Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by intense musculoskeletal pain that affects 5 million Americans. Studies have shown marijuana effectively lowers pain levels and improves quality of sleep in patients.
Fibromyalgia is a common disorder characterized by widespread pain and fatigue that primarily affects women. The disorder can greatly affect a person’s abilities to perform daily activities and causes sleep problems. According to Mayo Clinic, having fibromyalgia affects the way the brain processes pain signals and makes painful sensations feel amplified.
In addition to pain, fatigue and sleep problems, those with fibromyalgia may also experience cognitive and memory problems, headaches, morning stiffness, painful menstrual periods, numbness or tingling, restless legs syndrome, temperature to sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, and depression.
The causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, but the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases notes that many people associate their fibromyalgia to a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic event. Repetitive injuries or illnesses are also commonly associated to fibromyalgia by patients. Others claim the disorder developed spontaneously.
There is no cure of fibromyalgia, so treatment focus is on controlling symptoms with pain relievers, antidepressants, exercise and therapy.
Findings: Effects of Cannabis on Fibromyalgia
The cannabinoids [all 100+ of them] contained in cannabis have both analgesic and sleep-promoting effects to help fibromyalgia patients manage symptoms. Studies have found that cannabis is effective at improving sleep disruption, pain, depression, joint stiffness, anxiety, physical function and quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia (de Souza Nascimento, et al., 2013) (Russo, 2004).
While fibromyalgia is known for causing intense and unrelenting musculoskeletal pain, cannabis has proven effective at offering fibromyalgia patients relief. Fibromyalgia patients treated with cannabis and assessed over a seven-month period experienced significant pain intensity improvements and were able to reduce their doses of opioids (Weber, et al., 2009). One study discovered that after four weeks of cannabis treatment, fibromyalgia patients experienced significantly less pain and anxiety whereas a placebo group saw no improvements (Skrabek, Galimova, Ethans & Perry, 2008). Another study reported significant reductions in pain and stiffness, an enhancement of relaxation and an increase in somnolence and feeling of well being in fibromyalgia patients two hours after they smoked or orally consumed cannabis (Fiz, et al., 2011).
Cannabis has also been found to be effective at improving sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia (Ware, Fitzcharles, Joseph & Shir, 2010).
The bulk of the text above is from http://medicalmarijuanainc.com/fibromyalgia-medical-marijuana-research/#sthash.m1jQhndk.dpuf
Cannabidiol (CBD) Fibromyalgia Studies
- Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD): Can this concept explain therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions? (Pubmed)
- Cannabis use in patients with fibromyalgia (PubMed)
Cannabidiol (CBD) Fibromyalgia Videso
Very good short talk about CBD from cannabis. The speaker is referring to CBD from Marijuana, not hemp. He mentions the difficulty of finding high CBD marijuana, but he doesnt explain that Hemp has high levels of CBD that we want. Nonetheless, a very good intro video:
Cannabidiol (CBD) Fibromyalgia Testimonials
Click here for links to testimonials
Related Articles:
- Find other articles here with a mention of Fibromyalgia in them
ECD: This 2004 study by Ethan Russo, published in the journal Neuroendocrinology, examines the concept of clinical endocannabinoid deficiency and the prospect that it could underlie the pathophysiology of migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other functional conditions alleviated by clinical cannabis. Click here to read about Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (ECD or CECD)
