It is undeniable that medical cannabis is helping a multitude of individuals around the world to find relief from a variety of different medical ailments. With a simple Google search, you can find thousands of anecdotal stories regarding how cannabis has helped with things such as chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy, cancer, and much more.
There is a subset of conditions known as autoimmune diseases which include conditions such as multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, and many more. While autoimmune disorders do not have cures it does seem that many patients with autoimmune disorders are finding hope in cannabinoid therapies. Among the autoimmune diseases that may be benefited by the incorporation of cannabinoid therapies there’s a condition in which you may be familiar with known as fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Common Treatments
Like many other autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia is believed to be the result of one’s immune system attacking their body in a unique way. Fibromyalgia, which is sometimes known as fibrositis, is an autoimmune disease that directly affects the bones and muscles. According to statistics from the CDC from 2021, it is estimated that roughly 4 million people or 2% of the entire US adult population suffers from the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Some of the most common symptoms and ailments that are experienced by those with fibromyalgia include but are not limited to the following.
- Altered Moods
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal Issues (Constipation and Nausea)
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Muscle Spasms
- Pain and Discomfort in the Bones and Muscles
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Severe Sensitivity to Pain
- Tingling and Coldness in the Hands and Feet
- Troubles Urinating and Defecating
These symptoms as well as their severity may differ from patient to patient. Treatments for fibromyalgia encapsulate a wide variety of different therapies. Most often a multidisciplinary approach is taken in which holistic therapies, physical therapy, medication, counseling, lifestyle changes, and other aspects are combined in order to provide the best relief possible. Some of the most common prescription medications prescribed for those with fibromyalgia include muscle relaxers, antidepressants, and anti-convulsant medications such as Lyrica.
Unfortunately, many medications come with a wide variety of side effects which in some cases are worse than the symptoms they are meant to address. For this reason, many individuals with fibromyalgia as well as many other diseases have turned to holistic therapies such as medical cannabis.
Exploring Holistic Therapies and Medical Cannabis for Fibromyalgia
Aside from cannabis, other holistic therapies that are being sought out by fibromyalgia patients include things such as chiropractic treatment, reiki, reflexology, massage therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy. Additionally, there are countless testimonials regarding the effectiveness of cannabinoid therapies at helping patients to manage the various symptoms that come with fibromyalgia. Let’s take a closer look at what the science says about how cannabinoid therapies may be beneficial to those diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Cannabis May be a Safe and Effective Treatment for Fibromyalgia
In 2020 there was a review published in the Journal of Cannabis Research that reviewed cannabinoid related medical studies looking at its effectiveness on fibromyalgia between the years of 2015 and 2019. This review suggested that medical cannabis may be an effective and safe treatment option for addressing fibromyalgia related pain.
A Conclusive Study Shows Improvement in Symptoms, Decrease in Pain Levels, and Much More
In 2019, one of the first long-term human-based studies on cannabis’ effectiveness for the treatment of fibromyalgia was published by researchers in Israel. This study concluded that 81% of fibromyalgia patients that took part in the study experienced at least moderate improvement in all of their fibromyalgia symptoms.
Additionally, the study found that roughly 20% of the participating patients that were taking benzodiazepine or opioid-based medications were able to either stop those medications entirely or were able to drastically reduce their intake when adding medical cannabis therapies to their treatment plan.
The study also found that the pain intensity felt by patients when utilizing cannabis reduced from a pain scale of nine out of 10 to only five out of 10. While this study was quite conclusive it also noted that more research was needed in order to determine which chemovars of cannabis as well as which methods of consumption may provide the best benefits for fibromyalgia symptoms and patients.
The Many Symptoms of Fibromyalgia and How Cannabis Helps
Aside from pain, many of the other common symptoms and ailments associated with Fibromyalgia have also been shown to be relieved by cannabis therapies. Symptoms and issues such as nausea, difficulty sleeping, muscle spasms, fatigue, and irritability to name a few may be benefited by the introduction of medical cannabis.
In 2018, the National Academy of Sciences published The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids which stated the following. “Conclusive or substantial scientific evidence has shown that marijuana products are effective at treating chronic pain, calming muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, and easing nausea from chemotherapy.” The same year, this study showed the impact that cannabis consumption can have in helping one get a good night’s rest. For more information on cannabis for sleep issues, check out the blog here.
Speaking of sleep issues, if you find yourself feeling fatigued like many fibromyalgia patients do on a regular basis, cannabis can help with that as well. A recent study found that “91.94% of individuals surveyed saw a decrease in fatigue after smoking cannabis” with the most relief being reported by those that smoked joints as their consumption method. As you can see, there is substantial evidence supporting the effectiveness of cannabis in providing relief and a higher quality of life for fibromyalgia patients. In many states where medical cannabis has been legalized, those with fibromyalgia qualify for patient status do to the debilitating effects of the disease and the symptoms it presents. If you are a fibromyalgia patient that is curious as to how cannabis may help you, the best option is to put it to the test, but first be sure that you receive your medical cannabis doctor’s recommendation and are legal before doing so! One day hopefully, everyone will have ease of access to this plant and all of its magic without the fear of legality or having to become a qualified medical cannabis patient first. Until then though, FadeMD is here to help you on the road to qualifying for medical cannabis.
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