Chronic pain sufferers often experience a low quality of life, because their pain restricts what they can do. Pain such as this can occur from a wide variety of causes, including arthritis, injuries, surgery, genetic disorders and several other medical conditions. Rather than relying on addictive and potentially dangerous opioids, it is hoped that CBD can provide an alternative and effective method of pain relief.
How does CBD work?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid that’s found in cannabis. Unlike smoking cannabis, however, CBD doesn’t give you a feeling of euphoria or impair you because it contains no THC. In terms of pain relief, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system which all humans have. This system includes receptors, which are tiny proteins attached to your cells. They receive signals from other transmitters to help your body respond.
CBD and pain relief
CBD interacts with the receptors and transmitters in your endocannabinoid system, altering the way your body responds. Some of these effects include reducing inflammation and relieving pain. Interestingly, the benefits of CBD for pain management have been known for some time. A study was conducted between 1975 and 2018, dealing with all types of pain including cancer pain, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. The results found that CBD was overall effective in managing pain and presented no negative side effects.
Arthritis pain
Many people suffer from arthritis pain, and there is hope that CBD can provide some relief. More studies with humans are required, but an interesting study took place in 2016 involving rats with arthritis. The rats were given 4 different doses of CBD – 0.6mg, 3.1mg, 6.2mg and 62.3mg.
The rats who received 0.6 and 3.1mg doses showed no real improvement, however, those receiving 6.2mg did show reduced pain and swelling. The higher dose of 62.3mg showed no additional improvement, proving that it’s not always necessary to take large doses.
Reducing the risk of opioid addiction
One of the biggest concerns for sufferers of chronic pain is the potential addiction to opioids and other painkillers. When pain is chronic, it doesn’t disappear quickly, which means patients often become very reliant on painkillers to treat their pain. These psychoactive drugs can be extremely addictive and hard to get off after using them for a prolonged period.
In addition, patients can develop a level of immunity with the regular use of opioids, meaning they need higher and more regular doses to achieve the desired results. It’s a vicious cycle that is best avoided. CBD oil offers a more natural alternative. If your pain can be managed with CBD, you won’s experience the addiction risks that other medications may present.
Always consult a doctor first
Sufferers of chronic pain will no doubt already be seeking medical treatment. As such, it’s worth checking with your doctor before trying CBD. Studies have repeatedly shown that CBD can be an effective form of pain relief, however, it can react negatively with certain other medications. Depending on the types of medication you already take, your doctor is best placed to recommend a safe way for you to try CBD.
