Medical Marijuana Options for Patients Suffering From Sciatica

For many people with sciatica, nerve pain, numbness, and tingling in the lower back that extends down the leg may seriously affect their ability to carry out everyday tasks. When the sciatic nerve is compressed or has pressure applied to it, sciatica pain results. Many people attempt using over-the-counter painkillers or prescription drugs like gabapentin and tricyclic antidepressants to get some relief (7). With these drugs or opioids, some individuals get no pain relief.

Dr. William Salmon, an English physician, recorded the first instance of cannabis being used to treat sciatica in a writing from 1710. (12). Since that time, after years of study, medical professionals have learned that cannabis is an excellent treatment for neuropathy or other nerve problems brought on by sciatica. Cannabis affects the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is made up of cannabinoid receptors and neurotransmitters with a fatty acid composition. The ECS is in charge of controlling the immune system, regulating homeostasis, keeping the body at the right temperature, and reducing inflammation.

Targeting cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, cannabis and its cannabinoids, such as 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have an impact on the endocannabinoid system. While CB2 receptors have an impact on peripheral nerves and a number of organs, CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. Transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors are among the several other receptors that cannabinoids like CBD, such as CBD, target, and may potentially aid in pain alleviation.

The CB1 receptors in parts of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves that have the capacity to control acute and chronic pain signals are one method of using the endocannabinoid system to treat sciatic nerve pain (18). Additionally, when CB1 and CB2 receptors are active, levels of the neurotransmitter anandamide (AEA) rise. This results in the release of a protein by astrocytes, a type of brain cell involved in immunity and support, which is thought to promote the growth of nerve cells and lessen sciatica-related inflammation signals, nerve pain, numbness, and tingling sensations (9).

Please see our article on endocannabinoids for further details on how the endocannabinoid system functions.

Why Cannabis for Medical Purposes in Sciatica?

You could also benefit from the following advantages (8) if you’re thinking about using medicinal cannabis to treat sciatica symptoms:

reduced pain (17)

reduction in neuropathy (18)

Improvements in sleep

mood and psychological suffering are improved, particularly when it comes to anxiety or depression (17)

reduced tiredness

Sleepiness, sleepiness, disorientation, tachycardia or an elevated heart rate, dry mouth, and psychosis are some unfavorable consequences of medicinal cannabis use (8).

Recommendations for Cannabis Use and Sciatica

If previous drugs have not helped nerve symptoms, clinical guidelines advise using cannabis as a third to fourth-line pain therapy alternative (8). Please read our guides on neuropathy or back pain for more detailed information on how to manage sciatica, including tingling, numbness, and nerve pain. In addition, our chronic pain page explains how to start using medical marijuana as a pain reliever or painkiller. Usually, it is advised to start with lesser dosages until you determine what is best for you.

You should speak with your doctor to get their clearance before starting any medical therapy and before quitting any drugs that are already being used. It’s crucial to have a doctor’s supervision, particularly while stopping a medicine you could be on. But with your doctor’s guidance, you could discover that cannabis is the painkiller you’ve been seeking for to help you deal with sciatica and other nerve pain problems.

CBD for Pain in the Sciatic Nerve

Since sciatica may radiate to many sections of the body, it is classified as radicular pain. Many individuals with this condition benefit from utilizing CBD-only products. Because it works with the body’s transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors, CBD is well recognized for its ability to alleviate inflammation. Additionally, unlike THC, it has no psychotropic properties. Patients utilizing topical CBD treatments, like as creams or CBD oils that may be used orally, may see improvements for their sciatica. For additional information on how to use CBD as a painkiller, see our article on arthritis.

Cannabis and Sciatica: What the Research Says

According to a 2016 research published in the International Journal of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, people with sciatica, spinal stenosis, and ruptured discs may benefit from medicinal marijuana. Before the experiment started, these patients had attempted 12 months of conventional therapy and at least two narcotic medications without success (19). The research assessed the pain and range of motion in individuals with imaginable sources of sciatica throughout a 12-month period.

This research has given a solid analysis of the effects of medicinal cannabis on patients with sciatica and lower back pain since it followed patients for a long length of time. According to the study’s findings, these individuals’ range of motion improved, and they also had better mental function and less back discomfort.

A 2018 research looked at how cannabis affected 15 individuals with persistent nerve pain. A sublingual THC dose of 15 milligrams was administered to nine of the guys on average every six hours. The study’s other six participants received placebos. The subjects’ average pain rating before the treatments was 53 out of 100, with 100 being the greatest and zero being no discomfort (17). Following the procedure, those who had received THC indicated that their average pain level had dropped to 35. The average pain level reported by those who received placebos was 43, which is enough of a difference to show that the THC had an impact. To get a medical marijuana card wesley chapel follow the link.

These findings demonstrated both a compelling case for the medicinal use of marijuana in patients with neuropathy and sciatica as well as the involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the treatment of pain (17). As a result, according to the study’s authors, THC may actually assist in repairing pain connection pathways that have been harmed by chronic pain.

Additionally, a 2018 Cochrane Library research reveals encouraging outcomes for using cannabis to treat individuals with persistent neuropathic, or nerve pain. This analysis of 16 research with 1750 participants found that considerably more patients who took cannabis had pain reduction improvements of at least 50%. (8). The information is encouraging and begs for more research with longer study periods to ascertain the overall efficacy of cannabis therapy for various kinds of nerve pain.

Sciatica: What Is It?

Beginning in the lower back, the sciatic nerve passes through the hips and buttocks before descending each leg. Pain travels down the nerve when a portion of the nerve is compressed, which often happens as a consequence of a herniated disc, a bone spur, or a constriction of the spine. It ranges from mild to severe. Although it is possible to feel pain on both sides of the body, most sciatica sufferers only experience pain on one side of the body.

Traditional painkillers and muscle relaxants are often used to treat sciatica. But when the condition-related pain is severe, medical professionals may recommend painkillers or opioids to assist control it. Dependence and lethal overdose are two side consequences of opiate usage, neither of which pose a substantial risk while using cannabis.

Sciatica’s root causes

Sciatica, a nerve pain that often spreads from the lower back down into the leg and even the foot, has a number of reasons. The sciatic nerve, a significant nerve in your lower back that goes down your legs, is often what causes the symptoms of sciatica. (15) The following are a some of the sciatica causes:

bad posture

Uncomfortable sitting postures

a tumor in close proximity to the sciatic nerve

abscess in the spine (3)

Obesity

clump of blood

bulging or herniated disc in the spine (14)

vertebral stenosis (14)

injuries like a fractured pelvis (14)

inflammation and lower back or pelvic muscle spasms (3)

Nerve conditions that (11) include

Alzheimer’s condition

Palsy of Bell

MSA (amyotrophic lateral) (ALS)

Epilepsy

harm to the brain from trauma

Spinal cord damage

a number of sclerosis

Migraines

Stroke

Sciatica-Related Complications

Sciatica may sometimes be much more than just nerve pain, tingling, and leg numbness. If the pressure on the sciatic nerve is not relieved, complications from sciatica or other severe underlying disorders may manifest over time. These issues might (15) include:

greater pain

herniated or slipped disc

weakness or loss of sensation in the afflicted leg

loss of bladder or bowel control

irreversible nerve damage

On the basis of the material on this page, do not try to diagnose yourself or recommend a course of therapy. Before deciding how to treat a medical issue, always seek medical advice.