreational use but also for possible future therapeutic applications. New information about how cannabinoids affect the brain may lead to new medications for treating anxiety disorders and other neurological conditions.
Ask yourself, do you suffer from a qualifying condition as per your state list of approved conditions?
If you do, you should call (281) 240-2211 right now to book an appointment. It’ll only take you a couple of minutes and the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll be feeling better.
Thanks for choosing Cannabis MD Clinic for your treatment option.
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