Imagine feeling excruciating pain, like that of something tearing the muscles off your bones, for minutes, hours, or even days. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what life is like when you have fibromyalgia.
People with fibromyalgia are in a constant state of pain. Although opioid painkillers can offer relief, their use can be dangerous, addictive, and even deadly. The good news is that some people with fibromyalgia have reported experiencing similar levels of pain relief when using CBD oil.
However, before we examine the basis for these claims, we need to understand better what fibromyalgia is and what its symptoms are.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition which causes musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive issues.
The second most common musculoskeletal pain condition, fibromyalgia affects around 4 million Americans over the age of 18.
Nobody knows for sure what causes fibromyalgia; although some doctors believe that the origin could be related to how the brain and spinal cord process pain signals differently in people with the condition.
Despite the lack of a cure or effective treatment for fibromyalgia, people with this condition can obtain some relief by following a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, taking painkillers, exercising, and focusing on their mental well being.
Studies suggest a link between CBD oil use and pain management
Although there are only a few studies dealing with CBD oil and its effect on fibromyalgia, the link between CBD oil and pain management has been studied extensively in other conditions, and so far the results look promising.
A 2009 study concluded that CBD could offer relief to neuropathic pain, while two additional studies claim to have managed to reduce pain symptoms in people with nerve injuries.
According to a 2016 report, CBD targets the endocannabinoid system which is responsible for managing pain; although another study suggests that CBD might block the nerve pathways through which pain signals reach the brain.
Whichever the reason may be, there seems to be enough evidence to suggest that CBD oil could offer pain relief to a variety of conditions.
CBD oil could be a safer alternative to painkillers
The standard pain treatment for fibromyalgia involves using opioid painkillers to suppress activity in the nervous system.
The problem with these drugs is that they can also suppress the vital areas of the brain, such as the brainstem, that are needed to control our heart rate and breathing. But if that wasn’t bad enough, there is also the very real possibility of growing addicted to opioids and becoming another casualty of the nationwide opium crisis.
CBD oil, by comparison, is considerably safer than opioids as it’s made using the non-psychoactive hemp plant, carries no risk of addiction, and has very mild side effects.
Many fibromyalgia patients who’ve used CBD oil assure that it helps them deal with chronic pain, stress, sleep issues, inflammation and muscle spasms; although there are a few who deny having felt any benefit at all. In the latter case, though, this might be related to the quality of CBD used, as an FDA report shows that some low-end CBD oil brands might contain little to no CBD at all.
CBD’s reputation as a natural remedy and low risks — when compared to painkillers –has made it an instant hit amongst people with fibromyalgia.
However, if you have the condition and want to try CBD oil to see if it can ease your pain, you should make sure you talk with your general practitioner first so he can advise you on what dosage and CBD product is best for you.
References
- Highland Pharms (2018, December 16) CBD OIL FOR FIBROMYALGIA: DOES IT WORK?
- RedOrbit (2017, October 09) How Effective is CBD oil for Fibromyalgia Treatment?
- Healthline (2017, December 1) CBD for Fibromyalgia
- Medical News Today (2018, July 31) How can CBD help with fibromyalgia?
- Verywell Health (2018, December 16) CBD for Fibromyalgia: Is it Effective, Safe, or Legal?