Spinal Cord Disease or Severe Injury

Understand how medical marijuana helps with Spinal Cord Disease or Injury.

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Both spinal cord disease and spinal cord injury typically cause severe pain, which can be managed by medical marijuana.

Spinal cord disease is a condition that damages the spinal cord, which is a bundle of nerves that runs from the brain down the back. Spinal cord diseases can be caused by injuries, infections, inflammation, tumors, or other conditions. 

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord, a bundle of nerves running down the spine, which disrupts the communication between the brain and the body, often leading to loss of movement, sensation, and bladder/bowel control below the injury site, depending on the severity and location of the damage; it can be caused by trauma like accidents, falls, or violence, and can result in paralysis depending on the level of the injury. 

Spinal Cord Disease Symptoms

• Pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands, feet, neck, head, or back

• Weakness in the arms, legs, or other parts of the body

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Difficulty walking or breathing

• Uncomfortable or unnatural positions of the head or spine

Spinal Cord Disease Causes 

• Injuries: Falls, road traffic accidents, or violence

• Infections: Meningitis, polio, HIV, or COVID-19

• Inflammation: Transverse myelitis, sarcoidosis, or multiple sclerosis

• Tumors: Spinal cord tumors

• Degenerative diseases: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or spinal muscular atrophy

• Hemorrhage: A spinal subdural or epidural hematoma

• Vitamin B12 deficiency: A deficiency in vitamin B12

Key points about spinal cord injuries

• Impact on function
  Depending on where the injury occurs, a person may experience partial or complete loss of muscle control, sensation, and bladder/bowel function below the injury site. 

• Types of injuries
  Spinal cord injuries can be classified by the location (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral) and the severity (complete or incomplete). 

• Causes
  Common causes include motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, diving accidents, gunshot wounds, and assaults. 

• Symptoms
  Symptoms may include paralysis, muscle weakness, loss of sensation, pain, difficulty breathing, and changes in sexual function. 

• Initial Treatment
  Typically involves immediate stabilization of the spine, surgery if needed, rehabilitation therapy to maximize function, and assistive devices to manage daily activities. 

Medical marijuana can help with Spinal Cord Injury or Disease.

Marijuana, specifically its cannabinoids like THC and CBD, can potentially help with spinal cord pain by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, which has receptors located throughout the nervous system including the spinal cord, allowing it to modulate pain perception and potentially reduce inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain signals sent to the brain; however, research is ongoing and further studies are needed to fully understand its efficacy and optimal usage for spinal cord pain. 

Key points about how marijuana might help with spinal cord pain

• Receptor activation:
  Cannabinoids bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors in the nervous system, which can influence pain signaling pathways. 

• Pain modulation:
  By activating these receptors, cannabinoids may reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain, leading to pain relief. 

• Anti-inflammatory effects:
  Some research suggests that cannabinoids can possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially helping to reduce inflammation associated with spinal cord injuries. 

• Muscle relaxation:
  Marijuana also helps relax muscles, potentially alleviating muscle spasms that can occur when experiencing a spinal cord pain.