What is severe or chronic pain?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more Americans suffer from pain than heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Chronic pain is a major issue, not only for those who suffer from it, but for the entire American health care system.

If you suffer from chronic pain, this debilitating condition can negatively affect your mood, relationships, career, and overall quality of life.

What are side effects of conventional treatments for chronic pain?

Some of the most common treatments for chronic pain include:

• Opioid painkillers
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Acetaminophen
• Nerve blocks
• Surgery

Many of these treatments have unpleasant, even dangerous side effects. Prescription opioids are addictive and may cause dependency. Furthermore, high doses of opioids are dangerously toxic, with as many as 40 people experiencing fatal overdoses on a daily basis.

While non-narcotic pain medications aren’t addictive, they have their own troublesome side effects, such as liver toxicity, erectile dysfunction, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

How effective is medical marijuana in treating chronic pain?

A comprehensive, Harvard-led review of medical marijuana treatment for chronic pain found evidence to support cannabis as an effective treatment for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.

The studies reviewed suggest that medical marijuana leads to a significant improvement in pain symptoms without causing serious side effects.

Another study from the University of Michigan found that medical marijuana has the following effects on pain patients:

• Decreased side effects from other medications
• Improved quality of life
• Reduced opioid use by an average of 64%

What types of severe pain can medical marijuana treat?

Sometimes pain is a symptom of an underlying disease, but other times chronic pain can be a condition on its own. Medical marijuana may provide relief from the following painful conditions:

• General chronic pain
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• TMJ/TMD
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Pain from accidents or injuries
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Sciatica

How can I legally obtain medical marijuana to treat pain?

First, we discuss your symptoms and medical history when you come to Holistic Medicine, LLC for an initial consultation. If we think your condition may benefit from medical marijuana, we will write you an official recommendation.

Then, you take the recommendation to a licensed cannabis dispensary Maryland to purchase your medicine.

If you need relief from chronic pain without suffering serious side effects, call or click online to book an appointment at Holistic Medicine, LLC today.