Note: The information given on this page is not medical advice and should not be relied on in this way. Individuals wanting medical advice on this issue should consult a health professional.
Chronic pain can have a debilitating impact on one’s ability to work, socialise, exercise and enjoy a quality day-to-day lifestyle. Given that approximately 45% of people with chronic pain also experience depression as a result, this physical condition can also take an emotional toll.
Defining this level of discomfort can be difficult, as patients experience various types and levels of pain from one condition to the next. In fact, the term “chronic pain” is often used to describe the ache, pain or distress that accompanies various medical conditions such as arthritis, migraines and back pain. Because of this, it’s important to seek out medical advice to understand the underlying cause, and how it may be interacting with other health conditions at hand.
Once these issues are identified, your doctor can begin exploring the most appropriate treatment for alleviating the symptoms of chronic pain. This may or may not include prescribing medical cannabis, depending on your medical practitioner’s diagnosis.
Chronic nerve pain and medicinal cannabis
While there is currently no single treatment that cures all forms of chronic pain, there have been modern studies done around the efficacy of treating chronic pain with medicinal cannabis, particularly:
- Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Nerve damage (neuropathic)
- Inflammation (inflammatory)
- Spasms (spasmodynia)
- Joint cartilage damage (joint osteoarthritis)
In certain circumstances, medicinal cannabis for chronic nerve pain is used in Australia for conditions relating to neuropathic discomfort, intractable cancer pain, postherpetic neuralgia (pain caused by inflammation), plexopathy (discomfort in the shoulder or arm), and spasticity in multiple sclerosis.
Cannabis contains compounds called cannabinoids, which regulate bodily functions, including pain perception and inflammation. For patients experiencing chronic pain where other treatments haven’t been effective, your doctor may prescribe medicinal cannabis with the goal to alleviate the symptoms of your chronic pain.
Book a telehealth appointment online at Balnce
Balnce uses telehealth services to connect doctors with people experiencing chronic pain, along with other conditions such as PTSD, insomnia, epilepsy and migraines. The doctors assess your condition and prescribe the most appropriate treatment for the symptoms you are experiencing. Balnce’s doctors are experienced in prescribing medicinal cannabis.
During your online telehealth consultation, the doctor will ask you questions about your medical history to gain a clear understanding of your chronic condition. Feel free to ask questions throughout the consultation process – Balnce telehealth services are confidential.
Ready for your consultation? Balnce’s team of GPs are available 24/7 with same day appointments – book online now.