The Medical Marijuana doctor at Care Wellness Center in Margate is now seeing patients to qualify them for recommendations to obtain medical marijuana at any of the state’s certified dispensaries. The good news is that chronic pain is one of the qualifying conditions to obtain this recommendation.
The perks of using medical marijuana as treatment for chronic pain
The normal kind of pain we experience when we hurt ourselves is acute pain that simply tells us to make things right. Chronic pain on the other hand does not go away as fast. Pain is said to be chronic if it goes on for 12 weeks or more. Since there is no set diagnosis for such pain, doctors depend on the patient’s description of their feeling. The doctor diagnoses such pain if it has been going on for three to six weeks.
What causes chronic pain?
Past injuries or illnesses can cause chronic pain. Other causes of such pain include surgeries you’ve had in the past, arthritis, infections, nerve damage, fibromyalgia or headaches and migraines. There also are cases where the pain starts spontaneously without cause.
People experience chronic pain in different ways as it ranges with severity and type of pain. In some patients, the pain comes and goes and may persist in others. Some types of pain patients describe to their doctors include;
- Burning
- Dull aches
- Stinging
- Shooting
- Soreness
- Throbbing
- Stiffness
- Squeezing
- Stiffness
Treating chronic pain using marijuana
For a very long time now, marijuana’s legal status has hampered research into the botanical for medicinal purposes. In 1976, the smear campaign against cannabis finally resulted in it being labeled a Schedule One drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act. As a Schedule One drug, marijuana was branded as a substance with no medicinal use and a high risk of being abused.
In recent times, things have changed and more research is unearthing the many benefits of marijuana in restoring health. In many circles, the plant is now being referred to as a miracle drug owing to its extensive list of medical benefits.
A scientific review on the plant carried out by Touw M(1981) explains how cannabis works to reduce pain. Injured tissues produce endocannabinoids, which are arachidonic acid derivatives. These come from both the neural and non-neural cells of the injured tissues. The endocannabinoids lessen inflammation and sensitization by moderating neural conduction to this pain. This is achieved through the activation of cannabinoid receptors, the same kind targeted by THC. Rice AS(2001) has also demonstrated this action in his research.
Another research study conducted by Wallace et al. (2007) compared the effects of smoked cannabis in different doses versus an inactive placebo. The study incorporated 15 volunteers with a mean age of 28 years and in good health. The medium dosage of cannabis used showed positive results for pain reduction. The heavier dosage brought on more pain while the low dose had no effect. The study showed that cannabis has the potential to be used as an analgesic drug in modest doses.
The medical world is out to find more uses for the plant that previously could not be tested freely. More and more states are relaxing their laws on Medical Marijuana, with some making it legal for medicinal use. There is hope all round that cannabis will soon become a part of pharmacological medication in all 50 states.
If you’re suffering with a chronic pain condition we believe medical marijuana can help, as it has already helped many of our patients. Whether it is back, knee, shoulder, hip, neck, or even headache / migraine, our certified medical marijuana doctor may be able to help you acquire a medical marijuana recommendation that you may use to acquire it through any of the state’s dispensaries.
We serve the residents of Margate, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Parkland, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton. Call us to schedule your appointment today!
