How Effective is CBD in Treating Chronic Pain?
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been touted as a miracle drug for pain relief. With increasing states passing laws legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational use, more people are starting to use and experiment with cannabis products. However, research has found that CBD is not as effective in treating chronic pain as previously thought, especially in older adults.
Benefits and pain relief
Being in pain is living in a constant state of turmoil, and for millions of men and women, chronic pain is their reality. While many people turn to prescription medications for relief, others are turning to CBD oil for pain relief and finding significant improvements.
CBD oil offers a wide variety of potential benefits beyond being “the” natural pain relief supplement. CBD has shown to be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and an array of other disorders. And that is not all; CBD has been found to treat cancer, diabetes, eczema, and more. What is more, its anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties make it a powerful supplement to take before a work meeting or a night out.
Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is pain caused by damage to the nervous system, whether it is from an injury, a car accident, a surgical procedure, or something else. While initially, people who experience neuropathic pain might feel some relief from pain killer medications, over time, the doses of medication required to keep pain at a manageable level can become intolerable.
Although our nervous system feels all pain, some pain is considered neuropathic pain, which is defined as pain that is not caused by inflammation, tumors, or infection. Neuropathic pain can be severe and usually occurs in parts of the body responsible for movements, such as the brain or spine, or in the extremities.
Arthritis pain
Arthritis is a painful condition that impacts millions of people around the world. It generally occurs when the joints wear and tear, leading to inflammation. Arthritis pain can also be caused by injury, infection, or other conditions. Arthritis can lead to stiffness, swelling, and pain in the affected joint. It can affect any joint in your body, including your fingers, toes, wrists, knees, hips, ankles, and spine. Depending on where the condition occurs, arthritis pain can be mild or severe.
Arthritis pain is caused by inflammation of the articular cartilage or synovial membrane. The specific joint affected determines what type of pain is experienced. Most commonly, arthritis pain occurs in the knees, wrists, and hips. However, arthritis pain can strike any joint in the body. The severity of arthritis pain ranges from mild to severe and can affect your ability to perform daily activities. There currently is no cure for arthritis pain, but there are treatments that can reduce the severity of pain and, in some cases, alleviate pain altogether.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory condition that affects the brain and central nervous system. It is caused by damage to the insulating covers on nerve fibers, called myelin. Myelin provides a protective sheath around nerve fibers that helps them send electrical signals quickly, but in multiple sclerosis, myelin is destroyed. This causes the nerve fibers to malfunction, which can affect a wide range of functions. Symptoms often include:
- Loss of muscle control.
- Numbness or tingling sensations.
- Pain.
- Problems with vision or speech.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that inflames and scars the brain and spinal cord, thereby causing multiple symptoms that can vary widely from person to person. The disease is more prevalent among young white women but can affect anyone.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts for three months or more. It can be excruciating at times, and other times it may feel like something more minor. Chronic pain can be debilitating and can make it difficult to carry out everyday activities.
Chronic pain is different from acute pain, which is pain that is felt shortly after an injury has occurred and goes away after a few days or a couple of weeks. Chronic pain can be widespread, affecting many body systems simultaneously. The pain can also be constant, or it can be on and off. Some people also experience numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness with chronic pain.
CBD has been shown to have analgesic effects; however, those effects are usually felt anywhere from 15-30 minutes. The effects last anywhere from a few hours to an entire day. CBD may also be effective in treating other medical conditions, such as stress, arthritis, migraines, and inflammation.