Aching for a Better Alternative?

To close out Arthritis Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how medical marijuana may be a beneficial alternative treatment for this painful and debilitating disease. With over 31 million Americans suffering from various types of arthritis, the condition stands as the leading disability throughout the U.S.

As many may know, arthritis is most common among the middle-aged and elderly and is more so found in women compared to men. Although some classifications of arthritis are minor, the most severe can cause difficulty for daily activities, including writing, walking or climbing the stairs. Before we dive into how medical marijuana can help ease arthritis pain, it is important to understand the symptoms and how patients are at risk for developing this debilitating disease.

Risk Factors:

• Family history: Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you more susceptible to environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.

• Age: The risk of many types of arthritis — including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout — increases with age.
• Your sex: Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while men are more likely to develop gout.
• Previous joint injury: People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport, are more likely to eventually develop arthritis.
• Obesity: Carrying excess weight puts stress on joints, particularly your knees, hips and spine, leading to a higher risk of developing arthritis.

Symptoms:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motions
• Minor to severe pain

How Can Medical Cannabis Help?

For such a painful and uncomfortable disease, arthritis treatments are not always effective, causing patients to lose hope. Fortunately, many believe that medical marijuana has the power to bring great benefits to arthritis patients by alleviating painful symptoms and promoting healthy bones. The top three benefits of treating arthritis patients with medical cannabis are as follows:

• Pain Management: Shockingly enough, the treatment of musculoskeletal pain with medical marijuana dates back to the 1700s. On top of that, recent evidence suggests that cannabis-based therapies are effective when treating hip, joint and connective tissue disorders. Arthritis is one of the most chronically painful diseases, and cannabis is a promising treatment to help manage that pain.
• Anti-inflammatory: Studies have shown that cannabis has powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-modulation properties. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a great option with medical marijuana after studies have shown that cannabis increases mobility and reduces morning stiffness and inflammation.
• Bone Health: Bone healthiness is very important in arthritis pathology. As bones undergo destruction and degradation throughout natural aging life, patients become more at risk of developing arthritis and those with it experience more pain. Recent studies have suggested that cannabis treatment promotes positive bone growth and maintenance. 

“The importance of cannabinoids in bone health has been established in transgenic mice that are missing either the CB1 or CB2 receptor. These mice develop osteoporosis much more quickly than normal or wild mice. Research has recently shown that mice missing both cannabinoid receptors have extremely weak bones, a condition that underlies osteoporosis and osteoarthritis pathology” (SafeAccessNow)

Are you interested in treating your patients with medical marijuana, but worried you don’t currently have enough credible data to do so? Join Arfinn Med for FREE to get real medical marijuana treatment efficacies, discuss treatment options with other licensed physicians and stay up-to-date on all of the latest industry findings.

Sources:

https://www.safeaccessnow.org/arthritis

https://www.arthritis.org/https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350772