Medical marijuana for chronic pain relief could provide relief. From constant, life-altering pain in patients with chronic pain-related conditions. People suffering from acute pain conditions such as fibromyalgia or have pain associated with other diseases. Such as cancer, medicinal marijuana can enhance the quality of lives of patients by alleviating the cause of pain.
Medical marijuana is receiving widespread recognition by doctors in both Canada and the United States as an efficient pain control solution.
There are two significant pain groups. Pain can be either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).
What is Acute Pain?
- Acute pain is a serious or sudden pain that resolves itself over a period of time. If you have a disease, wound, or operation, you may experience severe pain.
With acute pain you usually understand precisely where and why it hurts. After a scratch, your arm hurts or you feel pain at specific area due too a fall. Acute pains aim is to warn you against injury and to try and protect you against further damage.
Chronic or recurrent pain is pain that persists for more than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment. Most people return to normal after an injury. But the pain sometimes continues or occurs without any injury.
- Chronic pain lasts for months or even years. Chronic pain is considered a health condition in itself.⠀
You may not know the cause for the discomfort with acute pain. An injury may have healed for instance, but the pain remains — and may become even more severe. Chronic pain can also occur without any sign of injury or disease.
How Does Marijuana Work to Help Chronic Pain
There are two types of g-linked cannabinoid receptors in your body, CB1, and CB2. Found primarily in both the central nervous system (CNS) and the immune system. Your body naturally generates a range of endocannabinoids to attach to these receptors. But when introduced into your body, THC, the main psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana, can also activate the CB1 and CB2 receptors.
When THC connects to CB1 receptors, it suppresses the natural cannabinoids of your body from having your endocannabinoid system (ECS) running on all cylinders. So when your ECS gets flooded with THC, the capacity of your cells to interact with each other changes the way you encounter inner and external activities.
By activating serotonin receptors, CBD-rich marijuana protects against the growth of chemotherapy-induced pain. CBD is also protective without impairing the chemotherapy drug’s efficacy in destroying the tumor, making it a very exciting prophylactic approach for people with chemotherapy.
How to Use Marijuana for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a qualifying medical disorder in many states now, permitting you to receive medical cannabis treatment.
By following the link to NORML you can see the most recent medical marijuana state enacted laws.
You may not be allowed to obtain cannabis, even in state with a legal medical cannabis program. Depending on the government legislation that describe your region. Before following a particular medical cannabis strategy, be sure to check the consumption methods allowed in your area.
Whenever possible many patients with acute or serious pain prefer smoking or vaporizing marijuana. This intake of absorption provides a faster effect in the body, and gives a speedy path to experience relaxation. If your therapy needs to be able to minimize pain quickly, consider discussing vaporizing marijuana with your doctor.
It is also possible to ingest cannabis through capsules, pills, tinctures and edibles. Consider using a topical such as an ointment or cream to treat localized pain. This will give you targeted pain relief is the exact area of your pain is.
