Sometimes suffering serves a useful purpose. After all, it provides us with protection from dangers to our health. However, when pain persists over an extended period of time, it may have a substantial influence on the quality of life we lead. Many people in Canada are pondering whether or not cannabis, sometimes known as marijuana, is an effective method for relieving pain as the country moves closer to legalising its use. To read more about a medical card for marijuana follow the link.
Many people in Canada are familiar with the experience of living with chronic pain; in fact, approximately 20% of adult Canadians deal with it on a daily basis. The unfortunate reality is that the risk of experiencing chronic pain increases with age, and studies have shown that women are more likely to be impacted by this condition than males.
Neuropathic pain, which results from injury to the nerves, is responsible for about one out of every five instances of persistent pain. Accidents, injuries, or surgery are common causes of this sort of discomfort. Additionally, symptoms or consequences of a disease, such as diabetes, may also be a factor. People often report experiencing feelings such as numbness, tingling, jabbing, burning, or freezing.
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Neuropathic pain, on the other hand, is notoriously difficult to cure. Medications that are often provided for treating other forms of pain (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or opioids), are frequently ineffective when used to treat headache discomfort. According to a number of studies, cannabis may be useful in the treatment of persistent neuropathic pain. But does the research back up the claims that cannabis helps alleviate pain, or is all the talk about its analgesic effects just smoke and mirrors?
According to what the studies have found
It is believed that the power of cannabis to alleviate pain is due in part to two chemicals found in the plant: THC and CBD. THC has been shown to modify a person’s experience of pain by lowering levels of anxiety and tension, whilst CBD works to alleviate pain by decreasing inflammation. Medicines derived from cannabis may be smoked or inhaled using a pipe or cigarette, or they can be sprayed or swallowed in the form of a capsule or spray and taken orally.
In comparison to a placebo, cannabis-based drugs may give moderate to considerable pain relief, and they may also lessen pain intensity, sleep issues, and psychological distress. These findings emerged from a recent study that conducted a comprehensive review. Fortuitously, these positive results are often accompanied by undesirable negative effects such as drowsiness, disorientation, and psychosis. It’s possible that these adverse effects are severe enough for some individuals that they outweigh the advantages of cannabis for reducing pain.
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The overall quality of the studies on the use of cannabis to relieve neuropathic pain is poor. Cannabis is a potential therapy for neuropathic pain, but sufferers of this kind of pain shouldn’t write it off just because some people find it helpful while others find it ineffective. The fact of the matter is that, as of right now, there is an absence of credible data supporting cannabis-based therapies for the treatment of neuropathic pain. To prove its advantages, more study of a higher quality is required. The implications of this new study may be especially significant in populations of older adults and in those whose health problems make them more likely to experience nerve pain. In the interim, cannabis may be a helpful choice for those who have tried proven therapy methods but have not found significant alleviation from their symptoms.
In addition to that, the researchers looked at a total of 32 individual studies and 11 different reviews of previous research. They pointed out a number of possible dangers associated with using marijuana, such as getting into automobile accidents, experiencing psychotic symptoms, and having “short-term cognitive impairment.”
The assessment did remark that there is a lack of research regarding the potential dangers and adverse effects.
The researchers admitted that their results may have “limited application to groups of elderly individuals who are chronically unwell as well as people who use cannabis extensively.”
According to Paul Armentano, who serves as deputy director of NORML, the conclusions of the study are in line with those of previous research evaluations. In addition, he said that the results are in agreement with “comments from patients, many of whom are looking for a safer alternative to the usage of potentially lethal opioids, that have been collected anecdotally. It also contradicts the categorization of the marijuana plant by the federal government, which states that it is a restricted drug that falls under the category of schedule I and has “no presently acknowledged medicinal use in therapy in the United States.””
In the second study, the researchers looked at a total of five pieces of literature on marijuana as a therapy for PTSD: three studies and two reviews. The scientists discovered an extremely little amount of previous study. In addition, they claimed that there was a “mid to high risk of bias” associated with the study.
It is impossible to draw any conclusions based on the few number of research that are presently available. However, the authors of the research said that “many other current investigations may soon offer noteworthy findings.”
Why is there so little study being done on marijuana for medicinal purposes?
According to Patel, “a significant portion of the lack of proof may have to do with the difficulties getting cannabis and obtaining money for clinical trials.”
The spokesperson for NORML, Armentano, said that anti-marijuana legislation and politics have “greatly hampered the capacity of researchers to perform the type of rigorous, large-scale, protracted clinical studies that are normally connected with ultimate U.S. Food and Medicine Administration drug clearance.”
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Armentano stated that pharmaceutical firms who are attempting to bring a new medicine to market are the primary funders of the majority of such research.
Patients were cautioned by Patel to use caution while using medicinal marijuana.
“Just because states identify particular ailments for which medical cannabis may be prescribed does not indicate there is strong or rigorous scientific research supporting its use,” he added. “It’s important to keep in mind that each state has its own rules and regulations regarding the use of medicinal cannabis.”
Patel urged medical professionals to “Keep an eye on the data, and keep patients informed about the current status of the research. Ensure that patients are informed not just of the possible advantages, but also of the possible risks.”
