Can Medical Marijuana Help Back Pain?

Can Medical Marijuana Help Back Pain?

Jul 30th 2021

Statistics on Back Pain

According to the American Chiropractic Association:

  • Around 31,000,000 Americans suffer from lower back pain.
  • Half of all Americans who work suffer from back pain.
  • Back pain is a common problem in the United States.

The Bone and Joint Initiative reveal:

  • Annually, the cost of treating back pain and lost work in the United States is about $253 billion.
  • Around 10% of all hospital and emergency room visits are due to neck and back pain.

These statistics about back pain show how widespread a condition is, and what impact it has on society and individuals. Back pain is a common condition in industrialized countries. 60-70% of people will experience it at some time during their lives.

Back pain can be caused by:

  • Spain and/or strain are simple
  • Sciatica
  • Disk rupture
  • Osteoporosis
  • Arthritis
  • Bulging disc
  • Scoliosis

These conditions can be treated with medications like anti-inflammatories and pills to treat nerve pain. Also, addictive medications like narcotics and antidepressants, are available. Sometimes, patients will need to have surgery. This can lead to further complications. Many people today are turning to medical cannabis to relieve their back pain.

What makes Medical Marijuana a good treatment for back pain?

Alternatives to traditional treatments can be found in medical cannabis. Patients suffering from chronic back pain are increasingly turning to medical cannabis. Contrary to conventional medication, medical marijuana does not have the same side effects as traditional medications. These include nausea, stomach upsets, gastric bleeding, and ulcers. Medical marijuana doesn't have these side effects. These are just a few of the many ways that medical marijuana can be used to treat pain.

  • It can reduce pain so you can lead an active lifestyle.
  • You may be able to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
  • Chronic back pain can lead to anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Many of these symptoms can be eliminated or reduced by medical marijuana.
  • It is a natural substance derived from plants and does not contain any chemicals.

They studied 200 patients suffering from back pain during a University of Colorado study. This pain was caused by conditions that are degenerative. 89% of patients claimed that medical marijuana moderately reduced their pain. 81% of patients claimed it was more effective than narcotic medication. Patients smoked medical marijuana only once or twice per day.

What are the symptoms of back pain that Medical Marijuana can treat?

As there are many symptoms associated with back pain, medical marijuana can be used to relieve them. These are the symptoms that medical marijuana can relieve:

1.

Marijuana can help reduce muscle spasms. Inhaling marijuana for 20 minutes can result in a 45% decrease in pain intensity. It is especially effective for treating back spasms. Medical marijuana has been approved in many states for the treatment of muscle spasms. Pennsylvania has legalized medical marijuana.

  • Neuropathic pain that causes severe, persistent or irreparable pain
  • Chronic or persistent severe pain

2.

The ability to reduce nausea or vomiting is one of the many properties of marijuana. Opioids and other similar drugs are traditional medications that are prescribed for chronic pain and back pain. They can cause nausea and vomiting. Many patients prefer marijuana over other drugs because it treats nausea and pain. Chronic pain can also cause depression. On the other hand, medical marijuana can reduce depression and improve sleep.

Medical marijuana has been approved in many states to treat nausea or vomiting. The fact is that marijuana has been used for years by cancer patients to increase appetite and reduce side effects.

3.

Marijuana is known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat arthritis-related inflammation, and degenerative changes in the cervical, lumbar or thoracic spines. Degenerative changes in the spine are responsible for most neck and back pain. Patients prefer to use marijuana to relieve their pain from inflammation.

How to use Medical Marijuana to Treat Back Pain

You can use marijuana topically or internally. These are some of the best ways to use marijuana:

  • Inhalation: This is the smoking or vaping of marijuana. This is the fastest way to get high, and it takes only 1-2 minutes.
  • Raw juice: You can also eat marijuana by juicing. This will reduce pain but not have a psychoactive effect.
  • Tinctures: Tinctures are often placed under the tongue and then swallowed. Because the mucosal membranes absorb more of the tinctures, this produces a faster result.
  • Edibles: Because edible marijuana needs to be absorbed through the stomach, it will cause a slower response. It may provide more relief and a stronger psychotropic effect. It may take as long as an hour to feel the relief.
  • Topicals: Topical marijuana has a different effect. The site of injury is the only place where absorption occurs. You can increase the dose depending on the desired effect.

Use of Marijuana strains for back pain

There are many strains of marijuana. They all work differently for different people with different symptoms. The best strains of heavy THC tend to relieve pain while CBD is best for relieving inflammation. Heavy THC has more psychoactive effects. To be more functional, patients may choose to use a combination of low THC and high CBD during the day. However, they might prefer to use high THC/low CBN at night to get a better sleep.

These are some strains of medical marijuana that may be able to help with back pain.

  • Bubba Kush (indica): This strain can contain up to 22 percent THC, and as much as 0.1 percent CBD. It can be used to reduce stress and muscle spasms.
  • Candyland (sativa). It contains around 24 percent THC and 1% CBD and CBN. Candyland can be used to relieve tension and muscle spasms, as well as reduce pain. It has a stimulating effect that can also help with fatigue.
  • OG Kush (indica): It contains up to 23 percent THC, and approximately one percent CBD. Indica is a better choice to relieve pain and reduce muscle spasms.
  • ACDC (sativa).Sativa has high CBD and low THC. It can contain up to 24% CBD and about 1.2 percent THC. This allows you to be more productive during the day without experiencing psychoactive side effects.

What are the Side Effects of Marijuana Use for Back Pain?

Side effects can occur with medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is extremely effective in relieving pain. These side effects are usually mild and disappear once the treatment is over. It's important to be aware of their effects so that you can discuss them with your doctor. Every patient must be aware of the side effects of marijuana use for pain relief, whether it is back or other types. Most side effects are mild and disappear as the treatment continues. Talk with your doctor about side effects. These are some of the most common side effects:

  • Redness in the Eyes: Redness in the eyes is common. It isn't dangerous and can be treated with eye drops like Visine.
  • Memory loss in the short-term: This is a temporary side effect that will disappear as the treatment progresses. It may be more common in some patients than others.
  • Sensitivity increased: This side effect may affect the patient's hearing, sight, taste, and sense of smell.

If you are looking to get marijuana for back pain in the DC area visit our site today!