According to the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, 100 million Americans live with chronic pain. Along with drastically reducing quality of life, chronic pain can increase healthcare costs and have a negative impact on productivity at work.

Common types of chronic pain include but may not be limited to: Cancer pain, fibromyalgia, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), back pain, migraine, multiple sclerosis pain, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis and temporomandibular disorder (often referred to as “TMJ”)

Over-the-counter and prescription pain medications are often recommended in the treatment of chronic pain, but many people seek out alternative forms of relief (such as herbs, nutritional supplements, and products like Cannabidiol or CBD).

Some of these people wish to avoid the side effects frequently associated with standard pain medication, while others have concerns about becoming dependent on such medications. In fact, some proponents suggest that CBD could provide a solution to opioid addiction as concerns over opioid overdoses continue to escalate.

CBD Studies In Pain Management

Studies on CBD and pain management have shown a great deal of promise. People have used CBD traditionally for thousands of years to treat various types of pain, but the medical community has only recently begun to study it again.

A study in the European Journal of Pain used an animal model to see if CBD could help people with arthritis manage their pain. Researchers applied a topical gel containing CBD to rats with arthritis for 4 days. Their researchers noted a significant drop in inflammation and signs of pain, without additional side effects.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the entire body through the nerves and brain. Muscle spasms are one of the most common symptoms of MS. These spasms can be so great, that they cause constant and prolonged pain in people with MS.

One report found that short-term use of CBD oil could reduce the levels of spasticity a person with MS feels. The results are modest, but many people reported a reduction in symptoms.

On a related study about the effectiveness of CBD use for general chronic pain, the researchers compiled the results of multiple systematic reviews covering dozens of trials and studies. The research concluded that there is substantial evidence that CBD is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.

A separate study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine supports these results. This research suggested that using CBD can reduce pain and inflammation. The researchers also found that subjects were not likely to build up a tolerance to the effects of CBD, so they would not need to increase their dose continually. They noted that CBD, could offer helpful new treatments for people with chronic pain.

CBD is also used by some people who have cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has pointed to CBD as a possible option for relieving symptoms caused by chemotherapy. One study by the NCI tested CBD oil extracts sprayed into the mouth. The CBD oil was used in conjunction with opioids. This study revealed better pain management with the help of CBD oil.

The Takeaway

Chronic pain is the most common reason for medicinal cannabis use, according to a recent survey. If you have a chronic pain condition and have not been able to manage it with standard treatment (or wish to avoid the adverse effects of other medications), you may want to consider CBD for pain relief.

Almost all research on CBD and pain comes from animal and adult trials. Experts do not recommend CBD for use in children, as there is little research on the effects of CBD oil on a child’s developing brain. People should consult a doctor if they think a child needs to use CBD for seizures.CBD oil is also not recommended during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

Series of studies regarding the effect of CBD in pain management. The compiled comprehensive results in these studies are sufficient evidence which may conclude that CBD is a good alternative relief for chronic pain. However, it is still encouraged to do continuous studies to make this an iron-clad conclusion.