CBD products are still all the rage, but what can they be used for? Can you use CBD for chronic back pain? We want to take a deep dive on the different ailments that can cause chronic back pain and how incorporating CBD can help to offset the symptoms related to it.
You may be wondering: how exactly can you use CBD for chronic back pain? First, it's important to note that we're not trying to claim CBD as a cure for any back condition. On the contrary, CBD may be able to act as an excellent addition to any existing prescribed pain medication. While cannabidiol may provide relief for everything from degenerative disc disease to osteoporosis, the hemp-derived compound is not a cure, let alone standalone treatment.
It's also beneficial to loop in your physician before incorporating CBD into your treatment plan, especially if you're already taking prescription medication. This is to ensure CBD doesn't interact with any of your current prescriptions; and if it does, your medical health professional may be able to adjust your treatment process to accommodate the addition of CBD.
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN
By understanding what causes chronic back pain, we can see the multiple ways CBD can help. Research indicates that CBD can improve the overall state of relaxation and help with sleep. It may also be able to help combat anxiety and reduce inflammation, both of which can significantly exasperate the pain associated with these chronic ailments. Each of these factors, and more, can play a role in mitigating the pain response to these conditions. Let's look at the root causes of a myriad of chronic back pain-inducing conditions and explore how CBD can help.
OSTEOPOROSIS
A public health problem affecting over 53 million Americans, Osteoporosis accounts for over 50% of all U.S. Americans over the age of 50. The disease makes the bones weaken and brittle over time. It reduces the quality and density of the bones in the body which can lead to an increase risk of associated bone fracture. Affecting mainly the spine, which is composed almost exclusively of bone, osteoporosis patients often experience severe and chronic back pain during flareups.
The culprit behind the disease are osteoclasts in the body. Osteoclast activity is what's responsible for degrading bones. Fortunately, CBD consumed both sublingually through CBD Tinctures and applied topically such as our CBD Body Lotion appears to block a receptor that ultimately reduces osteoclast activity. For patients with active osteoporosis, this can be the change they need to enjoy a better quality of life.
FIBROMYALGIA
There's not a ton of information on CBD's effect on certain back conditions yet. What we do know, however, are the promising results for certain symptoms related to fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes both fatigue and cognitive issues as it pertains to musculoskeletal pain. Unsurprisingly, this pain usually manifests in the back.
While the typical treatment process of fibromyalgia focuses on physical therapy, cortisone shots, and hardcore painkillers, CBD can be incorporated to help offset the pain response. While the hemp compound doesn't treat the overall condition, CBD works to treat the actual symptoms related to the ailment, thus making cannabidiol an invaluable compound to work in tandem with whatever the prescribed treatment plan is.
SCIATICA PAIN
Sciatica pain is a common occurrence in the U.S., with over 3 million cases a year. A frequent way to offset the pain of the sciatic nerve is to simple provide muscle relaxers or other painkillers. Some patients end up feeling like zombies, unable to function normally. Cortisone shots can help temporarily, but the pain typically returns within just a few short weeks.
There's no easy cure to sciatica issues. Luckily, CBD has been shown to at least help as the compound inherently possesses nociceptive pain management. When CBD binds to receptors in the brain, the compound works to restore balance to the rest of the body.
DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
Degenerative disc disease, put simply, are symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. In some cases, degenerative disc disease, if left untreated, causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms and legs.
Looking at a clinical trial performed on mice with degenerative disc disease, rats introduced to CBD experienced reduced damage to the spinal area. Researchers, however couldn't pinpoint exactly what pathway CBD went through to reduce said spinal damage.
Regardless, the study gives us promising results. As a side note, patients with degenerative disc disease may find relief from certain symptoms through the consistent use of CBD.
SCOLIOSIS
Many patients experience scoliosis differently. All types of pain that scoliosis patients experience, however, may see some relief thanks to CBD. CBD for chronic back pain is inclusive of scoliosis. For the symptoms you so often have to face with this kind of pain, CBD comes in to potentially help you get through the day (or night)!
GENERALIZED INFLAMMATION
Even early research marked the cannabinoid as an anti-inflammatory. As more research comes through, this fact is cemented even further. The cannabinoid's potential as a novel anti-inflammatory is too good to pass up, especially for patients that suffer from arthritis or another inflammatory condition is too good to pass up, especially for patients that suffer from arthritis or another inflammatory condition. CBD shows promise that it might help reduce inflammation, as well as other types of aches and pains associated with inflammation.
BACK SURGERY RECOVERY
Finally, you may be experiencing back pain simply as part of your recovery from surgery. CBD for chronic back pain may still help! Research from early 2018 reveals an alternative for patients with chronic back pain as a result of not responding positively to back surgery. Participants were given a combination of CBD and THC to find relief from the pain.
While there's still much to be learned, it's a promising encouragement that hemp, in general, could play a role in chronic pain relief. CBD used to manage this chronic pain clearly has merit, so it's worth trying out!
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN
CBD aids in both acute and chronic pain management in several ways; some of which include several pathways across the endocannabinoid system. Whether it be to adjust the actual physical and psychological response to pain, or to block receptors from even experiencing the negative fallout from these disorders and diseases, CBD plays a vital role in adjusting our bodies back to homeostasis. While it's not a cure or replacement for actual, prescribed medication, CBD may be the added bonus to reach further relief.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are quite a number of back-related conditions and symptoms CBD may help with. While we need more clinical trials with more human participants, we can conclusively say CBD can be at least part of a back pain treatment plan. And while CBD might not be the cure, it can certainly be a big help. Be sure to bring up the use of CBD to be used in tandem with your existing treatment plans.
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