Does cannabis help people who suffer from chronic pain?

The evidence that shows cannabis may help people deal with daily pain from injuries and diseases.

If you’re alive, you’ve likely suffered pain. Whether it was a stubbed toe, a broken arm, or a serious disease, everyone has experienced some level of pain in their lives. It’s not pleasant. The most unfortunate amongst us suffer from pain nearly every day. This is known as chronic pain. Thankfully, some Chronic may be able to help.

A Common Type of Chronic Pain

One of the most prevalent types of pain is that which is caused by arthritis. It can be located in almost any joint and can show up at almost any moment.

Furthermore, more people have been showing signs of arthritis as time goes by. It’s getting worse.

In 2010, the CDC estimated that by 2030, 67 million Americans will be suffering from some type of arthritis.

Thankfully, Chronic may be able to help with chronic pain.

According to 2017 research that was published in The European Journal of Pain, even transdermal applications of cannabinoids may help. Their research showed that “topical CBD application has therapeutic potential for relief of arthritis pain-related behaviors and inflammation.”

Moreover, treatment in that fashion was effective “without evident side-effects.”

The authors of this research, Hammell et al., noted that cannabinoids may help people with arthritis in several ways.

They even concluded their paper by stating that CBD is one type of cannabinoid that offers “long-lasting therapeutic effects without psychoactive side-effects.”

A Less Common Type of Pain

Some people are even worse off than those who suffer from arthritis. Some people deal with intractable pain.

Intractable pain is difficult to control, ravenously persistent, and does not usually respond well to conventional pharmaceuticals.

Thankfully, cannabis may be able to help.

In 2017, researchers looked at the history of a cohort of Italian people who suffer from intractable pain and how they responded to cannabis. The research, which was published in the Journal of Pain Research, noted about cannabis, “from this initial snapshot, we determined that the treatment seems to be effective and safe.”

Moreover, research from 2008 had previously shown cannabis to produce analgesic effects for intractable pain. The results of that research, which we published in the journal, Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, predicted that “given their multi-modality effects upon various nociceptive pathways, their adjunctive side benefits, the efficacy and safety profiles to date of specific preparations in advanced clinical trials, and the complementary mechanisms and advantages of their combination with opioid therapy, the future for cannabinoid therapeutics appears very bright.”

How to Deal with Chronic Pain Using Cannabis

When dealing with severe, chronic pain, several dosing methods may be within the bounds of reason.

For example, tinctures and edibles might be a good way to start each morning and finish each evening. Their long-lasting, potent effects may help people over the course of the day.

However, there are also supplemental ways to dose, as well

For example, vaporizing or smoking throughout the day may help with flare-ups of overwhelming pain. Moreover, topicals may be useful for localized pain, especially that which manifests itself at the surface level.

Are you dealing with pain? Does cannabis help you? Please share your experience in the comments so others might benefit, as well!