Fibromyalgia
MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAY HELP WITH FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain all over the body (also referred to as widespread pain), sleep disorder, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress. People with fibromyalgia are usually more sensitive to pain than people without the condition. This is called abnormal pain perception processing. Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million US adults, about 2% of the adult population. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown; however, can be effectively treated and managed.
According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) about 5 million adults ages 18 or over in the United States experience fibromyalgia, and 80 to 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are typically women.
SIGNS AND SYMTPTOMS OF FIBROMYALGIA:
Fatigue and tiredness
Headaches, including migraines
Depression and anxiety
Sleep Disorder
Increased sensitivity to cold or heat
Difficulties with memory and concentration, known as “fibro-fog”
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Pain in the face or jaw, including disorders of the jaw known as a temporomandibular joint syndrome (also known as TMJ)
Digestive problems, such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and even irritable bowel syndrome ( also known as IBS)
Painful menstrual periods
Problems with vision
Nausea
Pelvic and urinary problems
Weight gain
Dizziness
Skin problems
Chest Symptoms
Breathing problems
RISK FACTORS:
AGE:
Fibromyalgia can affect people of all ages, including children. However, most people are diagnosed during middle age and the risk of fibromyalgia increases as one ages.
LUPUS OR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:
These two conditions increase the likelihood of developing fibromyalgia.
Other associated risk factors:
Sex: Women are twice as more likely to have fibromyalgia than men
Stressful or traumatic events: Events such as car accidents, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the likelihood of fibromyalgia.
Repetitive injuries: Injury from continuous stress on a join, such as frequent knee bending
Illness (such as viral infections)
Family History
Obesity
DIAGNOSIS OF FIBROMYALGIA
It can take some time to confirm the diagnosis of fibromyalgia because the symptoms resemble those of other conditions, such as hypothyroidism. These conditions must first be ruled out before diagnosing fibromyalgia. There are no laboratory tests for the condition which can lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis.
The American College of Rheumatology has established three criteria for diagnosing fibromyalgia.
Pain and symptoms out of 19 identified body parts, plus levels of fatigue, sleep problems, or cognitive problems.
Symptoms that have been ongoing for at least 3 months
Absence of other health problems that would explain the symptoms
FIBROMYALGIA AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Medical marijuana may help alleviate some symptoms of fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and memory problems. Medical marijuana (cannabis) comes from plants in the Cannabis genus. It contains two main active ingredients ( or compounds): tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is a psychoactive compound that gives a high sensation. IT can be smoked and is available in other forms, such as edibles, oils, and capsules.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning it doesn’t produce the “high” associated with THC. It’s found in gels, gummies, oils, supplements, extracts, and more. There are cannabis products that contain just CBD or THC, or a combination of both. Many people with fibromyalgia use marijuana products in the treatment of their symptoms.
The Handbook of Cannabis and Related Pathologies, published in 2017, indicates that cannabis and related products may be effective in treating some symptoms of fibromyalgia.
In 2017, The National Academies Press (NAP) published a comprehensive review of the health effects of cannabis, including therapeutic effects. According to the review, substantial evidence suggests cannabis is effective in treating chronic pain in adults.
OTHER TREATMENTS:
Aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening exercise
Acupuncture
Chiropractic care
Patient education classes, usually in primary care or community settings
Stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and massage
Good sleep habits to improve the quality of sleep
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat the underlying depression. CBT is a type of talk therapy meant to change the way people act or think.
Physical therapy
Low-dose antidepressants, although these are not the first-line treatment
How to Get Medical Marijuana to Treat Fibromyalgia Side Effects in Virginia
For patients who suffer from the side effects of Fibromyalgia or have any other medical condition or symptom they feel could benefit from marijuana treatment we recommend scheduling an appointment with our marijuana doctor or one of his cannabis practitioners.
By getting your Virginia marijuana card you will get access to the state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries which will allow patients to purchase marijuana and cannabis-infused products to alleviate the symptoms their medical conditions. The products sold at the state marijuana dispensaries in Virginia have strict controls on what can be in the product.
Many of our patients like that they will know exactly what is in their medical cannabis products when they purchase natural and medicinal marijuana products from the dispensaries. They also appreciate that it gives them access to the same potency product anytime they need it as well as the added benefit of being able to have it hand delivered to their door.
Start the process of getting your Virginia Marijuana Card today be clicking on the “Schedule an Evaluation” button below. All payments are 100% refundable if you are not certified for medical marijuana treatment. All medical conditions are considered by our marijuana doctor and his team of providers so if you are interested in seeing if you could benefit then schedule your appointment to get approved today!