Can CBD Help Phantom Pain?

According to one 2018 research, chronic pain is the most prevalent reason for people to use CBD. It’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, but can CBD help amputees with phantom pain?

In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of CBD for phantom limb pain and how to employ it. Buy different CBD products in dispensary delivery near me.

What Is Phantom Pain?

Phantom pain, also known as phantom limb pain, is a discomfort that affects up to 80% of amputees. People who have had an arm or leg amputated frequently report tingling, throbbing, piercing, or ticklish feelings in the formerly occupied limb.

Phantom limb pain is a sensation that an arm, leg, or foot isn’t there. It’s also known as stump or phantom limb pain and can affect people who have had an arm, leg, or foot amputated. Trauma, infection, vascular problems, cancer, and congenital limb deficiencies are all causes of the illness. Phantom pain can occur after any type of body part is removed by surgery; it begins immediately after amputation and may last for months or years.

Although the pain may subside on its own, it is possible that it will not. In certain instances, phantom pain persists for many years and has a significant influence on a person’s quality of life.

Phantom Pain Causes

In the past, many physicians assumed phantom pain to be a mental problem. However, recent research indicates that it is caused by the brain’s re-organization following limb loss.

When nerves are cut by surgery, the entire nervous system is affected. There may be an increase in neurotransmitters in the damaged region, resulting in increased sensitivity and discomfort. Furthermore, amputation can alter the way local nerves communicate with the spinal cord and brain.

Because of the neurological disruption, phantom pain is generally considered a type of neuropathic pain.

Although most experts agree that there are physical causes of phantom pain, mental factors might also play a role. People who are stressed, anxious, or depressed may experience greater phantom agony.

Conventional Treatments for Phantom Pain (Not CBD)

Unfortunately, there are currently no effective therapies for phantom pain. Opioid pain relievers are sometimes given by doctors, but they are not always successful. They also have a significant risk of severe negative effects and addiction.

Other possibilities include antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Although these medications aren’t designed to cure pain, they do help to regulate nerve signals.

Physical therapy, massage treatment, and biofeedback are sometimes used in combination. Mirror therapy is a relatively recent treatment that appears to be effective. The patient uses a mirror to attempt to retrain the nervous system while moving the remaining limb.

Now that CBD is growing in popularity, some individuals may be wondering if it can assist with phantom pain. Let’s have a look at this.

Does CBD Oil Help with Phantom Pain?

For hundreds of years, people have used cannabis and its derivatives to alleviate pain. However, the majority of the study thus far has concentrated on the cannabinoid THC. It’s the chemical in cannabis that provides it most of its advantages as well as its intoxicating qualities.

A 2018 Cochrane Library analysis studied the effects of a variety of cannabinoids on neuropathic pain. It looked at studies comparing whole-plant cannabis with THC/CBD oral spray and two synthetic cannabinoids.

While the study found that many patients reported decreases in pain, the danger of adverse effects was high. This is where CBD may provide more advantages.

CBD, unlike THC, has no intoxicating effects. CBD is “generally well tolerated” and has a “good safety profile,” according to a World Health Organization study. While CBD may cause minor adverse effects, they are nothing like those caused by THC or other strong painkillers.

CBD also comes from hemp plants, making it more accessible than cannabis-derived CBD. This characteristic makes CBD more readily available even in regions where medical marijuana isn’t yet legal.

The disadvantage of utilizing CBD for phantom pain is that there is little clinical evidence to suggest it works. However, several research demonstrate that it can be used as a general pain reliever.

For example, a research published in the journal Postgraduate Medicine in 2020 showed encouraging results. It followed 97 chronic pain patients for eight weeks while they added CBD to their current drug regimens.

In the second half of the study, patients took 90 milligrams of THC three times a day for 21 days and then received an oral solution that also contains CBD. That treatment completely stopped their use of opioid medications. Furthermore, 94 percent reported improvements in their quality of life during this time. These benefits included improved sleep and reduced pain intensity and nuisance.

How to Use CBD for Phantom Pain

There are several different CBD products on the market. The most common way to consume CBD is as an oil tincture. Customers put the oil under their tongue and hold it there for up to 90 seconds before swallowing. This method allows CBD to enter the body through blood vessels in the mouth.

Although this method of consuming CBD is still popular, many firms have developed alternative usage methods. Capsules and edibles are both readily available and provide a more concealed and convenient way to consume CBD. However, one disadvantage is that these preparations must pass through the digestive system. This implies that a lot of their active substances are lost along the route.

Topical CBD applications, such as lotions and ointments, are another method to utilize it. It’s possible to apply these goods directly over a painful region, giving more targeted comfort. CBD travels via the top layer of skin into the body, where many individuals claim faster benefits than oral medications.

Finally, some individuals vape CBD. This approach might be another viable option for those suffering from discomfort since the CBD works almost immediately via the lungs. It’s also a handy way to use little amounts of CBD throughout the day.

However, it should be noted that no form of CBD has been shown to be more effective than any other in treating phantom pain. As a result, it may be necessary to try different techniques until you discover the one that works best for you. It’s also crucial to speak with your doctor before using CBD oil for phantom pain because it is important to know if it’s safe and effective.

Choosing the Best CBD Oil for Phantom Pain

There are a few things to think about before using CBD for phantom pain, despite its many advantages.

The first step is for customers to realize that the CBD market is currently unregulated. As a result, many businesses are selling low-quality products that offer minimal therapeutic effects. It’s possible to avoid this blunder by purchasing from a business that provides third-party lab reports. They’ll show you how much CBD is in there and prove that it’s free of impurities.

Another thing to think about is how the firm has extracted its CBD. The majority of experts believe that CO2 extraction is the best method for extracting CBD. It produces a pure and effective product without the danger of residual solvents. Furthermore, CO2 extraction is time-consuming and expensive. As a result, if a business decides to use this technique, it demonstrates trust in its potential benefits.

Is it organic? Is the CBD derived from hemp or cannabis? The answer to this question directly affects how your dog will react to it. If you’re not sure whether a product is THC-free, inquire with the manufacturer. Another thing to consider is whether the CBD is full-spectrum or an isolate. The main difference is that full-spectrum CBD includes a lot of additional beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s believed that these components work together synergistically, hence the term entourage effect.

Full-spectrum cannabis products include traces of THC, but not enough to cause a psychoactive effect. In the United States, CBD products should have no more than 0.3 percent THC.

However, CBD isolates contain no additional elements. This may be beneficial to anybody who is frequently drug tested and wants to avoid traces of THC. Fortunately, there is now a balance between full-spectrum and CBD isolate available. Products with broad-spectrum components include a wider variety of cannabinoids and terpenes, but without the psychoactive properties of THC.