Fibromyalgia
Treating Fibromyalgia with Medical Cannabis
Fibromyalgia is a long term condition and can have a severe impact on the patients quality of life.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes muscle and soft tissue pain throughout the body. It can also cause extreme fatigue, insomnia and memory problems. Fibro is a complicated condition that can affect different people in different ways. This makes getting a proper diagnosis a challenge.
What does Fibromyalgia consist of?
- Pain
- Chronic Headaches
- Dizziness
- Cognitive & Memory Impairment
- Weight Gain
- Dry Mouth
- Fever
- Nausea
- Joint Stiffness
- Sensory Issues
- Sleep Disorders
- Anxiety
- Cramps
- Fatigue
- Depression
Treatment for fibromyalgia is generally focused on restoring balance to the body and promoting sleep. Medications are used to relieve pain, but there are few that address the underlying causes. Medical cannabis may offer hope for patients with this condition who have not found relief in traditional treatments.
How Can Medical Cannabis Help?
It’s important to recognize that cannabis is not a cure-all treatment for fibromyalgia. However, it has shown to have significant benefits in many people who suffer from this condition. Cannabis has been shown to improve pain and muscle stiffness in some patients and may even improve sleep. Cannabinoids have also been shown to help regulate the central nervous system which plays an important role in the symptoms of fibromyalgia. THC specifically has been shown to block the pain signals between nerve cells which can help relieve pain associated with this condition.
Fibromyalgia treatment options include:
- Medications
- Self-management strategies
- Massage/ acupuncture
Furthermore, medical cannabis may be one of the most effective treatment options. Studies suggest that compounds in cannabis called cannabinoids may have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with pain, stiffness, and muscle spasms. Research also shows that some people who use medical cannabis may experience a reduction in pain and improved quality of life. That’s why some patients choose to use medical cannabis instead of prescription drugs to treat their condition.
Finding the right treatment for any health condition is complex, and it’s not always easy to find relief from fibromyalgia symptoms — even when using medical cannabis. Talk to a medical specialist about all your treatment options so you can decide what’s best for you.
