Pain management is never easy. Chronic pain not only causes physical discomfort but can also cause emotional shifts, which can make everyday life much more challenging to tackle. Because of this, people often look for various ways to manage it. If you do some research, you are bound to find recommendations for CBD for back and neck pain. So, does this make sense? Is it simply a ploy to sell people ineffective products? Can you get the same result by smoking marihuana? Let’s find out.
Understanding CBD
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is a chemical found in Cannabis sativa, the plant from which we make hemp and marijuana. While Cannabis sativa has over 100 more compounds, the ones you need to remember are Cannabinoids. The two notable ones are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the one that makes you high. And Cannabidiol (CBD) doesn’t have intoxicating or psychoactive effects.
Does CBD Help improve our body and mind health?
Using cannabis for medical purposes is hardly a new idea. If you look into medical history, you will see that various cultures have used cannabis for more than 5000 years. The most common uses of cannabis include treatment for:
- Anxiety disorders like PTSD and GAD.
- Epilepsy
- Sleep disorders.
- Pain management.
Unfortunately, cannabis can contain high dosages of THC (depending on the type). This can cause serious health problems like addiction and even death. So, while cannabis has been used as medicine, it is by no means harmless.
Is CBD Legal Worldwide?
This largely depends on where you live. But, if you are in the U.S., there is a good chance that CBD is legal. You just have to check your state laws – mainly because different states have different rules on a federal level. Therefore, even though you can buy CBD products, you shouldn’t risk traveling with them.
Will you Get High while using CBD?
Again, here lies the most common misconception. Whether or not you’ll get high is based on the THC level in the substance. CBD alone won’t make you high. But, the fact that most people take marijuana which contains both means that it usually does. So, if you buy from trusted vendors and check the labels, you’ll be fine. CBD products can have a trace amount of THC. But this minuscule amount is hardly enough to make a person high.
Recommending CBD for Back and Neck Pain
Now that you know that CBD doesn’t make you high and is likely legal, you might feel inclined to get some. But, before you do, it is essential to understand the relationship between CBD and pain management.
A Word about Pain Management
The fact that you feel pain in the neck and/or back can be due to many things. It can be that you have a bad posture while working and that you’ve pinched a nerve. You might have moved recently and didn’t know the proper technique for handling heavy objects. In case you’re relocating, or planning to, take care to avoid injuries while moving. It can be that you have a more deep-rooted issue that simply shows itself as pain. And it can even be something psychosomatic.
Why is this important? Well, the fact that you are experiencing pain doesn’t mean you should opt for painkillers immediately. In certain situations, it is far better to make lifestyle changes than to make the pain go away. Of course, if the pain is debilitating or causing considerable discomfort, you should help yourself. But, opting for self-medication to postpone pain is never a wise option.
Does CBD Help with Pain?
Scientists have worked long and hard on testing CBD in pain treatment. And, unfortunately, the only definite answer they can give us is “Sometimes”. There are many reasons for this, one of which is that many things can cause pain. But, certain studies have shown that those suffering from neck and back pain can manage them through careful use of CBD. CBD will both reduce inflation and interact with neurotransmitters, lowering the pain sensation.
How to Take CBD?
Even rudimentary research into CBD will show you that there are tons of products out there. From lotions to ointments, creams, teas, pills, supplements, etc. Essentially anything can contain CBD in it. And just like with any medicine, we would advise you to first consult with a physician. They will help you understand the cause of your pain and find the right CBD product to manage it.
Know that certain products can have unwanted effects. They may interact with the drug you are already prescribed, or you may even be allergic to them. So, before making your choice, make sure you’ve consulted with your physician. In most cases, finding the right CBD product for pain management will require some trial and error. But, after a while, you will get it.
Those who vape know that CBD oil is not suitable. It can cause negative health consequences, which you shouldn’t toy with. What you are looking for are CBD vape juice and CBD cartridges.
Final Thoughts
While there is a promise of CBD for back and neck pain, know that you shouldn’t put all your hopes in it. Yes, some people do manage their pain with CBD. But this fact alone doesn’t prove that it is a pain panacea. As we mentioned, pain can be a complex bodily sensation. And you must understand the cause of it before you start your treatment.
The one thing we would definitely recommend against is using cannabis. THC can cause addiction, even with recreational use. And getting hooked on pain medicine is still a problem, even when talking about CBD. While we have nothing against the recreational use of marijuana (just like the recreational use of alcohol), it is crucial to make a difference between recreation and medicine.
