Chronic pain is a very difficult-to-tolerate condition that is experienced by millions of patients all over the world. They all seek medicines that can alleviate the pains and other related complications without rendering them dependent or causing severe side effects. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the possibility of using medical marijuana for chronic pain as a means of self-treatment. This paper aims to review the use of medical cannabis in therapy as it relates to the management of pain and its applicability in home-based care, especially in stroke home care services.
Regardless of its origin, individuals with chronic pain suffer from a wide range of diseases, such as arthritis, nerve disorders, cancer, migraines, and others. It may persist for many months or even years and result in physical and emotional suffering. Opioid pain relievers, which are the traditional medications used, can be addicting, leading to cases of overdosing. As a result, there is a growing demand for other forms of pain relief, such as the medicinal use of marijuana.
Medical marijuana refers to the use of marijuana as a medication to treat or alleviate various diseases or medical conditions. The two main cannabinoids have been the focus of numerous researches, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC, on the other hand, is an ingredient that has euphoric or psychoactive properties and is widely regarded as the substance that produces the ‘high’ associated with marijuana and has been found to have possible medical benefits, unlike CBD.
Potential Benefits of Therapeutic Marijuana for Chronic Pain Management
Effective Pain Relief: The most crucial therapeutic class of medical cannabis, which has been the most widely adopted and documented, is pain relief. Research has, therefore, demonstrated that the Cannabis plant can help in managing chronic pain through the endocannabinoid system that is responsible for pain modulation. However, in patients with certain illnesses such as fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, arthritis, and cancer, cannabis has been said to alleviate pain when other methods have not done so.
Reduced Reliance on Opioids: The opioid crisis has revealed long-term opioid use negatively, mainly in the aspect of addiction and the risk of overdose. It can be seen that medical cannabis can lead to reduced dependence on opioids and other drugs. A cross-sectional survey in the Journal of Pain revealed that patients who were prescribed medical marijuana for pain control reduced their opioid consumption. This makes cannabis a safer option for those who are concerned with side effects resulting from prescription painkillers.
Minimal Side Effects: It is proven that medical cannabis has fewer side effects compared to other opioids or pharmacological drugs. Some people may have side effects like a dry mouth or dizziness, but these are usually more mild symptoms than long-term medications. Also, cannabis strains that are high in CBD offer relief from pain without the usual hallucinogenic properties found in THC.
Improved Quality of Life: Chronic pain results in decreased quality of life and simplification of the simplest tasks in the life of the patients. Medical cannabis has a positive impact on patient daily functioning, quality of sleep, and mood, with lessening anxiety or depression due to the effective pain management provided by it. This is most helpful for those who have chronic pain at home because it helps them gain control of their symptoms and reduce feelings of helplessness.
In the case of chronic pain, self-administration of the drug in the comfort of their homes is also possible with medical cannabis. In contrast to some conventional therapies that may necessitate daily visits to a medical center, cannabis can be consumed at home as oils, gummies, capsules, and creams. It is also easy to use, which makes it ideal for people who constantly require pain relief without the help of a qualified doctor.
In terms of stroke home care services, there may be other advantages of medical cannabis. Many people have aches and pains in their bodies because of nerve damage and muscle stiffness after a stroke. The use of this medication as part of the home treatment plan can partly alleviate this pain and make the patient more comfortable. Healthcare professionals can help caregivers of stroke patients in-home care services plan how they can correctly use cannabis to manage pain.
Advancements in medical cannabis for pediatric home-based pain management
With the trend of legalizing marijuana for medical use on the rise, those who stand to benefit from cannabis are getting more. There have been some animal studies and some clinical trials. Still, it is in the process of being endorsed for chronic pain, and it is being accepted by many doctors to incorporate cannabis into the management of pain.
Nevertheless, patients and caregivers should seek advice from a healthcare practitioner before using cannabis to manage pain when they are in touch with stroke home care services and if one has other multiple health complications. So, understanding dosage and patients’ strain selection, as well as the right degree of monitoring of the intake of medical marijuana, can significantly influence the outcome.
Medical cannabis is an effective way of addressing the problem by providing pain management at home, coupled with reducing the use of opioids. For stroke patients who have to use home care services or those who have to take pain systematically, cannabis is thus a healthier option than using opioids. The increasing legalization of medical cannabis may serve as a critical contribution toward enhancing the daily experience of chronically painful patients who self-administer treatment from their homes.
