Characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia can be a complicated condition to treat. Virginians with medical marijuana cards have access to a natural therapy that may be able to address many of fibromyalgia’s symptoms effectively. Let’s take a look at just what medical marijuana can accomplish with this disease and how medical marijuana users with fibromyalgia can benefit.
Fibromyalgia’s Symptoms
The primary symptom felt by all of those dealing with fibromyalgia is pain. This can also manifest as tenderness experienced in both the muscles and the joints in someone’s body. This pain doesn’t always stay in one place, and those with this condition can experience pain and tenderness anywhere, from the lower back to the shoulders to the knees. To qualify for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must experience pain for at least three months in a specified number of body parts. That pain, too, must be severe enough to receive a particular severity score. Doctors also typically rule out other conditions such as arthritis before giving a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
In addition to pain, those with fibromyalgia may also experience:
fatigue
depleted energy
insomnia
depression or anxiety
problems with memory or concentration
headaches
twitches and cramps in the muscles
numbness or tingling in hands and feet
skin issues, including itching and burning
How Medical Marijuana Helps
While research is ongoing, medical marijuana may be helpful with a number of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, including its most central one— pain.
Medical Marijuana as a Treatment for Pain
A review published in 2017 that looked at the health and therapeutic effects of marijuana found that it is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults. This is supported by patient experiences, as well. Many medical marijuana patients report anecdotally that medical marijuana is one of the most effective treatments for their pain.
A study conducted in 2011 that looked at patients with fibromyalgia specifically found that 43 percent reported strong relief from pain when taking this natural substance. Yet another study conducted in 2018 on fibromyalgia patients also found that patients who took a medical marijuana product high in THC experienced a higher pain threshold that made their chronic pain more manageable.
Medical Marijuana and Sleep Issues
Fibromyalgia often comes with fatigue, which only gets compounded when insomnia and sleep issues pop up! Fortunately, medical marijuana may have some impact on insomnia and other sleep disorders, as well.
The same study in 2018 referenced above also observed that moderate use of cannabis products led to improved sleep for patients with fibromyalgia. The 2011 study also note that over 80 percent of patients who used cannabis experienced strong relief from symptoms related to disordered sleep.
Medical Marijuana and Other Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The good news doesn’t stop there. Medical marijuana has been shown to be effective in treating many of the other symptoms that can present with fibromyalgia, including depression, anxiety, muscle stiffness and headaches. With results like these, it’s no surprise that more and more Virginians are turning to this natural therapeutic remedy to experience relief!
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card to Help Your Fibromyalgia Symptoms Today!
Medical marijuana is a safe and legal option for Virginians looking to address a variety of symptoms associated with this complex condition. Your first step is consulting with a doctor who can give you the recommendation you need to access this natural product.
Schedule an appointment with an online VA medical marijuana doctor today to start gaining access to safe and legal cannabis products, including tinctures, flower, concentrates and more for your loved one or patient!
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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