Ways Cbd Treats Back Pain
Research indicates that CBD may reduce back pain by:
- Combating anxiety, often associated with long-lasting or chronic back pain4
- Helping with sleep and improving overall state of relaxation5
Some studies suggest that CBD can have an effect on how an individual perceives pain, but more robust research is needed. CBD is generally considered a full-body treatment, which means that it does not target back pain specificallyexcept in the case of topical productsbut contributes to an overall feeling of relaxation and pain relief.
Advocates of CBD believe it can be used to treat a range of conditions in addition to back pain, such as anxiety-related disorders.5
Pain And Disability In Australia
one of the top sixchronic back pain
Medicinal Cannabis Clinics in Australia
Some patients benefit greatly from being seen at a pain clinic, but the waiting list to see a pain specialist in Australia can be inordinate, especially in rural and remote areas, where pain clinics may be held only a few times a year at a hospital hundreds of kilometres away. Sometimes the GP in a rural or remote area will consult with other specialists over the phone or video conference call to optimise pain relief medication. This can be a boon.
If your life has been affected by chronic back pain, you will wondering whether marijuana based pain medication could help you. The good news is that there are qualified doctors with training in medicinal cannabis who can help you find the answer.
Best Cannabis Strains For Back Pain
Back pain is one of the commonest pains that youll face in yourlifetime. You will take some medications for this condition, but eachtime youll feel like you need to increase the dose or change yourmedication to get rid of the pain.
Usually, the back pain occurs all of a sudden out of nowhere and can extend even to the neck and legs. The market has many products for the treatment of back pain, but the one that has helped many persons across the globe is Marijuana. This article will be discussing the various Cannabis strains that are good for back pain relief.
Back in 1999, a report was published by the Institute of Medicine which stated that marijuana could be effective for the treatment of pain in spinal cord injuries.
Another research was conducted by the University of Colorado Spine Center that produced results claiming that cannabis relieves back pain more effectively than Opiates, and cannabis is way safer than Opiates. The results revealed that 90% of patients had their pain alleviated after the use of Cannabis.
Studies show that Marijuana is an effective painkiller. A studythat was published in Canadian Medical Association Journal stated thatcannabis could help in alleviating chronic pain in men and women.
Another study by College of Family Physicians of Canada stated in December 2014 that the patients suffering from chronic pain should smoke cannabis to get rid of pain if they dont find relief from other medications.
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What Are Some Cannabis Products For Lower Back Pain
There are a variety of cannabis products for adults seeking relief from lower back pain. Your preferred way to use cannabis also plays a large part in how it may affect your body. Topicals like salves, lotions, and balms may provide relief in a specific area of your body. If you have time for a relaxing soak in the tub, bath soaks take it a step further with full body relief. For immediate relief after waking up with lower back pain, smoking and vaping tend to provide fast-acting whole-body results followed by tinctures and edibles. Many older adults suffering from back pain use microdosing to medicate throughout their day. This generally means limiting a dose of THC to between 2.5 and 10 milligrams. Edibles and tinctures are a consistent, convenient, and discreet way to microdose, and many edibles like mints, chocolates, gummies, cookies, and beverages are delicious as well.
Pain relief is one of the main reasons mature adults use medical cannabis. Lower back pain is particularly problematic as it affects our mobility, mood, and lifestyle. If youre thinking about using medical cannabis to provide relief from lower back pain, first, talk with your doctor. Next, try various strains, products, and ways to use it until you discover results that work best for you. Talk to your friends about their experiences and preferences.
Side Effects Of Marijuana For Back Pain
While medical marijuana is very effective at treating back pain, there is the potential of experiencing side effects. They are usually mild and go away once your treatment wears off. In any event, its good to know what they are so you can sit down with your doctor and discuss them. Here are some common side effects you could experience:
- Red eyes: Most if not all people who use cannabis will experience redness in their eyes. This is not harmful and you can alleviate red eyes with eye drops.
- Short-term memory loss: After using cannabis, some people experience short-term memory loss. Again, this is a temporary side effect that goes away once your treatment wears off.
- Heightened sensory perception: This is a side effect that enhances your sight, hearing, sense of taste and sense of smell.
- Fatigue: Fatigue is common with THC-rich strains. To avoid this side effect, you may want to use a sativa strain which uplifts you and gives you energy.
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Breaking Down Cannabis And Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain can be one of the most debilitating conditions an individual can encounter there are very few daily activities that do not involve some kind of movement or even bracing of your back.
Living with Chronic Back Pain can leave you feeling frustrated, incapable, and at times, downright depressed.
The situation can look particularly bleak if you are unable to find any relief for your pain from more traditional medicines and techniques.
Fortunately, there may be another solution your doctor might have missed out on telling you about that may help with your chronic back pain. Cannabis and back pain relief are being strongly linked and the findings look promising.
This article will give you all of the relevant information you might need to know about medical cannabis and back pain to help you make an informed choice about trying it for yourself.
How Can Cannabis Help With Back Pain
In countries where medical use is allowed, marijuana is often prescribed to treat pain where other treatments have not been successful. In the U.S. and Canada, chronic pain has been cited by patients as the most common reason for their use of medical marijuana.
There are a number of studies that link marijuana and pain relief and we will share a few examples later, but first, on to how marijuana works to relieve pain.
The analgesic, or pain-relief, effects that marijuana is known to have comes from the cannabinoids within the drug.
These are also thought to have some anti-inflammatory effects, which is a likely reason why medical marijuana and back pain treatments are observed to be effective.
The cannabinoids themselves are a group of closely related compounds, all of which bind to and influence the cannabinoid receptors in your brain.
Common examples of cannabinoids that you may have heard of are CBD and THC, which are different compound types and have differing effects.
When attached to the receptors in the brain, cannabinoids have been observed to suppress pain signals as they are sent to the brain. Their anti-inflammatory properties are also likely to be a reason for their positive effects on chronic pain symptoms.
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Does Weed Help With Back Pain
Non-cannabis users usually ask, does weed help with back pain? Before we answer that question, lets take a quick look at the problem that many people endure.
The American Chiropractic Association says that up to 80% of the worlds population experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , its the most reported type of pain.
More people consider medical marijuana for back pain because of their apprehension that prescribed meds have detrimental side effects. Many medications, such as narcotics, can be addictive as well.
Theres also the concern that most drugs arent effective in providing pain relief. The CDC confirms this concern by stating that doctors continue to prescribe opioids to treat acute lower back pain despite a lack of evidence to support its efficacy.
Fortunately, we now have cannabis for back pain. The herb has been used for centuries as a cure with numerous anecdotal evidence.
Today, there are medical studies that prove marijuana is an effective remedy for the condition. When consumed in the proper doses, there are no conventional drugs side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, and ulcers.
How To Use Cbd Cream For Back Pain
Using a CBD cream is fairly simple. While you should always follow the directions on the packaging, youll generally apply it directly to the affected area.
However, be sure not to apply it to broken skin, and avoid mucous membranes and sensitive areas like your eyes.
Its important to patch test the cream by applying a small dab to the inside of your wrist or forearm. If you experience any irritation, dont use it elsewhere.
Some CBD creams come in a dispenser, and each pump delivers a specific amount of CBD. Even with a semi-accurate pump mechanism, it can be tough to figure out how much CBD is in a dollop of cream.
If youre new to CBD, start with a small amount of a low potency product.
shows that CBD is generally safe to use. However, its best to avoid CBD if youre pregnant or breastfeeding.
CBD topicals may cause mild side effects, like:
- changes in weight
- sleepiness
Dont try to ingest topicals. Unless otherwise noted, theyre meant for external use only.
Its not likely that a topical will enter your bloodstream and produce full-body effects. However, you should still talk with your doctor before using CBD products to prevent potential drug interactions.
Finally, dont forget to do a patch test. Even natural products can cause reactions in people with sensitive skin.
While mild back pain often goes away on its own, if youre experiencing chronic, moderate to severe pain thats interfering with your life, it may be time to make an appointment with a doctor.
Also Check: How To Stop Chronic Lower Back Pain
Cannabis And The Endocannabinoid System
Using cannabis to manage pain was written into the earliest known book of Traditional Chinese Medicine about two thousand years ago, and even earlier into Indias ancient Ayurvedic texts. Today, pain relief is the most common reason patients turn to medical cannabis. As scientists look to verify the plants ability to ease soreness, discomfort and inflammation, mounting research reveals cannabis as a promising tool to manage many types of painjust as the ancients suspected long ago.
How does cannabis help manage pain and inflammation?
To understand how cannabis eases pain, we first need to understand the endocannabinoid system, the most extensive receptor system in the human body. You may have heard of dopamine, serotonin or histamine receptors, but because the endocannabinoid system was only discovered in 1988, most people are unfamiliar with cannabinoid receptors.
As you can guess by the name, cannabinoid receptors respond to chemicals called cannabinoids that naturally occur within cannabis, including THC and CBD and, to a lesser extent, minor cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN and CBC. Our bodies contain these receptors because because we manufacture our own endocannabinoidsendo meaning they come from within the body.
One of these endocannabinoids is called anandamide, named after the Sanskrit word ananda, meaning bliss. Anandamide is produced on demand by the body to help regulate pain and other fluctuating states of being such as mood and appetite.
How Long Does Weed For Back Pain Take To Work
Most people want to know how long it takes for the effects of marijuana for back pain to be felt. It depends on the way its administered.
Its reported that inhaling weed by smoking or vaporizing gives users the fastest effect within a couple of minutes. Tinctures also offer speedy results due to their quick absorption rate. The other methods take longer.
However, its important to note that the effects from inhalation wear off quickly as well. By comparison, when you ingest weed for back pain, the effects take between 30 minutes to one hour to be felt but last as long as 46 hours.
Choose the form that gives you the results you desire. If you need instant relief from chronic pain, then go for the inhalation method. For prolonged relief, opt for edibles.
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Cannabis Edibles For Chronic Pain Takes Off
10 Best Edibles For Chronic Pain Relief
Best Cannabis Edibles for Chronic Pain? from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
The sheer variety of edibles available in dispensaries these days is incredible. From the ubiquitous space cookies to the more creative chocolates, hard candies, mints, truffles, cookies, gummy bears, and so much more.
Cannabis is so versatile that it can be used to infuse almost anything. The experience involved with eating it rather than smoking is so much more different, but for pain patients it makes a world of difference. Edibles provides more powerful, long-lasting pain relief especially for patients suffering from excruciating pain. Although edibles dont provide immediate pain relief compared to smoking or vaping because the cannabis has to pass through the gastrointestinal system and the liver in order to get processed, pain patients stand to benefit more from edibles. For one, the THC provides a body high that is more effective in treating pain. Second and more importantly, powerful edibles can provide relief lasting sometimes as much as 7 hours.
Edibles are much more intense, and this is where microdosing comes in handy. For those seeking long-lasting relief from chronic pain, here are 10 of the best sweet and savory edibles in the market with dosage information to help you medicate accurately and safely:
Best Strains Of Weed For Back Pain
Most patients with a chronic or acute back pain who tried weed report that they need lower doses of other meds, or quit taking them at all. However, serious problems need solid decisions. The best marijuana for back pain must not only mitigate pain, but also keep us active and able to perform usual activities. Also, we do not want to mix it with other drugs, or side effects.
There are two main strains of marijuana, indica and sativa. Indica is rich with CBD, and has lower THC content, while sativa, vice versa, contains more THC. Thus, they provide different effects. According to the results of the online survey made in 2014, weed users prefer indica for better sleep and pain reduction. Sativa is more used as a recreational drug.
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Understanding Cbd For Back Pain
Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD, is a new and relatively understudied treatment for pain, including back pain. Studies suggest it may help relieve inflammation, which is often a factor in chronic back pain.1
CBD is available in many forms topical creams and gels have shown promising results for inflammation and neuropathy, which may make them a good option for back and neck pain.2
CBD requires more research in order to prove and explain its effectiveness as well as to better understand potential side effects and potential drug interactions.
Medical Marijuana For Back Pain Is Here To Stay
With many studies providing evidence that weed for back pain works, your search for natural pain relief is over. Many states have legalized medical marijuana because they realize the therapeutic benefits cannabis offers patients.
Weve shared a variety of products to choose from, and you can administer them in ways that suit your condition and needs. Best of all, you can grow your choice of the best strains for back pain, so you never have to depend on dispensaries for your supply.
You can select many quality seeds from our Homegrown Cannabis Co. extensive seed collection. What are you waiting for? Get rid of your back pain today.
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Waking Up With Lower Back Pain Doesnt Have To Ruin Your Whole Day
Experiment and stay open-minded about your cannabis medication choices, and we wish you the best of health and wellness in the days ahead.
Do you use any of the strains mentioned here? Have others worked better for you? Share this article on your social media channels and start a conversation.
John Ansimoore covers all things cannabis for Three Wells.
Data Abstraction And Data Management
Two review authors extracted data from each study into a spreadsheet . Data included the authors last name, publication year, study design,country, sample size, population characteristics, conditions studied, length offollow-up, treatment characteristics , pain outcome scale , function/qualityof life , results and any adverse events reported.
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Medical Pot May Help You Avoid Opioids For Back Pain Arthritis
TUESDAY, March 22, 2022 — Medical marijuana could be a viable alternative to opioid painkillers for people dealing with arthritis or chronic back pain, two new studies show.
Many patients prescribed opioids for their chronic pain wound up taking fewer painkillers — or stopping them altogether — after doctors certified them for medical cannabis, said lead researcher Dr. Asif Ilyas, an orthopedic surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia.
“We found broadly a significant reduction in opioid use when they started using medical cannabis,” Ilyas said. “We saw a decrease in approximately 40% of opioid use after starting medical cannabis, with 37% to 38% of patients completely discontinuing opioid use altogether.”
If validated, these results indicate that medical marijuana could be a potential means of combating America’s opioid epidemic, which has been driven in part by prescription painkillers, said Dr. Stuart Fischer, an orthopedic surgeon with Summit Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Summit, N.J.
“We have a huge number of people who are on opioids who are being treated for chronic back pain,” said Fischer, who wasn’t part of the studies. “If we could move that population to something that’s safer but just as effective, we would do very well.”
For the studies, Ilyas and his colleagues recruited 186 patients with chronic back pain and 40 patients with chronic arthritis pain.
More information
The Mayo Clinic has more about medical cannabis.
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