Acute and Chronic Pain Affects Millions. How Can Cannabis Help?

Article by Nicole Skrobin, The Fresh Toast via Growth Op

Not only is chronic and acute pain associated with physical, mental and emotional damage, it has been shown to also significantly interfere with people’s well-being and quality of life.

According to one study that focused on chronic and acute pain across 42 countries, it was found that 20.6 per cent of young people experienced chronic pain related to headaches, backaches or stomach issues.

Nowadays, unfortunately, both chronic and acute pain are at the forefront of many people’s lives, but alternative medicines like cannabis seem to steadily be gaining in popularity. So far, cannabinoids such as THC and CBD have demonstrated medicinal and therapeutic properties through numerous clinical trials and studies, but how can this holistic herb help treat pain?

Chronic pain versus acute pain

Acute pain and chronic pain range in severity and intensity, sharing some similarities and some differences. For example, acute pain oftentimes arises suddenly as a result of something specific. Usually, this type of pain is sharp, but on average, it doesn’t stick around longer than six months or so.

There are several causes of acute pain, with some of the most common ones including surgery, burns or cuts, broken bones, labour and childbirth, and even dental work.

Chronic pain is a different story and, unfortunately, is often ongoing and lasting longer than six months. Even after an illness or injury that caused the initial pain goes away or has healed, this type of pain can persist.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic pain is linked to numerous medical diseases and conditions, including cancer, arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia and back and nerve issues. However, it’s possible to experience chronic pain even if there has been no prior injury, illness or damage to the body.

The ongoing relationship between cannabinoids and pain

Although there are more than 100 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, CBD has long demonstrated its medicinal and therapeutic benefits, starting with its analgesic properties.

According to one report, it was revealed that cannabinoids are effective and safe when treating neuropathic pain, and additional evidence points to cannabinoids being potentially used as analgesics for helping treat this type of pain. Neuropathic pain is unique because it can be acute or it can become chronic, and, thus far, research has shown cannabis to provide clinically significant analgesia.

Due to cannabis’ analgesic properties, it may be a potential treatment for health issues like migraines, back and nerve pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal cramps, muscle spasms and other ailments.

Additionally, multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition affecting millions of people, sometimes resulting in back and muscle pain, as well as unpredictable spasms. Fortunately, cannabinoids seem to be forging a path for providing a helping hand for MS patients. One study revealed that cannabinoids are effective in lessening pain, muscle spasticity and tremor for MS patients.

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