Suffering from back pain? Best way to deal with it using CBD oil

Updated on March 10, 2020

Back pain:

Back pain is the main reason to visit doctor. Lower back pain is the most common and experienced by almost 80 percent of the adults in their lifetime. Back pain can be described by backache, slipped disc, pinched nerve, sciatica, sprain or strain. 

Types of back pain

It can be acute or chronic. Acute pain occurs suddenly and lasts for few days or weeks. It becomes chronic when it lasts for three or more months. 

Causes of back pain

Sometimes back pain mislead you as the pain is intense but the cause is quite minor. Lumbar strain is an example that can be treated without any surgery but sometimes the pain may be caused due to compression fracture. The other causes may include

  • Trauma
  • Osteoarthritis 
  • Disc disorder 
  • Poor posture 
  • Sprain or strain
  • Infection 

Treatment 

For the treatment of back pain, rarely surgery is needed. Non-surgical treatments like the use of CBD oil and Best Back Braces is more effective to get rid of pain and symptoms. The selection of therapies depends on your doctor.

  • Use of NSAIDs 
  • Muscle relaxants 
  • Acupuncture 
  • CBD oil
  • Physical therapy

CBD  

Decarboxylated form of CBD-A is known as cannabidiol. This is also called as cannabidiol carboxylic acid. On heating this becomes CBD. 

How does the CBD oil helps to cure back pain?

Could the cannabis-based medications (CBD oil) be the cure for pain. CBD oil is in use to treat arthritis and backache. CBD oil can be applied topically or given orally. According to researchers CBD produces an analgesic effects by following different mechanism of actions. Most obvious is that it binds to cannabinoid receptors. CBD is a partial agonist of serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and agonist of glitazone receptor. It acts as inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor.

Mechanism of action of CBD 

CBD oil for the back pain acts by the following mechanism of action:

  • It is CB1 receptor agonist
  • It acts as CB2 receptor agonist and GPR3 (inverse agonist)
  • It works as GPR6 (inverse agonist) and GPR12 (inverse agonist)
  • GPR55 (antagonist) receptors
  • It works by acting as a Glitazone receptor agonist

How to use CBD oil for back pain?

CBD oil is in use since long time to cure back pain. Nose sprays are also available that deliver CBD/THC or CBD and are effective in different conditions. CBD oil can be used topically, sublingually, by vaping or can be eaten for better results.

Topical use of CBD oil

It is the safest way to use CBD oil to treat back pain. Simply rub the recommended dose on the area causing pain. You can also get it rubbed on the affected area of your back by someone else. It get absorbed by topical application and shows anti-inflammatory effects at its site of application. It get absorbed in systemic circulation and effects the nervous system as well. 

Sublingual use of CBD oil

Put the CBD under your tongue for almost 60 second. CBD will get absorbed through mucosa, avoiding first pass metabolism as it bypasses the liver. This will theoretically improve the absorption of CBD and increases its bioavailability. This is the 2nd most safe method to use CBD oil.

By Vaping CBD oil

It is convenient for some users to vape CBD oil for back pain. Study at Johns Hopkins found the leakage of some metals from vaping pens into oil may results in some unknown long-term effects.

CBD for the relief of back pain

CBD oil is natural and is used to treat pain for hundreds of years. Cannabinoid influences everything including inflammation, anxiety and depression in human body. There is very little risk of tolerance, addiction and overdose. Smoking and vaping of CBD oil can damage lungs. 

How can CBD be consumed and where can I get it? 

Your doctor can not prescribe cannabinoids but only recommend you the use as there is no RDA (recommended daily allowance) or universal dose. CBD oil dosage forms for back pain is available as following:

  • Liquid CBD oil/tinctures/extracts
  • CBD E-liquid/vape cartridges 
  • CBD edibles 
  • CBD Isolates/concentrates  

As CBD is legal in many sates of US , you can get it from many online suppliers. 

  • CBDistillery
  • Koi CBD
  • Medterra
  • Green Roads
  • Nature’s script
  • Bluebird Botanicals
  • Populum 

Using CBD oil for back pain: risk and side effects 

CBD shows little side effects even on its high doses in treatment of back pain. Opioids are mostly available as controlled drugs in many states of US. But CBD oil is available as OTC(over the counter) in some states. There is no such risk of withdrawal syndrome. It includes the following side effects:

  • Diarrhea
  • Increased live enzyme
  • Rashes
  • Infection 
  • Fatigue 
  • Sleep disturbances 
  • Drowsiness 

Other benefits of using CBD for pain:

CBD is one of 120 compounds called cannabinoids and is mostly obtained from cannabis. 

Arthritis:

European journal of pain studied on animal models and note a significant drop in inflammation and pain. But more studies could be done to confirm these.

Multiple sclerosis:

An autoimmune disease effects the whole body through brain and nerves. Short term use of CBD oil may reduces the level of spasticity.

Chronic pain:

Researchers concluded by substantial evidence the use of cannabis as an effective treatment for chronic pain.

Other uses

CBD oil has different legal status across United States and is currently being used in following conditions:

  • Treatment of seizures and epilepsy 
  • Treatment of anxiety 
  • In drug withdrawal 
  • In smoking cessation 
  • Antipsychotic effects

More research is required to confirm the use of CBD oil in pain. Epidiolex is the only FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved drug.

+ posts

Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.