Chronic pain (pain that lingers for more than three months) affects over 20 percent of Americans. Eight percent of those individuals suffer from high-impact symptoms, with 84 percent of those high-impact sufferers unable to work outside of their homes. Cannabidiol (CBD) may offer some relief from certain chronic pain issues.
If you struggle with a chronic pain condition and you seek either an alternative or a useful complement to prescription painkillers, you should look into CBD's potential to ease your symptoms and then ask your doctor's advice. The following four kinds of chronic pain conditions may respond well to the responsible use of CBD products.
1. Arthritis Pain
Arthritis covers a broad spectrum of different inflammatory and/or degenerative conditions that cause chronic joint pain, stiffness, and sometimes deformity. Many older individuals suffer from osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage within joints deteriorates. Many others contend with autoimmune issues such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Some arthritis sufferers claim to get relief from their symptoms through the use of CBD products. While the medical profession needs to conduct more research on this specific subject, studies conducted in 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2017 all found that CBD has the potential to reduce inflammation and arthritis pain.
2. Fibromyalgia Pain
The chronic syndrome known as fibromyalgia can create a debilitating combination of musculoskeletal aches and pains, as well as digestive upsets, insomnia, headaches, and fatigue. Some researchers suspect that this problem may occur due to deficiencies in the body's endocannabinoid system that reduce its ability to manage physiological functions.
An Italian study of fibromyalgia patients seems to indicate that treatment with a combination of CBD and THC can help to correct the imbalances caused by endocannabinoid deficiency. According to Project CBD, 47 percent of the study participants experienced enough relief to cut down on (or even stop taking) their pain medication.
3. Neuropathy Pain
Nerves relay both motor signals and sensations, including pain sensations, to various parts of the body. When a nerve experiences damage due to injury or disease, it may malfunction. This malfunction may produce symptoms of neuropathy, such as pain, numbness, and other unpleasant sensations, in the affected body part.
You might find that CBD products reduce your neuropathy symptoms. While you shouldn't expect them to repair the underlying nerve damage that causes the symptoms, you may experience a soothing or numbing effect on the area of the body served by the malfunctioning nerve.
You'll find a variety of topical creams and body oils aimed at relieving your discomfort through the skin. Other CBD products aim to ease neuropathic pain from within by supporting more normal nerve function. Examples include edible products such as gummies and CBD oil tinctures that you hold under your tongue before ingesting.
4. Migraine Pain
Migraines can cause agonizing headaches and other disabling symptoms which may linger for up to 72 hours at a time. Individuals who suffer from this condition may find that CBD, either by itself or in combination with THC products, may ease their pain or help them regain their quality of life.
A study conducted in 2017 showed that 200 milligrams or more of a CBD compound eased the intensity of migraine symptoms by 55 percent. (Lower doses had no effect.) In another phase of the same study, a 200-milligram combination of CBD and THC reduced the frequency of migraine attacks by over 40 percent.
If you and your doctor feel that CBD's effects on chronic pain might reward some first-hand investigation, New Leaf Organic Wellness can help you get started on that journey. Check out the many CBD tinctures, topical ointments, and other products featured in our online catalog.