The Chronic Pain Cycle: How Can Medical Cannabis Help?

The chronic pain cycle is a term used in the field of pain treatment. It depicts the intricate interaction of physical and mental elements that can lead to chronic pain. This includes a series of symptoms that might exacerbate pain management.

Our professional doctors prescribe a variety of CBPMs (cannabis-based prescription medications) to treat patients with chronic pain issues at Marucanna, a trade style of The Yardley Clinic that is supervised by the CQC for medicinal cannabis. In this post, we will look at the stages of the chronic pain cycle as well as solutions for breaking the pattern.

What is the progression of the chronic pain cycle?

Pain: When our bodies are injured or inflamed, the first response is pain. This sensation is the beginning point for a complicated cycle that can have a significant influence on our well-being.

Muscle guarding and reduced mobility: The same nerves that transmit pain also transmit an injury signal. The body’s defensive system tightens the muscles around the damaged region in reaction. Even after the original tissues have healed, prolonged muscle guarding results in reduced joint movement.

• Muscular atrophy and weakness: If muscular guarding and limited mobility continue, the afflicted muscles might weaken and begin to shrink, a condition called atrophy.
• Muscle inflammation and pain: At this stage, the inflammation might heighten pain perception, perhaps misinterpreting normally normal sensations as unpleasant.
• Reduced function: Prolonged guarding results in decreased healthy muscular function.
• Emotional and mental stress: Prolonged pain, guarding, and loss of function can result in feelings of rage, frustration, melancholy, and helplessness. This can increase physical strain, decrease motivation, and feed the cycle even more.

Breaking the Cycle of Chronic Pain

Understanding the stages of the cycle is essential for pain management. Now that you understand how it works, here are some measures patients may take to reduce pain:

• Consider medicinal cannabis treatment: Medical cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body, which governs many physiological activities, including pain perception. Furthermore, cannabinoids such as CBD have anti-inflammatory activities, treating the underlying inflammation that is frequently associated with chronic pain.
• Ice and heat treatments: Using both hot and cold treatments to bring relief might be beneficial. Heat relieves pain temporarily by increasing blood flow and relaxing stiff muscles. Meanwhile, cold packs or ice decrease pain by reducing inflammation.
• Exercise: Gentle motions, exercises, and stretches help to strengthen the tissues surrounding a sore joint. Physical therapy can help restore mobility and reduce or eliminate discomfort.
• Changing positions frequently: If you’re stuck at a desk for hours, change positions every 15 to 30 minutes and take a break to stretch, stroll, or do some mild exercises.
• Practice stress management skills: According to one study, those who use mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques enjoy more substantial pain alleviation than those who do not. Deep breathing techniques, meditation, yoga, colouring, writing, or listening to music can all help your body cope with stress.

Marucanna, how can we assist you?

If you are one of the 51% of people in the UK who are coping with a chronic, long-term health condition and have yet to find an appropriate treatment, cannabis-based prescription drugs may be able to help.

Our clinic provides customised therapies for a variety of illnesses, including pain management, psychiatry, neurology, palliative care, and cancer. Discover the conditions we support on our medical cannabis for pain page.

“Take our medical cannabis eligibility test” to see whether you qualify for medicinal cannabis.