Can medical marijuana help fibromyalgia patients by reducing fibromyalgia pain and symptoms? According to many people with fibromyalgia, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.” Scientific studies have shown that THC may help to decrease chronic pain in patients with fibromyalgia. In addition, most fibromyalgia patients who have tried medicinal marijuana for symptoms including pain, depression, and insomniareport that medical marijuana is effective and has few side effects.
Why Medical Marijuana Can Help to Treat Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome which is characterized by diffuse muscle and joint pain. Fibromyalgia may also be referred to as Fibromyositis or Fibrositis. In addition to the chronic pain common to most or all Fibromyalgia patients, Fibromyalgia symptoms may include insomnia, depression, skin conditions, hypoglycemia, a loss of mental acuity, fatigue, gentiurinary complications, and more. Many of these symptoms can be reduced or alleviated by using medical marijuana as prescribed by an experienced medical marijuana doctor.
Medical marijuana for Fibromyalgia patients works well due to the natural pain relieving properties of THC and other cannabinoids found in cannabis. A 2006 study found that THC, a primary substance found in medical marijuana, reduced both chronic pain and experimentally induced painby at least 50 percent in all patients who completed the THC therapy trial. In addition, clinical trials found that Nabilone, a synthetic medical marijuana pill, reduced pain and anxietysignificantly in Fibromyalgia patients.
While Nabilone is an option for people with Fibromyalgia who live in states where medical marijuana is not yet legal, patients in states with legal medical marijuana may well find medicinal marijuana to be more cost-effective than Nabilone, as well as more effective in relieving Fibromyalgia symptoms. Medical marijuana is also all-natural and usually distributed by locally owned small businesses, rather than pharmaceutical corporations.
Is Medical Marijuana for Fibromyalgia the Right Choice for You?
If you’re interested in using medical marijuana to treat your Fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms, your first step should be to find a medical marijuana doctor and schedule a consultation. If you anticipate that your doctor may be opposed to medicinal marijuana use for Fibromyalgia patients, come prepared with relevant information.
Once your doctor has recommended medical marijuana for you, you’ll need to find a legal, licensed distributor and medical marijuana caregiver. If your doctor is a medical marijuana specialist, he or she may be able to recommend medical marijuana distributors and/or caregivers for you. Acquiring medical marijuana can be a legal challenge depending upon your state’s medical marijuana laws. Be sure to choose a provider who is knowledgeable and experienced regarding state, city, and county laws governing the cultivation, transportation, and sale of medical marijuana.