Medical Cannabis & Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 6 months and is still present after the stimulus injury has resolved. Chronic pain changes chemical pathways in the brain, and alters the body’s response to pain, registering near constant pain signals. In essence, the body is receiving pain signals from the brain, even in the absence of a specific stimulus or injury.   

Chronic pain can occur alongside a number of conditions such as low back pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, neuropathy, cancer and numerous others. Chronic pain manifests differently in each individual, but is usually associated with deep throbbing pain, stabbing pain, burning, and may cause  hypersensitivity to stimulus. For instance, migraine sufferers are generally light and sound sensitive, and exposure to these stimulus may increase the migraine pain.

Traditional treatments for chronic pain include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), analgesic over-the-counter pain medications, and in extreme cases, opioid therapy. Many forms of chronic pain prove to be resistant to treatment and are associated with increasing pain as time goes on. 

Chronic pain is difficult to manage and often includes many factors such as dieting, exercise, regular stretching, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Cognitive behavioural therapy can be extremely effective at “rewiring” the brain, and returning altered pathways to their original state. In essence, CBT teaches chronic pain sufferers to “rethink” their pain and learn to refocus on other aspects of life.

Many subjective patient reports point to the fact that cannabis helps to manage the symptoms of chronic pain, but what does the science say? Early studies support the use of cannabinoid therapy in managing chronic pain symptoms, including one prospective survey that showed good applications for cannabis use in treating non-cancerous pain. The survey also pointed to the fact that more research is necessary regarding the use of cannabis against chronic pain. 

Another study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal studied the effects of smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain and found that “a single inhalation of 25mg of 9.4% Tetrahydrocannabinol herbal cannabis three times daily for five days reduced the intensity of pain, improved sleep and was well tolerated.” 

Apollo’s latest published research study had a total of 751 chronic pain patients who initiated medical cannabis treatment at Apollo Cannabis Clinics.  After following Apollo’s treatment plan for 12 months with medical cannabis use, the study found a 43% reduction in pain interference with daily activities & a 37% reduction in pain severity. Click here to read more about “Medical Cannabis for the Management of Pain and Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Patients: A Prospective Observational Study:

Although the current body of research is limited, it is promising for the applications of cannabinoid therapy in helping to manage chronic pain. All subjective reports and data demonstrate that cannabinoids have a positive impact on reducing pain and improving functioning, and now that cannabis has been federally legalized the studies will be forthcoming.