With an estimated 50 million adults living with chronic pain, pain has become one of the most feared conditions. That’s not even considering the millions of others around the world who struggle with different types of pain: joint pain, chest pain, back pain, nerve pain, tissue damage and more can affect anyone person
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But whether the pain is acute or chronic, caused by a damaged joint or a long-term illness, it is nevertheless always unpleasant. When it persists for too long, it can rob anyone of their quality of life, making even the most mundane everyday tasks a serious challenge.
However, we cannot rely on pharmaceutical solutions to treat pain; the opioid epidemic has left thousands dead due to its deadly and addictive effects, while over-the-counter drugs also have their own side effects. Fortunately, several parts of the cannabis plant have been shown to be beneficial in treating pain.
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CBD vs. THC for pain
For many years, studies (and anecdotal evidence) on the effectiveness of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products have long been in the spotlight for their powerful pain-relieving properties. THC is perhaps best known as the psychoactive compound in the marijuana plant. Countless patients have been able to find relief from a variety of pain conditions thanks to THC which can be smoked, vaporized, eaten or used as an oil. But along with pain relief, patients also experience its psychoactive effects. While some don’t mind getting high as a way to medicate, there are those who simply prefer not to get high and have therefore shied away from using cannabis as a pain medication.
However, there are a growing number of studies showing that cannabidiol (CBD), the plant’s non-psychoactive compound, can work just as well as THC to treat pain. CBD will not get you high; in fact, it is relaxing but has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can treat pain at the root.
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What the studies say
One of the latest studies on the subject was conducted by researchers in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. They tested ORAVEXX, a CBD tablet, in patients after they had undergone minimally invasive rotator cuff surgery. The capsule is a buccal absorption tab conceptualized by Orcosa, Inc., a life sciences company.
“On the first day after surgery, patients who received CBD experienced an average of 23 percent less pain, as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score compared to patients who received placebo, highlighting that in patients with moderate pain, CBD can represent a significant benefit,” they wrote.
“On both the first and second day after surgery, patients who received CBD reported 22 to 25 percent greater satisfaction with pain control compared to those who received placebo. Further analysis also showed that patients receiving 50 mg of CBD reported less pain and greater satisfaction with pain control compared to patients receiving placebo. No significant side effects were reported,” the analysis says.
“There is an urgent need for viable alternatives for pain management, and our study presents this form of CBD as a promising tool after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair,” says Michael J. Alaia, MD, principal investigator of the study and associate professor of the Department. of Orthopedic Surgery. “It could be a new and inexpensive approach to pain relief without the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs and the addiction risks associated with opiates. In addition, CBD has the benefit of relieving pain without the side effects psychotropics associated with THC or THC. marijuana,” he said.
In 2021, a survey of patients undergoing spine surgery in New York found that 1 in 4 patients used CBD to help manage their symptoms. Forty-six percent of respondents said CBD was effective in reducing pain, while 33% said it helped with sleep problems and 20% reported it reduced anxiety. “This is the first study, to our knowledge, that examines consumption patterns and perceived effects of CBD in patients with spinal pathology,” the authors said. “This research demonstrates that CBD is a prevalent alternative therapy used by many patients with spine-related symptoms. As the popularity of the supplement is only expected to increase over time, spine surgeons should educate about the evidence behind the use of CBD, understand its legal status and be aware of the potential for mislabeling of ingredients,” they warned.
Also in 2021, a study found that CBD was effective in treating migraine pain. People who struggle with migraine pain have difficulty treating these conditions; often, the pain can be so intense that it causes vomiting and nausea, as well as increased sensitivity to light and sound.
The 2021 study involved sending a survey to customers using Axon Relief CBD oil, which is specifically designed to treat migraine pain. The clinically validated survey looked at the impact of headaches on participants’ daily lives, as well as their ability to function. Respondents were asked to complete the survey before and after consuming the CBD oil, which they took for 30 days. They reported 3.8 fewer headaches compared to the time before consuming Axon’s CBD oil, while those with chronic migraines experienced 33% fewer headaches.
conclusion
Pain patients now have more options than ever when it comes to treating acute and chronic pain conditions. Studies on cannabidiol are certainly promising to say the least and provide an excellent alternative for patients who do not want to get high while treating pain of many types.
