Marijuana and Body Pain
A once-controversial topic is becoming less taboo. With marijuana recently getting legalized in New Jersey and New York, it’s only a matter of time before legal marijuana comes to a store near you. Before recreational legalization, a medical marijuana card was a legal requirement to use marijuana medicinally. Some of the reasons people use marijuana medicinally are body pain, arthritis, headaches, depression, anxiety, seizures, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and many other conditions.
With the opioid epidemic in the country still being such a significant issue in the USA, some people have turned to medical marijuana in place of pain killers. Could that lead to other problems since it would be replacing one issue with another? A study conducted by Harvard found that patients who have access to medical marijuana reduced opioid prescriptions. If you’re interested in seeing a visual of the opioid epidemic in the United States, click here to view an interactive map. While this isn’t a cure to the opioid problem and doesn’t conclude whether access to marijuana decreased the use of opioids, this is terrific news as it offers a promising outlook.
What’s the difference between CBD and THC?
You may have heard of CBD products and wondered what the differences between CBD and THC are. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that helps with pain relief and anxiety but doesn’t cause THC’s high feeling. While CBD does contain trace amounts of THC, it will not cause that feeling of being high. Both THC and CBD are derived from the cannabis plant, but they cause different reactions.
CBD is used to help various conditions such as:
- Seizures
- Pain
- Migraine
- Inflammation
- Depression
- Anxiety
THC can help some of these conditions:
- Pain
- Muscle spasms
- Glaucoma
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Low appetite
So there are benefits to both CBD and THC depending on what you are trying to treat. There is also overlap between some of the conditions they treat, so if one does not help you, you can always try another.
While CBD and THC are both relatively safe, there can minor side effects from both them.
Side Effects of CBD:
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Change in appetite
- Dizziness
Side Effects of THC:
- Anxiety
- Red eyes
- Dry mouth
- Delayed response time
- Increased heart rate
Thankfully, neither CBD nor THC is fatal; however, there have been findings of THC harming the brain development of adolescents, but none of these findings have been conclusive to date. Psychological dependency can also be a long-term side effect of marijuana.
How can Marijuana Help with Pain?
While we may have heard of cannabis helping with pain relief, some may not know why it helps with pain relief. The THC in marijuana helps with pain temporarily by interacting with the body’s natural cannabinoid receptors and reducing pain signaling and pain perception. Chronic pain suffers from conditions like arthritis can benefit from marijuana because it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help minimize swelling.
How do you use marijuana for pain?
There are many (and creative!) ways to use marijuana for pain relief. However you choose to use it, it is a personal choice. You can ingest it in edible form, smoke, vape, and apply it topically on the skin where you are feeling pain.
The Takeaway:
While marijuana is a safer alternative to drugs, it does still have side effects. Talk to your doctor or find a doctor registered with the NJ medical marijuana program to discuss if medical marijuana is a good fit for you. Remember, using medical marijuana is a personal choice and may not be right for everybody. If you are apprehensive about using it for your pain, it may not be the best fit for you, but if you are curious, speak to a doctor today.
Medical Marijuana and Physical Therapy
While marijuana can help with pain, it is a temporary relief, just like most medications you can take. While it is often considered a safer alternative to drugs, the relief doesn’t last longterm. Physical therapy has been found to treat pain long-term effectively and is a safe, natural treatment. With physical therapy slowly becoming known as the opioid killer, more doctors refer their patients to do physical therapy instead of being so quick to prescribe harder drugs such as opioids.
Are you are looking for a way to heal naturally but have found you need something in addition to marijuana or medications for your pain relief? In that case, physical therapy is perfect for you. With physical therapy, you will learn how to heal naturally without medications, injections, and surgery. Physical therapy will help you get stronger and help minimize the pain you are feeling at the same time!
Call our office today to schedule your initial evaluation if you are ready to try physical therapy by calling (973) 400-3730. Our initial evaluation is 1 hour long, and we will test your range of motion, strength, balance, mobility, and you will do some exercises customized to your needs. After that, we will create a plan of care for you and get you on your way to getting back to your normal again!
Not sure if you are ready for physical therapy?
No worries! Physical therapy is a commitment and takes time, so if you aren’t sure if PT is for you, schedule a complimentary, 30-minute physical therapy session today. Schedule your complimentary session by calling 973-799-3314 or by clicking here. This offer is eligible to new patients only.