The use of medical marijuana for the treatment of arthritis has been a topic of debate for many years. While there is still much research to be done in this area, there are some potential benefits that have been identified. This article will delve into some of the potential ways in which medical marijuana can be used to treat arthritis and the potential health benefits that can be achieved. We will also look into the risks associated with the use of medical marijuana and the current regulations in place to protect patients. Finally, we’ll discuss the potential future of medical marijuana in the treatment of arthritis.
What evidence is there that medical marijuana can help relieve pain associated with arthritis?
There is a growing body of evidence that medical marijuana can be an effective treatment for arthritis-associated pain. A study conducted in 2016 found that medical marijuana was associated with a significant decrease in pain and an improvement in the quality of life among those with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, a 2017 study found that medical marijuana was associated with a decrease in opioid use among those with arthritis-related pain. These findings suggest that medical marijuana may be an effective treatment for arthritis-associated pain.
What are the long-term effects of using CBD to treat arthritis?
The long-term effects of using CBD to treat arthritis are not yet fully understood. However, studies have shown that CBD can reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis, as well as improve joint mobility. It has also been shown to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety. With continued use, CBD may help to reduce the progression of arthritis in some patients.
Are there any potential side effects of using CBD to treat arthritis?
Yes, there are potential side effects of using CBD to treat arthritis. These side effects may include drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, fatigue, decreased appetite, and diarrhea. It is important to speak with a doctor before taking CBD to treat arthritis, as it can interact with other medications and cause serious side effects.
How do CBD products compare to traditional treatments for arthritis symptoms?
Medical marijuana, including CBD products, is increasingly being studied for its potential to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Research has found that CBD products may help reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness associated with arthritis. However, these studies are still in their early stages, and more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of these treatments. Traditional treatments for arthritis symptoms, such as physical therapy, medications, and lifestyle modifications, may be more effective for the treatment of arthritis symptoms than medical marijuana and CBD products.
Cannabis has been used for millennia to treat a multitude of medical conditions including chronic pain. Osteoarthritis OA pain is one of the most common types of pain and patients often turn to medical cannabis to manage their symptoms. While the majority of these reports are anecdotal, there is a growing body of scientific evidence which supports the analgesic potential of cannabinoids to treat OA pain. OA pain manifests as a combination of inflammatory, nociceptive, and neuropathic pain, each requiring modality-specific analgesics. The bodys innate endocannabinoid system ECS has been shown to ameliorate all of these pain subtypes. This review summarizes the components of the ECS and details the latest research pertaining to plant-based and man-made cannabinoids for the treatment of OA pain. Recent pre-clinical evidence supporting a role for the ECS to control OA pain is described as well as current clinical evidence of the efficacy of cannabinoids for treating OA pain in mixed patient populations. Abstract Cannabis has been used for millennia to treat a multitude of medical conditions including chronic pain. Publication types Research Support, Non-U. Govt Review.
Doctors and patients need high-quality studies specific to rheumatic disease, research finds. People are increasingly knowledgeable about its options, such as edibles and indica versus sativa two of its strains. And those with rheumatoid arthritis RA and other rheumatic diseases are eager to try it. Yet what is scientifically known about the medical use of cannabis products for rheumatic conditions can fit on a pinhead. The article was published online April 29, , in Current Rheumatology Reports. Benjamin Nowell, PhD , the director of patient-centered research at the online arthritis community CreakyJoints and a lead author of the review. Understanding the medicinal effects of cannabis is an important topic, Dr. The fact that people with RA are extremely interested in cannabis was documented by CreakyJoints several years ago, when its patient-centered ArthritisPower Research Registry, where Nowell is a principal investigator, queried people online. A key reason for their use to address symptoms, especially pain, that were not resolved with other medications. Some 18 percent of respondents who used cannabis said they did so because nothing else they tried had worked. With the growing interest from people living with ankylosing spondylitis AS , psoriatic arthritis PsA , and other inflammatory conditions, rheumatologists are often asked to provide guidance on cannabis use, Nowell says. Yet doctors cannot provide comprehensive guidance because sufficient high-quality research on cannabis for pain, and particularly for people with a rheumatic condition, has not been done, the review article found. A major reason for the paltry research is that cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, even though many states have given it the green light. This makes it difficult for researchers to get funding and approval for studies, and to get consistent, high-quality cannabis to use in research, Nowell says. The review article examined research done on cannabis for rheumatoid conditions or for symptoms like pain experienced by many people with the condition. It found laboratory studies documenting that cannabinoids reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and animal studies in mice showing reduced pain responses and inflammation from cannabis products. But there was only one randomized clinical trial considered the highest quality evidence in medicine and it was small, with just 31 people with RA randomized to the medicinal cannabis and 27 to the placebo group. Nonetheless, the study did find that cannabis produced statistically significant improvements in pain during movement and during rest and on quality of sleep, although not on pain intensity and stiffness. The good news is that several, albeit small, studies are currently being planned, according to the federal website ClinicalTrials. One study has already started recruiting patients and another, testing CBD, has not yet begun. Some published studies have looked at the patient experience, although they are not randomized controlled trials. For example, Israeli researchers reported in Pain Research and Management in September that of some people visiting an outpatient rheumatology clinic who use medical cannabis, the majority reported significant improvements to pain levels and sleep with those taking the highest dosage, 36 grams, reducing pain the most, at 83 percent. And a look at one group of 40 people with pain from osteoarthritis , not RA, found their opioid use declined after they started using medical cannabis, researchers reported in Cureus in January Another survey of cannabis use in people with chronic inflammatory arthritis psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or RA has been completed, although results are not yet available.