By now, you’re probably very familiar with the concept of using marijuana to treat pain and other conditions. Perhaps you even use medical marijuana (or MMJ) or CBD products yourself for a chronic condition or while you’re healing from an accident or other situation. But on that note, are there any safety concerns for marijuana or CBD use following a medical procedure? The truth is that it depends on a variety of factors, including the type of procedure itself. Here’s what you need to know.
After Surgery
Always proceed with caution when it comes to consuming anything following a surgical procedure. Follow your doctor’s instructions, and ask for their approval to consume MMJ and/or CBD. In many cases, they are fine to use following surgery and can even help greatly with pain management and assisting you with recovery. Depending on the type of surgery you have had, however, you may not be able to consume MMJ / CBD in certain forms, or at all. For example, patients who have undergone brain surgery may need to be at full alert so that their doctor can monitor their progress. Likewise, you may not be able to smoke anything if you have had surgery on your respiratory tract, or consume marijuana in edible form if your procedure was on your digestive tract. Always talk with your surgeon about using CBD or MMJ before doing so.
Non-Surgical Procedures / Treatments
While it may seem like there isn’t much to worry about when it comes to non-surgical procedures like cosmetic treatments (dermal injections and fillers, microblading and tattooing, piercing, etc.), the truth is that it’s complicated. Both CBD products and medical marijuana may lower your susceptibility to pain. This is a pro in many cases, but pain can be an important indicator of an infection or something having gone wrong with minor non-surgical procedures. CBD oils on the skin or any topical application should be avoided if you have had a recent skin treatment.
Dental Work
Many people actually consume MMJ or CBD prior to getting dental work done in order to stay calm and relaxed. These products can also help with pain management once any anesthetic wears off. That said, it is strongly recommended that you do not smoke anything following certain dental procedures, as it can get in the way of the healing process. For example, smoking following a tooth extraction can result in ongoing bleeding or in more serious conditions (like a dry socket) because of the suction effect. Talk with your dentist or dental surgeon about using MMJ or CBD before you have the procedure done, just in case you are not able to effectively communicate afterwards.
Marijuana and Medications
Many people are placed on certain medications to help speed up the recovery process and manage side effects following procedures. It is important to talk with your doctor prior to consuming MMJ or CBC in conjunction with any medications, as the effects may interfere with each other. For example, CBD has been found to enhance the potency of certain medications, such as blood thinners, and therefore should be avoided until you reach the end of your medication and/or receive approval from your doctor.
Avoid using MMJ or CBD products in any situations where you are unsure of the safety or have already experienced negative effects.
