Nearly 16 million adults experience back pain on a regular basis in the United States. Left untreated, it can lead to digestive issues, decreased mobility, and even nerve damage.
Fortunately, there are many treatment options available. For example, you can alleviate symptoms with over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDs. Your doctor may also recommend acupuncture, massage therapy, or laser therapy.
Taking medical marijuana for back pain is another option. What is it? How does it work? Are there any side effects?
Find out all of the answers and more by reading the rest of the post!
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Is Medical Marijuana Good for Back Pain?
Medical marijuana is essentially the same product as recreational marijuana. Instead of using it to get high, however, it’s used to treat different conditions—including back pain.
Keep in mind, however, that you will need a prescription from your doctor. Once you have that, you can get it filled at a dispensary such as HarvestHOC.
It contains two main cannabinoids: cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), both of which have anti-inflammatory effects. THC reduces inflammation by activating CB2 receptors on immune cells while CBD blocks inflammatory mediators.
That’s not all, THC also activates CB1 receptors, which help to modulate pain at the level of the brain and spinal cord. CBD is capable of doing this as well by increasing levels of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid.
Different Ways to Take Medical Marijuana
There are several ways to take medical marijuana. For example, you can smoke it, inhale it through a vaporizer, or place a few drops under your tongue. If you want, you can even eat it as a brownie or lollipop.
At the end of the day, how you take it is up to you.
Keep in mind, however, that different methods will work differently in the body. For example, you’ll feel the effects very quickly if you smoke it. If you eat it, however, it can take a lot longer (up to 1-2 hours).
Potential Side Effects
Medical marijuana can cause various side effects including dizziness, increased heart rate, bloodshot eyes, hallucinations, depression, and low blood pressure. It can also affect judgment and coordination, which can lead to accidents and injuries.
In addition to that, there’s a potential for addiction. In fact, medical marijuana is often considered a “gateway drug” to using other drugs. Generally speaking, the more THC you consume, the more likely you are to become dependent.
And since it’s not regulated by the FDA, it’s hard to determine the exact strength of the products.
Using Medical Marijuana For Back Pain Relief
Now you know the science behind using medical marijuana for back pain! As you can see, it can help in various ways. For those who are interested, talk to your doctor—they’ll be able to go over how to use medical marijuana for treating back pain.
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