Back pain is a problem for the majority, and more than half of every population complain of back pain at some point in their life, only that the severity and frequency differ from one person to another. The conventional back pain management methods include physiotherapy and painkillers but not every person has had the best experience with any of these. Consequently, people are constantly on the move and are searching for alternative management methods for back pain. Could CBD oil help reduce back pain? Generally, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that CBD oil can cure or treat pain. Still, you might want to peer into this article to know what experts and research say about CBD oil.
Why Is Back Pain Such a Bother?
No pain is sweet, and neither is back pain. Back pains top the list of the pains people suffer and are always linked to other forms of pain. It is in the back where the bone system is located, when one bone or disc is affected, the effects are felt far and wide, and other parts of the body have to bear the pain. Unfortunately, the vertebral system is complicated but is among the most delicate systems in the body. Falls, trips, accidents and strenuous activities are a few common causes of back pain. Besides, a sedentary lifestyle, physical activities, sports and the seats people use may cause their back pain. Irrespective of the causes or triggers of a person’s back pain, the effects are undesirable since the pain affects one’s quality of life, mobility and productivity. As such, when conventional management methods fail, people look for alternatives, including CBD oil.
Can CBD Oil help with Back Pain?
According to Bebee, et al., (2021)., CBD is believed to help with pains, including back pain. Nonetheless, the Harvard Medical School, through its Medical Publishing, comments that the market claims do not match the actual effects of CBD oil. This basically means that people could be overemphasizing the potential of CBD oil, which could be true because there is not enough scientific evidence and studies to prove that CBD oil could help with chronic and acute pain, including back pain. If anything, the initial studies that form the basis of most assumptions of CBD on pain are either animal-based, crafted on human models or feature small subjects that cannot make the basis of scientific studies. What’s more, the FDA has only approved the use of CBD oil for epilepsy, in which Epidiolex, a cannabis-derived medication, is used to manage Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut, two rare forms of epilepsy.
CBD Oil for Inflammation
In most cases, inflammation and pain are found together, and you expect inflammation in points affected by pain. Usually, inflammation should not be a harmful process but a reaction the body triggers when it senses foreign substances. However, spontaneous inflammation is linked to pain and may be the cause or trigger of many lifestyle complications, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes type 2. Besides, inflammation causes pain to be more severe. What do studies say about inflammation, as in the case of back pain? One research by Hammell, et al., (2016)., claims that CBD oil has the potential to fight inflammation, suggesting that it could help relieve back pain and reduce inflammation. Still, another study investigated the role of CBD oil in the body and how the endocannabinoid system related to it and noted its interaction with the endocannabinoid system and the endocannabinoid-receptor activity might lead to reduced inflammation. Still, another 2016 study noted that topically applying CBD oil on rats with arthritis could promote pain and inflammation reduction. While this sounds more like the go-for option for inflammation, only further studies will prove that CBD oil might help with inflammation.
Case Studies of CBD Oil for Pain- Can CBD Oil Help with Back Pain?
As mentioned earlier, there is not enough scientific evidence to show that CBD oil might help with pain, chronic and acute, including back pain. In fact, there are currently no studies on CBD oil for back pain, and the existing research has examined how CBD oil might help with general pain. Here are case studies of CBD oil on pain.
CBD Oil for Chronic Pain
CBD proponents claim that the cannabinoid can help with just about anything, including chronic pain. What do experts say about CBD oil and chronic pain? One study conducted by Capano, et al., (2020)., examined the effect of CBD oil on people with different cases of chronic pain. In the end, it noted that the cannabinoid group had more than 94% of the subjects reported considerable improvement in chronic pain. Most life forms, including humans, are believed to have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which seems to interact with cannabinoids like CBD oil to reduce pain. However, there is a need for further studies before claiming CBD oil and its interaction with the ECS to fight pain.
CBD Oil for Sharp Pains and Itchy Feeling
CBD topicals are among the most popular forms of utilizing CBD. They include gels, serums, balms, patches, massage oils and shampoos. One trial by Xu, et al., (2020)., shows that topically applying CBD oil might help reduce sharp pains and cold chills that come with them. The trial offers promising findings and, if supported by other studies, could form a basis for claiming remedy in CBD oil, including when managing back pain.
CBD Oil for Neuropathic, Cancer, and Fibromyalgia Pain
More studies, like that above, claim that CBD oil could help with pain, even in the case of fibromyalgia. For instance, a review conducted in 2018 examined studies on CBD oil and pain from 1975 through March 1975. It noted that CBD oil promised to reduce cancer, neuropathic and fibromyalgia pain. Even so, we do not recommend CBD oil, and whoever chooses it should consult his doctor first.
Conclusion
Some initial studies and anecdotal research suggest that CBD oil could help with the pain. However, they focus on general pain in arthritis, cancer, fibromyalgia and neuropathy. Besides, most of the studies use animal subjects, which do not make ideal indicators in scientific studies. As such, we do not recommend CBD oil for back pain, but whoever chooses that route should consult a doctor to know the appropriate CBD dosage.
References
Bebee, B., Taylor, D. M., Bourke, E., Pollack, K., Foster, L., Ching, M., & Wong, A. (2021). The CANBACK Trial: A Randomised, Controlled Clinical Trial Of Oral Cannabidiol For People Presenting To The Emergency Department With Acute Low Back Pain. Medical Journal Of Australia, 214(8), 370-375.
Capano, A., Weaver, R., & Burkman, E.
(2020). Evaluation Of The Effects Of CBD Hemp Extract On Opioid Use And Quality
Of Life Indicators In Chronic Pain Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study. Postgraduate
Medicine, 132(1), 56-61.
Hammell, D. C., Zhang, L. P., Ma, F., Abshire, S.
M., Mcilwrath, S. L., Stinchcomb, A. L., & Westlund, K. N. (2016). Transdermal
Cannabidiol Reduces Inflammation And Pain‐Related Behaviours In A Rat Model Of Arthritis. European Journal Of
Pain, 20(6), 936-948.
Xu, D. H., Cullen, B. D., Tang, M., & Fang,
Y. (2020). The Effectiveness Of Topical Cannabidiol Oil In Symptomatic Relief
Of Peripheral Neuropathy Of The Lower Extremities. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 21(5), 390-402.
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