CHRONIC PAIN
Pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. However, in some cases, pain can outlast the condition that initially caused it. Pain that lasts longer than three months is considered chronic.
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Chronic pain is highly variable. It can occur anywhere in your body, manifesting as headaches and foot pain and everything in between. Chronic pain can stem from an injury or after a surgery that causes nerve damage. Your chronic pain could be caused by cancer or cancer treatment, or you might have a condition such as fibromyalgia, lupus, or arthritis.
When left untreated, chronic pain can lead to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and its impact on your quality of life increases.
Doctors provide customized treatment plans to manage chronic pain. When possible, they deliver treatments that both alleviate your symptoms and address the underlying condition causing your pain. For example, some of the conventional treatments for chronic pain include:
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Oral anti-inflammatory medication
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Corticosteroid injections
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Anti-seizure medication
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Physical therapy
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Massage
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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
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Nerve blocks
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Spinal cord stimulation
Chronic pain, including postsurgical pain, is one of the most common reasons why patients consider medical cannabis. Medical cannabis can relieve pain in a few ways.
The natural chemical compounds in medical marijuana provide an anti-inflammatory effect, which reduces local pain. The chemicals also interact with the endocannabinoid receptors in your brain, which can reduce nerve pain signals.
What should I do if I want to try medical cannabis for chronic pain?
The team at Coastal Wellness Centers provides recommendations for medical cannabis and can help you register on the Florida Department of Health’s Compassionate Use database. You need to have two appointments with the team at Coastal Wellness Centers. During your first visit, they assess your condition and determine if medical cannabis will help you.
Then, after you’re fully registered, you have a second appointment to discuss the correct dose and best method of using medical cannabis. Currently, the state allows medical cannabis in oils, vape cartridges, tinctures, topical creams and ointments, oral syringes, capsules, flower (for smoking), and concentrate.
Call Coastal Wellness Centers today or make an appointment online to find out if medical cannabis is a treatment option for your chronic pain.