Cannabis For Chronic Pain: Does It Help?

Cannabis is personal. We all use it for different reasons. Whether recreationally or medicinally, many of us look to cannabis for some form of relief, be it mentally or physically.

In terms of medical marijuana, one of the leading reasons for cannabis use is to treat chronic pain. But how does this plant help relieve such a burden? 

This guide breaks down what chronic pain means, how cannabis can help treat it, and which cannabinoids are the most beneficial for this situation. Read on to learn more about cannabis and chronic pain.

Chronic pain is ongoing pain and discomfort anywhere in the body. It can range from neuropathic pain (damaged nerves that cause pain) to other physical pains throughout the body.

It can also occur after an injury has healed, which presents itself through ongoing pain in that particular region. Not to mention after surgery or treatment, which elongates the healing process and sometimes calls for more surgery and treatment to fix the issue as best as possible.

Sometimes, chronic pain can occur out of the blue. Be it joint pain, back pain, or even a pinched sciatic nerve, chronic pain simply means a form of pain that lasts longer than 3 months.

Unfortunately, cannabis is not the end-all-be-all for chronic pain. It does provide temporary benefits that reduce pain and provide momentary relief for a couple of hours, but it won’t free you of pain for good.

The key benefit of using cannabis for chronic pain is reducing it to help you live more comfortably. Did you know that being in a constant state of pain causes your blood pressure to rise? High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. 

So, using cannabis to help relieve pain whenever needed will help you live more freely and go about your day without being held back by your discomfort. However, some research has proved that cannabis can be very beneficial for different types of chronic pain, especially neuropathic, which are damaged nerves that lead to physical pain.

Another study examined a group of adults who have used opioids for ten years to treat chronic pain. The study leaders switched their opioids with cannabinoids and found that half the group stopped their opioid use altogether. Others reduced their opioid use and noticed the benefits of cannabinoids that don’t cause as many side effects as opioids and don’t cause severe withdrawal.

The two primary cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant are THC and CBD. While the former causes a psychoactive high, the latter keeps you sober but promotes benefits like anxiety and pain relief.

So which one is better for chronic pain? Although CBD can help, the benefits aren’t as emphasized and noticeable as with THC. However, both cannabinoids can work better at targeting your desired outcome when used together. 

Check out our guide about the entourage effect and learn more about this naturally occurring phenomenon. The entourage effect occurs when cannabinoids like THC and CBD are taken together, which can increase their benefits and provide a more well-rounded and complete effect.

Simply put, using CBD and THC together will be the most beneficial solution for treating chronic pain. We suggest finding a product with clearly-labeled THC:CBD ratios.

The Muscle Chill Topical Roll-On by Bellasoft CBD is a fantastic example of a topical product with a potent and quick action on your body.

It contains 10,000 mg of a formula that combines CBD and CBG in a four-to-one ratio. Both cannabinoids are body-focused and together enhance the soothing effect of the other.

To use it, you only need to roll it on the area of your skin where you want to reduce the pain, inflammation, or irritation. Then your skin absorbs the content and takes it to your affected muscles, and you will soon feel relieved and thankful.

Muscle Chill Topical Roll-On is one of the most potent products of its type, so you will surely notice the painkiller property.