What is Arthritis?
Arthritis means swelling and inflammation of a joint. The symptoms associated of arthritis are stiffness and pain in the surrounding tissues and the joint. There are two types of arthritis that have different causes and different symptoms, which also need different treatments.
The most common type of arthritis is the Osteoarthritis. It affects more than 30 million U.S adults. It is the usual form of disease in which the protective cartilage of the bones slowly whittles away. A wear and tear situation.
The second type is the Rheumatoid arthritis. It affects 1.3 million people in the U.S. Unlike the Osteoarthritis, this is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system misfires and attacks the joints. It generally affects women, more often than men, with ages between 30 and 50.
Treatments will depend on what type of arthritis you have. These might include prescription medicines, physical therapy, changes in diet and lifestyle, and in the worst case, surgery.
Cannabis and Arthritis Pain Relief
In a Gallup poll in August 2019, 14% of Americans use cannabis products for pain. No wonder marijuana delivery is common around the states where marijuana is legal.
The Arthritis Foundation conducted its own poll and supported the use of cannabidiol from the cannabis plant to relieve arthritis pain, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety. They found that nearly 80% of the respondents either used cannabis, had used cannabis in the past, or were considering using cannabis in the future. Though there is “no rigorous clinical human studies”, the foundation urged FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to study and regulate CBD products for arthritis.
Several studies (mostly animals) have conducted on how CBD can help relieve the inflammatory pain associated with arthritis. These are the following:
1. CBD can be a safe and useful treatment option for osteoarthritis' debilitating joint pain, according to a 2017 study.
2. The topical application of CBD can help relieve pain and inflammation, according to a 2016 study.
3. An anecdotal evidence of animals with osteoarthritis shows that CBD can be an effective treatment, according to a 2014 study.
4. CBD helped reduce inflammation pain in rats by targeting pain receptors, according to a 2011 study.
5. A May 2014 study by the Arthritis Care & Research concluded that the risk/benefit of marijuana “is inferior to all other analgesic classes other than opioids.”
6. In the September-October 2009 issue of the Journal of Opioid Management, “80 percent of medical marijuana users in a U.S. pain clinic were using cannabis to treat myofascial pain.” This is a pain that affects tissues and muscles. In Canada, 65 percent arthritis patients use marijuana to treat severe pain.
Although these findings are encouraging, it still needs conclusive evidence and more scientific research between CBD and arthritis.
Jahan Marcu, PhD, chief scientific officer of Americans for Safe Access, an organization that aims to ensure legal and safe access of marijuana for therapeutic research, advocates that “Chronic pain is a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, and when it comes to chronic pain, we have 9,000 patient years of data showing that THC effectively treats it. Cannabinoids stop the transmission of pain and decrease inflammation, and that’s very important for people with joint issues.”
A cannabis-based mouth spray named Sativex is found to help ease arthritis pain, according to a study in 2006. However, the spray contains both CBD and psychoactive substance THC.
CBD Usage and Some Guidelines
There are many ways to ingest CBD into the body. It is in the form of an oil, topical cream, gel, oral spray or capsule. It is important to talk to your doctor before using any treatments. Should you decide to use CBD for your arthritis pain, educate yourself on the local laws about cannabis. Marijuana is legal in 33 states in the United States. You can contact local dispensaries and weed delivery in Santa Barbara service for your cannabis needs. However, the effectiveness of treatment also varies from person to person. It is vital to determine the right balance of CBD and other medications. It may take some time to find the right combination of different cannabis strains in different proportions to help you with your symptoms.
Below are the do’s and don’ts recommended by the Arthritis Foundation when considering marijuana for chronic arthritis pain:
Dos:
Choose a CBD product that has been independently tested for purity, potency and safety. A good example is to find a “Good Manufacturing Practices” or GMP certification.
CBD should be a part of an overall pain management plan. This should include non medication option such as exercise, diet, and therapy.
Start with a low dose in the evening, preferably oral treatment.
Establish treatment goals realistically.
Always consult your doctor about your planned CBD treatment options.
Monitor your pain results and medications.
Don’ts:
Don’t make CBD your first choice of treatment. It is good to consider other treatments then turn to CBD if others are not effective enough.
Pain management should be between you and your health practitioner. Do not rely on non medical practitioners such as CBD sellers to recommend you on pain medications.
Do not stop prescribed medications given by your doctor unless otherwise discussed.
What are the Downsides?
There are downsides, as with any other treatments. In general, CBD is considered safe, but it can still cause light-headedness, dry mouth and sleepiness. Owing to its unregulated industry, there may be uncertainties on the potency and purity of CBD. Patients and users’ due diligence is required. It is also not advisable for pregnant women.
Summary
Although the evidence of human research is limited, the researches have achieved promising results. Researchers believe that marijuana in the form of CBD oil and topical, promises treatment for arthritis pain by affecting receptors in the brain and immune system. It is also a great help in reducing inflammation and chronic pain. Currently we may not have all the evidence we want, but if CBD can safely and effectively improve the chronic symptoms of arthritis, then order weed delivery in Los Angeles and it will be worth it.
