Arthritis
How Medical Marijuana can help Arthritis
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory or a degenerative disease that affects one or more joints (areas where the bones meet and move). About 100 types of arthritis are there with different causes and treatment options. Arthritis is commonly seen in adults over 65 years of age, but it may also affect teens and children. Arthritis is more common in women and highly associated with obesity and overweight.
Arthritis is a common disorder that affects the joints causing them to be painful, inflamed and swollen. These symptoms make it hard to move freely or accomplish daily activities. Arthritis is considered one of the most common causes of disability in the U.S. Approximately 50 million adults and more than 300,000 children try to manage some form of arthritis.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Most common symptoms of arthritis include Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling that usually worsen in the early morning. Other symptoms include redness of the skin surrounding the joint and reduction in the range of motion. Common sites of arthritis include:
Feet.
Hands.
Hips.
Knees.
Lower back.
In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, symptoms may include fatigue and loss of appetite due to the inflammation caused by the immune system. Patients can also have anemia or a decrease in the count of red blood cells with a slight fever. Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint deformity when left untreated.
What causes arthritis?
Causes of arthritis vary with each type. For example, osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by wear and tear of the articulating cartilage (a firm, flexible connective tissue which covers the joint and protects it by absorbing pressure and shock), gout is caused by precipitation of too much uric acid in your joints and rheumatoid arthritis is the result of autoimmune reaction against the synovial membrane (one of the joint components). The exact causes are not clear for most of the other types of arthritis but you're more likely to develop arthritis if you have:
A family history of arthritis.
A job or a sport that puts repeated stress on your joints.
Certain autoimmune diseases or viral infections.
What are the different types of arthritis?
Arthritis is a wide term for more than 100 different conditions affecting the joints. The Most common types of arthritis are:
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis or as commonly known "wear and tear " arthritis develops when the articulating cartilage that covers the joint breaks down as a result of repeated stress on the joint. It's so far the most common type of arthritis worldwide.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is caused when your immune system attacks synovial membranes (a component of the joint structure) resulting in this type of arthritis.Gout
Gout is a systemic disease that causes insoluble hard crystals of uric acid to deposit in your joints resulting in hot and tender joints.Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis affecting the spine (usually your lower back).Juvenile arthritis (JA)
Juvenile arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects children up to 16 years of age. It's a result of autoimmune reaction against the tissue surrounding the joint.Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that develops in people with psoriasis (autoimmune disorder that affects the skin causing skin irritation)
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Arthritis is diagnosed through the following steps in order:
Physical examination performed by your health provider to check for redness, warmth or restricted movements.
Imaging scans such as X-ray, CT scans and MRI to make an image of your bones and cartilage which can reveal:
Bone fractures or dislocations that can cause joint pain.
Cartilage breakdown.
Muscle, ligament or tendon injuries.
Soft tissue inflammation.
Blood tests to look for certain types of antibodies such as anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide), ANA (antinuclear antibody) and RF (rheumatoid factor) which are also considered common diagnostic markers.
How is arthritis treated?
Arthritis has no cure but it has several treatments that help you manage your condition. The treatment plan depends on the severity of the condition, the symptoms and the overall health of the patient.
Medications
Drugs used for arthritis include:Analgesics such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or hydrocodone (Vicodin) which are used for pain relief.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and salicylates which are used to manage pain and inflammation. salicylates as aspirin are blood thinners therefore, they should be used cautiously with other blood thinners to avoid bleeding and hemorrhages.
Menthol or capsaicin creams are used to prevent the transmission of pain signals coming from the joints.
Immunosuppressants such as prednisone or cortisone are used to suppress inflammation.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy in the form of certain exercises is used to strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected joint.Surgery
Surgery is only recommended for severe cases where there is no improvement using conservative treatments (drugs). Surgeries used to manage arthritis include:Fusion: Two or multiple bones are forced to fuse together permanently. Fusion immobilizes the joint therefore reduces the pain associated with movement.
Joint replacement: A damaged, arthritic joint is replaced with a new artificial joint. Joint replacement preserves joint function and movement. The most common examples are hip replacement and knee replacement.
Medical marijuana and arthritis
Medical cannabis has become a legal treatment option in Canada and the US for many health conditions including arthritis since 2001. Although cannabis can't cure arthritis, many people reported that cannabis help to relieve their symptoms significantly. Cannabidiol (CBD), along with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which are found in medical marijuana are used to manage the pain associated with arthritis. CBD doesn't cause psychoactive effects unlike the more common compound tetrahydrocannabinol "THC" causing the "high" associated with marijuana.
According to a Gallup poll in August of 2019, around 14% of Americans reported using CBD products for several reasons, the most significant reason was to find a natural treatment for their pain. The Arthritis Foundation conducted its own poll and results were that 29% reported current use of CBD (mostly in liquid and topical forms), and about 80% of participants were either using it, had used it in the past, or were considering using it in the future. This shows that many people are realizing the effectiveness of natural treatments like medical marijuana from licensed doctors and practitioners throughout the US and in Virginia.
Marijuana has been confirmed by science and research to have lots of healing interactions within the body. Most of them remain unknown due to the war of legalization therefore you can only get medical marijuana by having a medical marijuana card that you get after being diagnosed with certain qualifying medical conditions by a qualified physician. According to the guidelines of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, medical cannabis is not advised to treat arthritis in patients under 25 years of age. At CannabisMD TeleMed we have licensed and qualified physicians standing by to diagnose and issue medical marijuana certificates to patients so they can receive their Virginia medical marijuana card.
Why should I choose medical marijuana to manage my arthritis?
Medical marijuana is a natural and affordable substitute to common medications used to manage arthritis which can protect you from all the side effects of more traditional drugs. Many patients who chose to use medical marijuana to manage their arthritis have experienced excellent results which include total pain relief so the need to use other medications decreased significantly besides improved movement and overall health.
The majority of people currently using CBD or THC for arthritis pain report almost total pain relief
87% of respondents who are currently using medical marijuana say they use CBD for managing arthritis symptoms
94% say that the main purpose of using CBD is to relieve pain.
Some survey participants indicated that they chose CBD products for pain because it is less addictive than opioids; a few say they have also used CBD and THC to give up opioids after joint replacement surgery.
33% of those respondents are considering CBD or THC use in the future by obtaining a medical marijuana card.
Many respondents also reported the positive effects of medical marijuana on the body, mind and spirit beyond pain relief:
67% noticed great improvement in their physical function.
More than 30% reported that it provides relief from morning stiffness and increases their range of movement.
Almost three-fourths report that it helps them sleep better (71%).
More than 30% say it helped ease the feeling of fatigue
41% report a better sense of overall health with the use of CBD.
Alleviating symptoms of anxiety was indicated by 77% of current CBD users.
67% indicated effectiveness in improving depression.
What are the side effects of medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana is rapidly becoming a popular natural treatment many doctors are turning to for arthritis because it lacks the adverse effects caused by other medications. The undesirable effects associated with medical marijuana are reported to be minor which also completely disappear once the medical marijuana leaves the body. These effects may include:
Increased appetite
Mood changes
Lethargy
Best marijuana strains for arthritis
There are numerous medical marijuana strains, certain strains were reported to significantly help those who have arthritis. The most recommended strains include:
Pennywise
Pennywise is an indica form of medical marijuana with mild psychoactive effects.Harlequin
Harlequin is an extremely popular sativa form of medical marijuana because it gives a relaxing sensation meanwhile it doesn't make the user feel sedated.Cannatonic
Cannatonic is considered a hybrid strain that gives a very relaxing sensation, mild high.AC/DC is a CBD-dominant (sativa) that does not alter perception or mood.
How can arthritis be prevented?
You can reduce your chance to develop arthritis by:
Avoiding tobacco use.
Performing low-impact, non-weight bearing exercise.
Maintaining a healthy body weight.
Avoiding joint injuries as much as possible.
What are the complications of arthritis?
Severe arthritis especially in hand and arms makes it difficult to perform daily activities while arthritis of weight-bearing joints prevents you from walking comfortably or even setting up straight. In few cases, joints have become twisted and deformed.
