When you’re living with chronic pain and inflammation, it can seem like there are no options left in terms of treatments. Thankfully, medical marijuana may provide several useful benefits that may help with treatments for both conditions. Here’s why you should use medical marijuana to potentially help with chronic pain and inflammation.
Medical Marijuana for Chronic Pain & Inflammation
Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a plant-based drug that can be used in many ways. Medical marijuana refers to cannabis or its derivatives used as part of medical relief. The most common uses of medical marijuana are to potentially reduce nausea from chemotherapy treatments and treat chronic pain. Some less common potential uses include treating glaucoma, decreasing inflammation in patients with multiple sclerosis, and helping patients suffering from epilepsy. Some states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, but it is still considered illegal at a federal level.
Conditions That Could Benefit From Medicinal Marijuana
Many chronic pain sufferers have reported promising findings with medicinal marijuana support. Their conditions include Aids/HIV; Arthritis; Cancer/Tumors; Cluster headaches (including migraines); Crohn’s disease; Epilepsy and seizure disorders; Hepatitis C; Insomnia and sleep disorders including PTSD, insomnia, restlessness, narcolepsy, and other sleep problems.
A Gentler Option than Opioids
Opioids are highly addictive for some and may carry serious side effects, including nausea, fatigue, insomnia, constipation, and dependence. These side effects may make it difficult to maintain a normal life while taking opioids. The continuous use of opioids could lead to opioid addiction, where patients face serious withdrawal symptoms when they stop using them. On the other hand, medical marijuana potentially promotes relief from chronic pain.
Long-term use of these medications can cause major side effects. More patients are looking for a way to treat their pain and inflammation without putting themselves at risk of addiction. If you are suffering from chronic pain or inflammation, you should consider medical marijuana.
In addition to possibly offering relief from chronic pain, medical marijuana may also help with inflammation. While inflammation is usually treated with steroids and NSAIDs, both of these solutions have several side effects. Medical marijuana does not have the same serious side effects as other well-known pain options, making it a popular resource.
A Good Alternative for Pain & Inflammation
If you’re suffering from an inflammatory disease or have chronic pain, prescription drugs may help temporarily. However, long-term use can lead to addiction and serious side effects. These drugs also limit your options to manage your pain because they may interact with other medications.
The medicinal value of marijuana for medical purposes is still being explored. However, those living with chronic pain and inflammation may be able to take advantage of some of its benefits. If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic pain or inflammation, talk to your doctor about whether medical marijuana might be an option for you.
Contact us today to know more about how you can use medical marijuana to possibly support chronic pain and inflammation.