Chronic Pain

Understand how medical marijuana helps Chronic Pain.

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Medical marijuana can help with chronic pain. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for an extended period of time, typically defined as pain that continues for more than three months, beyond the normal healing time of an injury or illness, and can significantly impact daily life activities; it may be continuous or come and go, and can be associated with a chronic health condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia. 

Key points about chronic pain:

• Duration
  Pain lasting longer than 3 months is generally considered chronic. 

• Impact on life
  Chronic pain can interfere with work, relationships, and overall quality of life. 

• Causes
  Can stem from various sources like injuries, medical conditions (arthritis, fibromyalgia), nerve damage, or sometimes with no clear identifiable cause. 

• Symptoms
  Can include a dull ache, throbbing, burning sensation, stiffness, and pain that may be present even when resting. 

Medical marijuana can help with Chronic Pain.

Marijuana can help with chronic pain by reducing pain signaling and perception, and by reducing inflammation. 

Potential benefits

• Marijuana may help with chronic pain that stems from inflammation, like rheumatoid arthritis. 

• Marijuana may help with other symptoms of chronic pain, like depression, irritation, weariness, and insomnia. 

• Marijuana may be an alternative to opioids, which can be addictive and abused. 

How it works

• THC: THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and nerve cells, which can slow pain impulses and reduce pain perception. 

• CBD: CBD may help reduce inflammation and stimulate the immune response. 

• CB1 receptors: THC and CBD modulate CB1 receptors in the spinal cord and central nociception processing areas, which can reduce pain. 

• CB2 receptors: THC and CBD found in cannabis activate CB2 receptors, which can reduce inflammation in chronic pain patients.