Characterized by the effective treatment of symptoms in the most common and chronic health diseases, CBD once again stands out as an excellent option to relieve the ailments that a disease as painful as fibromyalgia can cause, taking care of not only one, but also several symptoms associated with this disease.
Thanks to the research that has been postulated in collaboration with the acceptance of CBD as a therapeutic medicine, this cannabis compound, which is also not psychotropic, has had great relevance in the medicine industry, threatening to be a substitute for conventional treatment or a complement to achieve the correct eradication of pathological complications.
In this article we will explore what are the benefits that Cannabidiol brings us to treat fibromyalgia, we will check how effective the use of cannabinoids is to treat fibromyalgia. the treatment of pain and other symptoms associated with this disease, we will leave at your disposal the best methods to use this wonderful compound so that you can take advantage of 100% of its benefits.
Fibromyalgia
This disease is defined by a alteration in pain perception, causing stimuli that are normally harmless to become seriously painful, hence the name fibromyalgia (musculoskeletal pain), it is more common in women than in men, and can attack 3% to 6% of the population, according to what is established According to the National Fibromyalgia Association or FMA, this condition can in turn be associated with other diseases or events such as physical trauma, surgery, severe psychological stress or infections, receiving the name concomitant fibromyalgia.
On the other hand, this condition may be caused by unknown causes of the body, which is why it is called primary fibromyalgia, this can appear at a certain time in life, as a result of a constant accumulation over the years, allowing the development of the disease for no apparent reason, the specific cause of this disease is still being studied.
Methods such as exercising, relaxation and in general Any activity that reduces a person's stress in their life can help treat this disease. without a cure, but upon developing this condition, the patient begins to present symptoms such as generalized muscle pain and stiffness, extreme fatigue, cognitive difficulties such as inability to concentrate, visual focus and attention, as well as usually presenting with migraines, interstitial cystitis. , irritable bowel syndrome, among others.
The risk factors could be, as mentioned above, the type of sex, rheumatoid arthritis and family history, since, if you have a family member with this disease, the probabilities will increase.
What do scientists think about the use of CBD in the treatment of FM?
There are various studies carried out to date, which demonstrate the action of cannabinoids in the decrease of the symptoms of fibromyalgia, below we will see some of them:
First of all, it is important to mention a study carried out in 2004, focused on discovering what interaction the endocannabinoid system has with chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia, where it was shown that endocannabinoid deficiency has a high relationship with migraine, fibromyalgia, SII, among others; In FM, cannabinoids have been shown to have the ability to block the peripheral, gastrointestinal and spinal mechanisms that promote pain, headaches, IBS and others, which in turn tells us that these types of conditions can be reliably treated with medications. cannabis.
We have a study published in The Journal of Pain carried out in 2008, where a group of patients with fibromyalgia was taken, who were exposed to a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, where they were randomly administered a synthetic cannabinoid called Nabilone, yielding as result a fairly notable improvement in symptoms related to illness such as pain.
Another study from the same year focused on demonstrating that CBD could relieve migraines and fibromyalgia, which led to the execution of a study in 2009 where researchers concluded that Cannabidiol could reduce neuropathic pain.
A 2011 study demonstrated the effectiveness of both inhaled and oral cannabis in reducing pain and stiffness, thus promoting the patient's quality of life.
A little later specifically in 2014, the National Pain Foundation or NPF, in conjunction with the National Pain Report or NPR, conducted a study based on online surveys of 1.300 patients with fibromyalgia, of which of which 70% had never tried cannabis; In this study they showed that Cannabis is more effective in treating FM symptoms than conventional medications themselves, which are three that are approved by the FDA and their names are: Duloxetine, Pregabalin and Milnacipran.
A 2019 study, which they called “Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis in Fibromyalgia” included 367 patients with fibromyalgia, the objective of the researchers was to establish whether the components of cannabis were really efficient in relieving pain in the disease, as well as as well as whether these compounds could cause any side effects.
Taking into account that, the patients were measured regarding the intensity of their pain, obtaining a result of 9 points, on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 is not at all and 10 is very intense, the patients were administered cannabis for 6 months. At the end of the study, the average pain score that was collected was 5 points, this being a quite exciting result for the researchers, they also obtained that more than 80% of the patients, they said not having noticed side effects during the improvement of their illness.
A final study conducted the same year, consisted of 20 patients with chronic fibromyalgia pain to test in a double-blind investigation, 4 types of treatments with CBD and THC in different concentrations, all inhaled, this showed as a result that patients who consumed CBD and THC in practically equal concentrations, had a decrease in pain 30% after the first inhalation, compared to those of the placebo.
The most relevant symptom and CBD
In fibromyalgia, as in any disease, there is a symptom that is more relevant than the others, not because of its importance but because of the impact it causes on the patient. In this case we are talking about pain, which due to its intensity and duration could be called chronic pain, this symptom should be the main focus in the treatment of FM, since it Pain causes a set of complications and harmful effects on the person's quality of life.
Generalized musculoskeletal pain is the most relevant symptom of FM, sometimes it can intensify in areas such as the neck and shoulders, taking these areas as a starting point to spread throughout the rest of the body, that is when CBD shines. with its analgesic benefits, since it has been shown in numerous studies presented above that cannabinoid compounds are highly effective in relieving pain, this is explained further in our article titled “CBD improves chronic pain".
However, there are studies that have shown the relief of pain in fibromyalgia by THC or also in medications made up of CBD and THC in similar concentrations. Both compounds have an analgesic effect, but they act with different receptors to achieve it; CBD is a good pain reliever, but in combination with THC it could intensify the benefit.
How else does fibromyalgia affect fibromyalgia and how can CBD help?
As mentioned above, the pain caused by fibromyalgia can in turn cause sleep and psychological disorders, such as depression, stress, nervousness, among others.
So, CBD could help treat these symptoms, being an excellent option for falling asleep due to its relaxing effect, noticeably improving the patient's daily life, as well as the positive progression of the disease. This is supported by what was said in “The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research” in 2017:
“There is moderate evidence showing that cannabinoid medications, primarily nabiximols, are an effective treatment for improving short-term sleep outcomes in people with sleep disorders associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis".
Stress is also a cause of damage to the patient's quality of life, which is very well treated with cannabinoids as specified in the article “How to relieve stress with CBD” from our blog.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia can be muscle stiffness in the morning, joint pain, fatigue, bowel and bladder problems, and depression and bad mood, all of which are treated in some way with cannabinoid compounds and proven by science. in various studies, such as the one carried out in Spain, which demonstrated the effectiveness of cannabinoids in patients with fibromyalgia, on symptoms such as pain, stiffness, improvement in insomnia, in relationships and a greater sense of well-being.
Correct use of CBD to treat fibromyalgia
The use of CBD is normally sublingual in droplets of oil rich in this compound, where it is absorbed quickly and efficiently, however, it can also be used in topical creams to treat localized pain, which has been shown to be almost 100% effective.
There are studies where CBD and THC have been administered via inhalation, obtaining quite remarkable resultsHowever, the first two options mentioned above would be recommended.
It is important that you know well the effects of cannabinoids and which one is ideal for the treatment of your condition. In the case of fibromyalgia, as we have noticed, both THC and CBD are key in reducing symptoms. Therefore, the use of medications made up of both cannabinoids in a 1:1 ratio is highly recommended to achieve the desired effects.
The dosage of this medication will depend a lot on the level of your disease, however, in severe stages it is advisable to start with a strong dose and increase until you find the desired results. In this case, if you are a beginner, it would be advisable Start with a small dose, which could be 25mg for a week, until you adapt to the medication and then increase as indicated by the staggering method.
It is extremely important to recommend assistance to a specialist doctor, so that he or she can prescribe treatment with cannabinoids, adjust the dose, evaluate side effects, and consider the integration of this natural therapeutic measure into conventional treatment.
Lorna Aguirre used CBD for her fibromyalgia!
Lorna Aguirre Diaz was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2013. She describes how long before that, she began to feel pain, which increased in intensity to the point where she decided to go to a specialist where she was diagnosed.
Lorna tells how the symptoms aggravated and deteriorated her quality of life, to the point where it caused disabilities such as moving normally, making it difficult for him to get into a car or go to the bathroom, due to the muscle stiffness he experienced in the mornings.
“I also suffered from irritable colon, the intestinal pains made me faint. At night she couldn't sleep because she couldn't bear the weight of the sheets. She thought she was going crazy because when she combed my hair she cried from pain..
The methods that Lorna used to try to eradicate or reduce the symptoms of the disease were varied. For a long time, these included medications such as Duloxetine and in cases of very intense pain, tramadol plus paracetamol of 1gc/8hrs was prescribed, but Lorna did not feel With a considerable decrease in pain, Lorna underwent treatments such as intracranial magnetic stimulation, cryotherapy, massages, kinesiologists, orthomolecular medicine, nutritionists, in short, an overwhelming number of methods in response to her desperation to find something that would help her.
"That was my life full ofe pain, burning pains, tingling, stitches, swelling, inability to move or walk, headaches that don't let you think. Your muscles hurt, you have fatigue and discomfort, gastrointestinal problems.”
Lorna although a little devastated Due to the situation, he did not give up, and at the beginning of 2018 he began to attend the Daya Arica Foundation as a patient, where he agreed to begin treatment with cannabidiol, which put the turning point in your life.
“I only started with 2 drops the first night and I was able to sleep without the help of alprazolan, a week later I started with 3 drops every 8 hours, the result was incredible, I wake up with energy, I sleep deeply, I wake up and I can get up on my own, something I didn't do due to the pain as soon as I got up and walked. The pain has decreased by 50%".
It is clear that the decisive treatment for Lorna has been CBD, which finally reduced all the symptoms that prevented her from developing her life completely normally, and Lorna was also able to stop conventional medications; She thanks the foundation and the cannabis treatment for helping her regain her quality of life.
A few last words to finish
Thanks to the association that was initially made of the endocannabinoid system with the cannabis compounds of the plant, today we can enjoy its numerous benefits, especially in relieving the symptoms of fibromyalgia, patients will be able to reduce their chronic pain and muscle stiffness, as well as improve your sleep quality and avoid cognitive and psychological disorders, recovering their quality of life almost al 100%.
The treatment of fibromyalgia is governed by both CBD and THC, there are already medications that contain these compounds in a 1:1 quantity ratio, it is important to mention that, although research still needs to continue to specify this interaction, which we have seen so far, is causing a significant impact in the world of fibromyalgia treatments.
Currently, the good results that CBD and its cannabinoid brothers have had in the treatment of fibromyalgia have had a great impact on scientific society, motivating them to carry out more research that specifically describes the function of the compounds in the condition. Organizations such as the Foundation for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have also taken action on the matter.