Medical marijuana is all the rage today and used by many with medical conditions, including arthritis. According to research, about 1 in 5 who have chronic musculoskeletal pain are using medical marijuana to treat and manage pain. “We found 20% had reported past or current use of cannabis with the specific intention to manage pain, said study author Dr. Timothy Leroux, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Toronto. Not just recreational users, but patients who said, I’m using cannabis because I want to improve pain with this condition. ”
Many people with arthritis report that medical marijuana not only decreased their arthritic pain, but it decreased their reliance on other pain medication. That’s good news in the era of the opioid epidemic.
Recent research has shown that medical marijuana is an effective alternative treatment for arthritis. It was revealed that cannabis is an effective pain-killing agent.
Ways to Take Medical Marijuana
There are several ways to take medical marijuana for arthritis. Smoking a joint is one of them. It gives you fast relief from arthritic pain. Edibles are a palatable choice. Just keep in mind it takes a while to kick in. With topicals, you can put it directly on your skin to relieve inflammation and joint pain from arthritis. Suppositories deliver rapid absorption through the colon and are long-lasting. Tinctures and sprays are absorbed through the mouth. You can also get transdermal patches. The active ingredients go straight to the bloodstream and are time-released. Another option for medical marijuana is to eat marijuana raw. Or, you can add it to smoothies and drinks. You won’t get immediate symptomatic relief, as it takes time to travel through the digestive system. Lastly, vaping is an option and it causes less lung damage.
Medical marijuana is quickly becoming the treatment of choice for arthritis. This is due to its lack of adverse side effects. Some of the potential side effects of using marijuana include lethargy, increased appetite and mood changes. It’s important to talk with a doctor about whether or not medical marijuana is a good treatment option for your arthritis. It’s good to know that 97 percent of people who use medical marijuana to treat their symptoms from arthritis report success. Those reporting this success have different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Medical marijuana helps all types of arthritis.
If you’re considering medical marijuana for arthritis pain, talk to your doctor about it. It’s important that you do this under medical supervision, as the dosage is important.
