Medical Marijuana for Arthritis

Research on the efficacy of medical marijuana as a treatment for different diseases is still ongoing. Most of the trials and experiments on its effectiveness are still in the pre-clinical phase.

It follows, therefore, that although there are some marijuana products in the market, they have not received FDA’s approval to be used for medical purposes, and they are considered to be dietary supplements.

A study conducted by Creaky Joints, an arthritis awareness organization, shows that as many as 57% of all arthritis patients in the united states may have used medical marijuana for arthritis pain.

These are people who may have smoked marijuana in its raw form and those who used marijuana extracts in the form of CBD oil, gummies, and capsules or took it in another form such as vaping.

Out of the people who indicated to have used the supplement, 90% stated that it had helped them reduce the symptoms, especially the pain. The scientific jury is still out on whether medical marijuana can be the ultimate natural cure for arthritis, but there is little doubt that it helps.

Arthritis is not a single condition. The term is used in reference to about two hundred rheumatic conditions that affect the joints. It also affects the tissues around the joints, including the related connective tissue.

Most arthritis symptoms are localized around the joints, and they include pain and swelling in and around the joint.

In some instances, however, arthritis may affect many more organs and manifest in a wide array of symptoms. The types of arthritis that cause additional symptoms are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which is also referred to as SLE.

There are many causes of arthritis, including injury, genetics, infections, dysfunction of the immune system, and abnormal metabolism.

Conventional treatment for arthritis is medical pain relief when you are dealing with a non-inflammatory type of arthritis. Marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis and other drugs used to treat it are for the management of both pain and inflammation since RA causes inflammation of the joints.

There is a new type of drug in the market, known as biologics, which is used for both inflamed and non-inflamed arthritis.

Weight reduction, physical exercises, and other lifestyle adjustments play an essential role in helping you manage the condition. It would help if you worked with a physical therapist to help you come up with appropriate exercises for your condition.

As earlier observed, abnormal metabolism is one of the main causes of arthritis. To reduce symptoms, you should align your diet accordingly by eliminating foods your body finds hard to digest and absorb properly.

Pain management: – Marijuana being able to help with the management of pain is not a far-fetched proposition. This ability becomes clear when considered with an understanding of the endocannabinoid system and its interaction with the phytocannabinoids found in marijuana. Marijuana lotions for arthritis may be applied externally for pain management.

Reduction of Anxiety: – Besides the management of pain, arthritis causes a person who has it mental anguish due to uncertainty and the limitations it imposes on them. If the anxiety a patient experience is not adequately managed, it may morph into depression.

Depression and arthritis are both among the biggest causes of disability in the United States, and a co-morbidity that involves the two of them is almost certain to ground a person.

THC and CBD have both been known to reduce anxiety in a person by inducing relaxation and releasing hormones such as dopamine, that increase a person’s level of happiness.

Reduction of Inflammation: – Other than reducing pain, marijuana helps the body reduce inflammation. This helps reduce the effects of arthritis considerably since, in many cases, arthritis is an inflammation.

You can apply a medical marijuana cream for arthritis on the affected joints for reduced inflammation. While it reduces inflammation, there, no evidence that marijuana causes a reduction of stiffness of joints.

Better Sleep: – The diseases reduces people’s ability to sleep due to pain and inability to assume comfortable postures that are necessary for quality sleep.  One of the reasons why you should use marijuana oil for arthritis, especially CBD, is because it is known to give the user a ‘body high’ that causes the body to relax, leading to sleep.

Arthritis affects people of all ages; it is estimated that about three hundred thousand babies in the USA have rheumatoid arthritis. The possibility of getting arthritis, however, increases with age, and more women than men get diagnosed with the disease.

Is medical marijuana good for arthritis? That is the million-dollar question. The available anecdotal evidence on the effectiveness of marijuana for arthritis pain management is encouraging. You should, however, note that medical marijuana is not a prescription drug. It should only be used alongside other medicine.

Involve your doctor when deciding to start using any medical marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis pain or any other symptom of arthritis. Once you inform them, they will then be able to advise you on how it interacts with your medicine.

In the event you are allergic to arthritis medication, the doctor can advise you whether it is right for you only to use marijuana, excluding other drugs.