Cannabis is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional pain relievers, including opioids. Cannabis may help with several types of persistent pain, including that caused by nerve damage and inflammation.
Chronic pain is now more common than cancer, heart disease, or diabetes combined. Chronic pain is the most frequent reason of long-term disability in the United States. The majority of cannabis-based medicines sold on the market today do not have FDA approval, and further testing is required to assess their safety and efficacy.
However, anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis or its components may help with certain types of pain. Cannabis is available in a variety of forms, and each has its own set of effects.
We’ll go through the top cannabis strains for chronic pain relief in this post.
How Is Medical Marijuana an Effective Treatment for Back Pain?
Cannabis can be a viable option in the treatment of chronic pain. It is becoming more popular as a therapy for those with chronic back discomfort. Conventional medicines, for example, might produce a slew of adverse effects including nausea, stomach upset, ulcers, and gastric bleeding. Medical marijuana does not cause the same negative side effects as traditional treatments. With medical marijuana’s assistance, these are some methods to manage back pain:
- It may reduce your pain to a level where you can live an active life
- It may allow you to be free from potentially dangerous and addictive medications, while having an overall better quality of life.
- Chronic back pain can cause depression, insomnia and anxiety. Medical marijuana can eliminate or reduce many of these symptoms.
- It is natural substance from plant, without chemicals,.
During a study done at the University of Colorado, researchers analyzed 200 people with back discomfort. Degenerative changes were to blame for the agony. Medical marijuana was found to aid in the reduction of pain by 89% of patients. It worked better than narcotic medications, according to 81% of consumers. During the research, medical marijuana was consumed once or twice a day by the participants.
What Type of Back Pain Symptoms Are Treated by Medical Marijuana?
Back discomfort may manifest itself in a variety of ways, and medical cannabis has been found to help treat several. The following are some of the back pain symptoms that medical marijuana can alleviate:
1. Pain and Muscle Spasms
Marijuana can help with muscular spasms. Inhalation has been shown to reduce pain intensity by 45% within 20 minutes in at least one study. It’s also useful for treating back spasms. Medical marijuana is allowed in several states for muscle spasms. Medical marijuana is authorized in the state of Pennsylvania for the following conditions:
- Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin
- Severe chronic or intractable pain
2. Nausea and Vomiting
One of the advantages of using marijuana is that it can help with nausea and vomiting. Opioids and other pain medications are used to treat back pain and chronic illnesses. Nausea and vomiting are the side effects of these medicines. Because marijuana alleviates both nausea and discomfort, many patients choose it over other medications. Furthermore, chronic pain can cause sadness. Medical marijuana, on the other hand , has been proven to reduce depression as well as improve sleep quality.
Medical marijuana has been used for decades to treat nausea and vomiting. Marijuana has been utilized by cancer patients for many years to increase appetite and as an antiemetic, reducing chemotherapy side effects.
3. Inflammation
Marijuana has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. It’s a natural remedy for arthritis and other degenerative disorders of the lumbar, cervical, or thoracic spine. Degenerative changes in the spine are the most common cause of back or neck pain. Due to inflammation, many patients choose marijuana as an analgesic rather than prescription drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen.
Ways to Use Medical Marijuana for Back Pain
Marijuana may be taken through the skin or consumed. Marijuana can be used topically or internally, and some of the most effective methods include:
- Inhaling: This involves smoking or vaporizing cannabis. The effect is felt most quickly, in around 1-2 minutes.
- Through juicing, you may consume marijuana as a dietary supplement. This will reduce pain without causing any kind of psychotropic effect.
- Tinctures are usually put under the tongue and swallowed. This leads to a faster impact since it is absorbed via the mucous membranes.
- Edibles: Because ingestion must pass through the digestive tract, edibles take longer to act. However, due to their delayed onset and stronger psychotropic effects, they may provide better relief and last longer in terms of soothing. The effect may take up to an hour before one feels it.
- Topicals: Topical cannabis has a different impact. The effect is limited to the afflicted region. Depending on the goal, one may increase the amount used.
Strains of Marijuana Used for Back Pain
Marijuana has a variety of strains, and they worked differently for various people based on their symptoms. The use of THC-rich plants appears to help with pain relief while CBD works best with inflammation reduction. Heavy THC, on the other hand, induces more psychoactive side effects. During the day, patients may want to utilize a low THC/high CBD combination to remain more functional, but at night, they should use a high THC/low CBD combination to get a better sleep.
A New Choice for Managing Chronic Back Pain
Back pain can be debilitating. Opiate drugs that doctors currently give to deal with it are ineffective, causing addiction in some people. However, there is now a new option for treating back pain in 33 states. Patients using medical marijuana may effectively treat chronic back discomfort without resorting to harmful pharmaceuticals and frequently free themselves from dangerous medications.
Everyone’s body reacts to cannabis in a unique way, which can make it difficult to determine the best strain for your back pain. We have some leads on which cannabis strains are most effective for treating back discomfort as a result of scientific research and anecdotal evidence.
Radicular (often known as sciatica) is the condition that involves pain caused by compression or irritation of the spinal nerves. Back discomfort that radiates from your back can stop you in your tracks and make it difficult to enjoy life.
Fortunately, a few medical cannabis strains provide relief from chronic back pain. Here are some of the most effective pain-relieving strains:
Northern Lights
The purest and most popular indica strain is Northern Lights (95 percent indica). The Afghani and Thai strains were crossed to produce the 95 percent indican strain.
The major terpene profile is made up of monocyclic and dicyclic terpenes (myrcenes, ocimenes, and pinenes), as well as caryophyllene. Terpenes are aromatic substances that contribute to the unique flavor of cannabis strains. Certain terpenes, for example, may make you feel sleepy while others might help you concentrate.
The THC content of the Northern Lights is high, so it relaxes the body and induces a mental boost. The “couch lock” on this strain is very apparent. (Evidence: I’ve spent many nights meditating while watching YouTube with my cats while getting stoned.)
Northern Lights won a slew of Cannabis Cup honors in the 1980s and 1990s. It established itself as a household name as a result. Patients return to the Northern Lights strain time and again for its full-body relaxing properties, which make it perfect for treating chronic back pain.
ACDC
Cannatonic and an unknown Ruderalis strain don’t make you high. Many patients, on the other hand, report that high CBD/low THC medications provide them with immediate relaxation, a sense of wellbeing, and a mild tingling sensation.
Users who have used ACDC claim that it generates a sense of well-being and sociability as a sativa. It’s a laid-back yet uplifting high. The ACDC strain is known for treating chronic stress or anxiety, arthritis, depression, neuropathy, and headaches.
BlackJack
Hybrids are popular with patients because they offer a pleasant middle ground, with indicas being known for their pain-relieving effects and sativas recognized for their heady highs. Many sufferers claim that hybrid strains provide a good balance between relief and focus. BlackJack is one of the greatest hybrid strains patients have found to help with back pain while still allowing them to concentrate. BlackJack is a heavily sativa-leaning mix derived from Black Domina and Jack Herer. Shiva Skunk is crossed with Haze and Northern Lights #5 to create Jack Herer. Perhaps the Northern Lights has something to do with BlackJack’s magical pain-killing combination?
The Blackjack strain’s terpene profile is composed mostly of terpinolene. It has a somewhat piney scent and flavor. The flowers are big and thick, with trichome-encrusted calyxes. The effects of the BlackJack strain are long-lasting. It makes it an excellent choice for hectic days when getting high on medicine isn’t the first thing on one’s mind.
Finding the Right Strain For You
Given the numerous types and methods of consumption, finding what sort of cannabis works best for you might be difficult. Supply and demand is also a factor to consider. If you discover a strain that you enjoy, it’s possible that it won’t be available the next time you visit the dispensary. Users with significant back pain who can’t find a strain or method that works for them might become frustrated and return to pharmaceuticals. If you’re having trouble deciding or locating a specific type, check with your doctor or budtender at the dispensary for suggestions on strains that may be ideal for you.
Do you want to see if using medical marijuana can help with chronic back pain? If you don’t have a doctor’s recommendation, contact one of our reputable doctors right now to schedule your medical marijuana evaluation.
What are Side Effects of Marijuana for Back Pain
Medical cannabis is highly effective in treating back pain, although there is the possibility of side effects. They are usually minor and subside after your therapy has ended. In any case, it’s helpful to understand what they are so you can talk with your doctor about them. There are a few side effects that each patient should be aware of when taking marijuana for back pain or other types of discomfort. The following are some of the possible adverse effects associated with marijuana use for back pain: Some of the common side effects are as follows:
- Redness of Eyes: Redness of the eyes is a typical side effect. Eyesight problems are uncommon. People who have drowsy driving can develop vision loss if they drive while feeling sleepy. This, however, is not dangerous and may be treated with eye drops such as Visine.
- Short-term memory loss: This is a transient side effect that disappears as the therapy wears off. Some patients are more vulnerable than others.
- Heightened sensory perception: A second negative consequence of naloxone is that it can cause an adverse response in a patient’s site, hearing, sense of taste and smell.
- Fatigue: Some people report feelings of nausea when smoking highly psychoactive cannabis. The “dissociative response,” as it’s known, is a mild feeling that can be avoided by combining high-THC strains with low-THC varieties.