Traditional medication can cause nausea, stomach pain, ulcers, and gastrointestinal bleeding, among other side effects when overused. The question is, is medical marijuana a better option to relieve chronic back pain? Medical marijuana is a chemical-free natural material derived from a plant and has been known to provide benefits to aid chronic back pain. If you are interested in how you can get access, you can apply for a medical marijuana card today at TeleLeaf.
Medical Marijuana Benefits for Chronic Back Pain Patients
Medical marijuana can help with pain relief as well as inflammation, which is a big part of chronic back pain. Patients who use medical marijuana to treat back pain report reduced pain, decreased dependency on addictive pain medications, an increase in mood, a decrease in depression, improvements in sleeplessness and anxiety caused by chronic pain, and overall higher quality of life.
What is Chronic Back Pain?
It can be caused by an accident, physical exercise, or certain medical problems. Even after an initial injury or underlying cause of acute low back pain has been addressed, chronic back pain is defined as pain that lasts for 12 weeks or more.
Back pain may strike people of all ages for a variety of causes. Lower back discomfort is more likely to occur as people age, due to variables such as prior work and degenerative disk disease.
Causes
Back discomfort can be caused by issues with any of these components. The reason for back discomfort in some situations is unknown.
Strain, physical problems, and bad posture, among other things, can cause damage.
Strain
Back discomfort is frequently caused by strain, stress, or injury. Back discomfort can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Muscles or ligaments that have been stretched
- A spasm of the muscles
- Injuries, fractures, or falls caused by muscular tension
Strains or spasms can occur as a result of the following activities:
- Lifting something incorrectly
- Lifting something too heavy
- Lifting with a sudden and uncomfortable action
Structural Problems
Back pain can also be caused by a variety of structural issues.
- Ruptured disks: Disks cushion each vertebra in the spine. When a disk ruptures, it puts extra pressure on a nerve, causing back discomfort.
- Bulging disks: A bulging disk can put extra pressure on a nerve in the same manner as a ruptured disk does.
- Sciatica: A bulging or herniated disk pushing on a nerve causes sciatica, an acute and shooting pain that goes down the buttock and down the back of the leg.
- Osteoarthritis: A kind of arthritis that affects the hips, lower back, and other joints. The area around the spinal cord might narrow in some situations. Spinal stenosis is the medical term for this condition.
- Abnormal curvature of the spine: Back discomfort can occur from abnormal curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine bends to one side.
- Osteoporosis: A condition in which bones, especially the vertebrae of the spine, become brittle and porous, increasing the risk of compression fractures.
- Kidney problems: Back discomfort might be caused by kidney stones or a kidney infection.
Symptoms
When back pain persists for more than three months, it is considered chronic.
Back discomfort can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including:
- A dull aching feeling in the lower back
- A stabbing or shooting pain that can spread down the leg to the foot
- A difficulty to stand up straight without discomfort
- A reduced range of motion and ability to flex the back;
- Back pain sensations are typically short-lived but can linger for days or weeks if caused by strain or overuse.
Treatment
The majority of back pain improves after a month of home therapy. Back pain, on the other hand, is a complicated disease that affects everyone differently. Many people’s discomfort lasts a few months, but only a few people experience chronic, severe pain.
- Pain remedies sold over-the-counter (OTC). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) are medications that are used to treat inflammation (NSAIDs). Overuse can have significant consequences. If over-the-counter pain medications don’t work, your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs.
- Muscle relaxants are drugs that relax the muscles. If OTC pain medications don’t work for mild to severe back pain, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant.
- Pain medications that are applied to the skin. These lotions, salves, ointments, and patches deliver pain-relieving chemicals via your skin.
- Narcotics. Opioid-containing medications. Because opioids are ineffective for persistent pain, your prescription will generally only be for a week’s worth of tablets.
- Antidepressants. Some antidepressants have been proven to alleviate persistent back pain in the absence of their antidepressant effect.
Medical Marijuana as an Alternative Treatment for Chronic Back Pain
Medical marijuana has been found to be effective in the treatment of back pain and chronic pain. Medical marijuana has emerged as a critical tool in the treatment of pain, allowing patients to find comfort while avoiding the use of addictive opioids.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain and are experiencing nausea, medical marijuana has been found to help lessen nausea and allow patients to return to a more normal lifestyle. According to the ASAF (Americans for Safe Access), medicinal marijuana leads to greater absorption and, as a result, better outcomes and comfort.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to acquire access to medical marijuana. You may apply for a medical marijuana card at TeleLeaf.com right now for chronic back pain in Baton Rouge.
REFERENCES:
https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369911
https://www.verywellhealth.com/medical-marijuana-for-chronic-pain-296609