Important information about joint pain and medical marijuana

About 19% of people suffer from joint pain every day…but here's how medical marijuana can help.

About 19% suffer from joint pain or some form of arthritis. Not only is it painful, but it can also be disruptive to daily life. Some pain can be short-term, such as sprains, injuries, tendonitis or tendinitis, infections of the bones or joints, or overuse of a joint. However, some can be long-term problems with effects that patients like. Arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, bursitis, lupus, and others can be long-term pain problems. There is hope, and cannabis could be hope. Here is important information about joint pain and medical marijuana.

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One study concluded that about 20% of patients with rheumatic diseases who actively use cannabis report relief from their pain. Cannabis contains important components that reduce inflammation. More research needs to be done to perfect the treatment and dosage, but early signs suggest it will help. Another current benefit of medical marijuana or CBD for joint pain is that it helps with sleep, which is a problem for people with chronic pain.

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Medical marijuana can also be gentler on the body in the right dose. It has long been used as a natural painkiller, is less addictive and the body reacts positively. Currently used, oCortisone injections are a staple in pain and inflammation therapy. However, new research shows the long-term effects of one of the most commonly used treatments. Doctors and researchers are now concerned about the risks of the injections and the potential risks of cortisone.

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A Study by Boston University Patients who received the drug by injection were at risk for “accelerated post-treatment joint side effects.” This means that joint destruction and bone loss could be accelerated in patients who were treated with a cortisone injection for osteoarthritis or other joint pain.The study also found that certain pre-existing conditions, such as older age and white race, appeared to further increase the risk of the outcome. The researchers recommended a pre-MRI scan before administering injections to better identify the area and find out if the risk could be accurately assessed before administering the dose.

Not only medical marijuana can be helpful, but also CBD. The Arthritis Foundation has a Guide to CBD for those suffering from this condition. According to Dr. Daniel Clauw, a contributor to the guide, “It (CBD) seems to be quite safe at this point and could help with certain types of pain.”

Although CBD and THC can be used as part of a pain management regimen, they are not currently the sole solution. Studies like the one on cortisone treatments are shedding more light on the cannabis and CBD debate and reducing stigma, but until more research is done, the best treatment for joint pain is still unknown.