Living without discomfort is great, but there will come a time when you experience pain that hinders you from performing daily tasks and accomplishing your usual responsibilities. Mild forms of pain, like dull aches, can go away immediately, but some pain, like chronic pain, can be an essential indicator that our body is experiencing health problems that need to be addressed properly.
Pain is an unpleasant physical and emotional experience ranging from mild discomfort to severe agony. When there is a physical sensation of pain, it is also accompanied by emotional distress, such as fear, anxiety, and depression.
Types of Pain Management
In today’s world, where the medical field is advanced enough to further studies that can positively impact health problem management, there are many different ways to treat pain and provide relief. Below are the common types of pain management:
Medication
It involves the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, topical medications, and muscle relaxants to treat pain.
Physical Therapy
This includes exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion that help the patient reduce pain and restore mobility.
Surgery
A last resort for some types of chronic pain. This may be necessary when conditions such as herniated discs, bone fractures, torn ligaments or tendons, degenerative joint diseases, or when a tumour is causing pain.
Medical Cannabis in the UK
Medical cannabis can be used as an alternative or complementary therapy for pain management. Although it has tons of benefits, it is essential to note that medical cannabis is not an over-the-counter medication that can be easily obtained.
The law concerning medical cannabis in the UK includes a requirement that individuals must have a medical condition deemed suitable for medical cannabis treatment. This includes chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and spasticity due to certain neurological conditions.
In order to get a prescription, an individual must be assessed by a specialist doctor from a medical cannabis clinic UK. The doctor must be satisfied that the individual has a medical condition that is suitable for medical cannabis treatment. If the assessment is successful, the doctor can issue a prescription for medical cannabis, which the individual can then obtain from a medical cannabis clinic or a dispensary.
Medical Cannabis as a Complementary and Alternative Therapy
Cannabis has long been controversial, with its therapeutic potential often overlooked or disregarded. However, the increasing availability of scientific and anecdotal evidence pertaining to the positive effects of medical cannabis has opened up a new world of potential treatments for patients suffering from various conditions like pain. In particular, cannabis is increasingly being used as a complementary and alternative therapy to traditional medicine, offering a viable and potentially safer option that helps improve the patient’s quality of life.
This plant has been known to help with various types of pain, including chronic pain, neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain, and postoperative pain. It is also found to be effective in reducing inflammation and reducing symptoms associated with certain chronic pain conditions.
Cannabinoid contents of medical cannabis activate the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body. It helps reduce inflammation and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters that reduce pain sensation. Studies have found that cannabinoids found in medical cannabis, such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), can help reduce pain by blocking pathways that cause pain signals to be transmitted in the brain and by increasing the body’s natural pain-relieving endorphins. Furthermore, it helps reduce anxiety and stress, which can help reduce pain.
Take Away
Each individual is unique. In the same way when we suffer from health conditions like chronic pain with underlying causes. With the availability of different types of pain management, medical cannabis has become one of the viable options with promising effects for managing pain. With its ability to reduce inflammation and pain-related neurotransmitters, it also helps reduce anxiety and stress. However, although medical cannabis is a promising alternative treatment, seeking professional help to properly determine the pain management appropriate to the condition being addressed is important.