Back pain can be considered chronic once it lasts longer than three months. Most back pain is the result of muscle strain, an injury, or a spinal deformity, but it can also be caused by rheumatic or systemic illness.
While the pain can come and go, it can be frustrating to know that the relief is only temporary—medical cannabis could be the permanent solution you’ve been waiting for.
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Back Pain Statistics in New Orleans
Back pain can develop anywhere in the back—from the lower spine to the—neck and can be spread throughout a wide area or more localized, radiating from a certain point in the back.
No matter what kind of back pain you suffer from, you can take comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one going through it.
Here are a few statistics on medical marijuana and back pain in Louisiana:
- A study that counted 200 patients found that 89% of the patients admitted that medical marijuana moderately reduced their pain, while 81% said that MMJ was better compared to narcotic medications
- When chronic pain was included as a qualifying condition for the use of medical marijuana, a doctor who was already licensed to recommend medical marijuana in Louisiana said that around 75% of his patients complained of chronic pain.
What Conditions Can be Treated with Cannabis?
There is a wide range of conditions related to back pain, but thankfully, medical marijuana can help to provide relief for these and their symptoms, including:
- Back pain
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Inflammation
- Muscle sprains
- Ruptured disc
- Sciatica
- Osteoporosis
- Scoliosis
- Bulging disc
- Arthritis
Some of the more conventional treatments used for these conditions include pills to treat nerve pain, anti-inflammatories, and addictive medications such as antidepressants, narcotics, and injection therapy. Another treatment that patients turn to is surgery, which may cause problems down the line.
As a result, more and more people are turning to medical marijuana for the safe and effective treatment of back pain.
Can Cannabis be Used for Pain Management?
Yes.
The Pelican State established laws on medical marijuana decades ago, which means it’s perfectly legal to get medical marijuana in Louisiana.
Furthermore, in August 2019, Baton Rouge opened the state’s first cannabis dispensary, and more followed soon after.
Since these facilities opened, the state’s medical-marijuana program has further expanded to include various conditions such as pain management, along with many cannabis products.
Would Cannabis Help with Back Pain?
Yes — most patients who use medical marijuana use it to manage all kinds of chronic pain, including back pain.
Medical marijuana is known to help alleviate the various symptoms linked to back pain, where it can reduce muscle spasms. According to a few studies, patients have reported up to 40% less pain within 20 minutes after using medical marijuana.
It’s also particularly effective when it comes to treating back spasms, where many states have approved its use to treat muscle spasms.
In Louisiana, MMJ is approved for use on severe intractable or chronic pain, as well as the pain of neuropathic origin.
How is Medical Marijuana an Effective Treatment for Back Pain?
Today, medical cannabis is used as an alternative to conventional treatments and is quickly becoming the preferred treatment for many patients suffering from back pain.
For instance, traditional medications that cause a wide range of side effects such as upset stomach, nausea, gastric bleeding, and ulcers are now being replaced by medical marijuana since they don’t have these side effects. Here are just a few ways in which MMJ is used to help with back pain:
- It allows you to be treated without being exposed to potentially addictive and dangerous medications while providing a better quality of life
- It can reduce pain to the point where you can live a more active lifestyle
- It comes from plants that are free from chemicals and are naturally grown
- Medical marijuana can eliminate or reduce insomnia, depression, and anxiety which are byproducts of chronic back pain
Get Your Cannabis Card Today
If you want to use medical cannabis to get relief from back pain, be sure to apply for your medical marijuana card today.
While there won’t be a physical card, we can help you get the recommendation you need to present to any dispensary throughout the state of Louisiana.
