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Chronic pain can severely disrupt your daily life. It is one of the most common causes of disability in the United States and if untreated, can keep you from working and performing even basic tasks. Preliminary research, along with anecdotal evidence, have discovered that medical marijuana can help relieve pain. With the help of a knowledgeable physician prescribing this treatment, here’s how you can take control of your condition.

Medical Marijuana & Chronic Pain

How It Works

Early studies on using cannabinoids—otherwise known as the compounds THC and CBD that are found in marijuana—for medicinal purposes show considerable promise for those with chronic pain. Researchers have discovered that peripheral nerves, which detect pain, have ample receptors for these cannabis compounds. A 2015 review also noted that marijuana might even be useful for treating nerve pain, which narcotics cannot relieve.

medical marijuanaIn early experiments, researchers have discovered that cannabinoids block peripheral nerve pain in experimental animals. When a body ingests THC or CBD, the compound stimulates these cannabis receptors and tells the brain to reduce pain levels. THC will offer a psychoactive effect commonly known as a “high,” while CBD will only provide pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties without the elevated state of mind.

The Complicating Factors Affecting FDA Approval

The ethical and logistical complications of applying chronic pain research to humans, however, are significant obstacles in the medical examination of this supposed pain reliever. The variety of strains of marijuana, as well as the unreliability for quality of each dose, are other factors that affect its credibility, which is why the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve cannabinoids for pain relief.

They are heading in the direction of using cannabinoids in approved medications, though, as more studies look into the effects of specific dosages and methods. Currently, the only FDA-approved medicinal use for marijuana is called Epidiolex, a treatment for severe forms of epilepsy that other drugs are unable to control.

Uses of Medical Marijuana 

Pain Relief From Marijuana vs. Opioids

One of the biggest draws to continued research on cannabinoids for pain relief is using it as an alternative to opiates. This potent medication that relieves severe pain has powerful side effects, including nausea, sedation, and withdrawal symptoms if you take them for an extended period of time. Opioids are best used in short-term situations, such as recovery from surgery, but can have addictive properties on a long-term scale.

medical marijuanaMedical marijuana can come into play if you have chronic pain because it suppresses pain through a different mechanism than opiates. Early studies suggest that cannabinoids could even work in conjunction with opioids to increase pain relief and limit side effects, slowly decreasing dependence on the highly addictive medication. A recent survey of 3,000 medical cannabis users even found that an overwhelming 97% agreed or strongly agreed that marijuana helped them decrease their opioid usage.

Cannabis & Migraines

Chronic migraines are another debilitating condition that disrupt your life. An episode can cause severe headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and even temporary loss of vision called an “aura.” When you have more than 10 migraine days a month, medications like sumatriptan come into play, but taking it essentially puts you to sleep until the symptoms pass. Plus, it’s only proven effective for one in four patients.

In an effort to find a solution that allows you to be productive while treating these symptoms, some studies have turned to medical marijuana. A possible link between migraines and cannabinoids takes root in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) region of the brain. The PAG region is where research suggests this chronic pain arises, and it also contains an abundant amount of cannabinoid receptors. While more research is needed to establish the exact connection between these two phenomena in this part of the brain, a 2016 study reported that patients saw a decrease in migraine days a month from an average of 10.4 days to just 4.6 when using medical marijuana.

 

When your chronic pain is hard to control, you need a trusted primary care doctor to help you manage your symptoms. In Albany, NY, residents turn to the father-daughter team at Urgent Primary Care to find a solution for their health problems. As a practice that believes in the benefits of medical marijuana, they can use their experience and knowledge of internal medicine—as well as this form of pain relief—to create a regimen that allows you to pursue a productive lifestyle through management of your chronic pain. For more information about their full range of family medical care services, give them a call today at https://live-core-image-service.vivialplatform.net/images/200938/orig/s.4xpmpPRrs6.gif(518) 470-3458 or visit their website.

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