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Medical cannabis is becoming an option for managing chronic pain in the UK. Since 2018, it’s been available on prescription through specialists, offering an alternative for conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain when other treatments fail. Unlike conventional painkillers, it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system to reduce inflammation, manage pain signals, and improve sleep.
Here’s how it may help:
- Eases inflammation: Useful for conditions like arthritis.
- Affects pain signals: Especially beneficial for nerve-related pain.
- Improves sleep: Better rest can reduce pain intensity.
- Reduces reliance on opioids: May lower risks linked to strong painkillers.
- Enhances daily life: Less pain can improve mobility and mood.
Accessing medical cannabis requires a specialist consultation, and clinics like Elios Clinics offer structured pathways, including free eligibility assessments and tailored treatment plans. Costs vary, with medication typically between £150-£250 per month.
If you’re struggling with chronic pain and other treatments haven’t worked, this could be a step worth exploring.
Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline | Jason Busse | RSMJ 2024
Chronic Pain and Medical Cannabis Basics
Chronic pain is a condition that affects a significant number of adults in the UK. Unlike acute pain, which acts as a warning signal for injury or illness, chronic pain lingers for three months or longer. This ongoing discomfort can disrupt daily life, interfere with sleep, and take a toll on overall wellbeing.
Traditional treatments for chronic pain include medications, physiotherapy, and lifestyle adjustments. However, many people find these approaches offer limited relief or come with side effects that are hard to manage. This has led to growing interest in medical cannabis as a potential alternative for pain management.
To understand how medical cannabis works, it’s important to look at the body’s natural pain regulation system – the endocannabinoid system. This system plays a key role in managing pain perception, inflammation, mood, and sleep. Below, we’ll explore common conditions linked to chronic pain and how cannabis interacts with the body to address these issues.
Common Chronic Pain Conditions
Medical cannabis shows promise in managing several chronic pain conditions, especially when traditional treatments fall short. Here’s a closer look at some of these conditions:
- Neuropathic pain: Often caused by nerve damage, this type of pain is seen in conditions like diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles-related pain), and multiple sclerosis. Neuropathic pain can be particularly challenging to treat with standard therapies, making medical cannabis an area of interest.
- Arthritis: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common sources of joint pain and inflammation. These conditions can severely impact mobility and quality of life.
- Fibromyalgia: This condition is marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Traditional treatments often provide insufficient relief, leaving patients searching for alternatives.
- Chronic back pain: A leading cause of disability in the UK, chronic back pain can result from issues like disc degeneration, spinal stenosis, or other structural problems.
- Cancer-related pain: Pain associated with cancer may stem from the disease itself, treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, or surgical procedures. Managing cancer pain often requires a multi-pronged approach.
- Endometriosis: This condition causes severe pelvic pain and can significantly disrupt daily life. Many patients with endometriosis turn to alternative options when conventional painkillers fail to provide adequate relief.
How Medical Cannabis Works in the Body
The endocannabinoid system is central to how medical cannabis affects the body. This system consists of cannabinoid receptors, natural compounds called endocannabinoids, and the enzymes that break them down.
- CB1 receptors: Found primarily in the brain, these receptors influence pain perception and mood.
- CB2 receptors: Located in peripheral tissues, these receptors help regulate inflammation.
Medical cannabis contains cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), which interact with these receptors in different ways:
- THC: Binds to CB1 receptors, helping to reduce pain and improve sleep.
- CBD: Offers anti-inflammatory effects without the psychoactive properties of THC.
When used together, cannabinoids can create what’s known as the entourage effect, where their combined action enhances therapeutic benefits. The effectiveness of medical cannabis depends on several factors, including the specific cannabinoid profile of the product, the dosage, and individual patient characteristics.
What sets medical cannabis apart is its potential to address multiple contributors to chronic pain – such as inflammation, disrupted sleep, and altered pain processing – rather than just masking symptoms. This multi-faceted approach helps explain why it may be beneficial for people whose conditions haven’t responded well to conventional treatments.
5 Ways Medical Cannabis May Help Manage Chronic Pain
Medical cannabis has shown potential in addressing chronic pain through various mechanisms. Here are five ways it might help ease discomfort:
Reducing Inflammation
Certain compounds in medical cannabis could help regulate inflammation, which is often a major factor in chronic pain. By calming the inflammatory response, it may provide relief for conditions where inflammation plays a central role.
Modifying Pain Signals
Medical cannabis might influence how pain signals are processed by the nervous system. This could be particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with nerve-related pain, offering a potential way to manage discomfort.
Improving Sleep Quality
Chronic pain often leads to disrupted sleep, which can, in turn, worsen the pain. Medical cannabis may help improve sleep patterns, giving the body a better chance to rest and recover, which can contribute to overall pain management.
Reducing Dependence on Opioids and Other Painkillers
For some, medical cannabis could serve as an alternative to opioids or other pain-relief medications. This might reduce the risks associated with long-term use of such drugs. However, any changes to medication should always be made under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Enhancing Daily Life and Wellbeing
By alleviating pain, medical cannabis could improve mobility, mood, and overall quality of life. This may allow individuals to engage more fully in their daily routines and activities.
It’s important to remember that the effects of medical cannabis can differ from person to person. Research is ongoing to better understand its benefits, and any treatment should be tailored and closely monitored by a healthcare professional.
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Medical Cannabis vs Other Pain Treatments
Medical cannabis and conventional treatments offer different approaches to managing chronic pain, each with its own set of advantages and potential drawbacks.
Opioids work by attaching to receptors in the brain and spinal cord, effectively blocking pain signals. While they are powerful for severe pain, they come with significant risks, including dependence, tolerance, and misuse. Common side effects include constipation, drowsiness, and, in more serious cases, respiratory depression.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, target enzymes that trigger inflammation, providing relief for various types of pain. These are widely accessible and effective, but long-term use can lead to stomach ulcers, kidney damage, and increased cardiovascular risks, particularly in older individuals.
Antidepressants, especially tricyclics and some newer options, are often prescribed for conditions like nerve pain and fibromyalgia. They work by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain. However, they can take weeks to show results and may cause side effects like weight gain, dry mouth, and fatigue.
Medical cannabis interacts with the endocannabinoid system to manage pain in a distinct way. Unlike opioids, it does not pose the same risk of fatal overdose. Many patients report that incorporating medical cannabis into their treatment plan allows them to reduce reliance on other medications.
Treatment Comparison Table
| Treatment Type | Mechanism of Action | Common Side Effects | Dependency Risk | Onset Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Cannabis | Interacts with endocannabinoid system | Drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness | Low to moderate | 15 minutes to 2 hours |
| Opioids | Binds to opioid receptors | Constipation, drowsiness, nausea | High | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| NSAIDs | Blocks inflammatory enzymes | Stomach upset, kidney issues | Very low | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| Antidepressants | Affects neurotransmitters | Weight gain, dry mouth, fatigue | Low | 2-6 weeks |
The choice of treatment often depends on the type and cause of chronic pain, as well as individual factors like how a patient responds to different therapies. Increasingly, healthcare providers are including medical cannabis in comprehensive pain management plans, especially when traditional treatments have failed to provide sufficient relief or have led to undesirable side effects.
Some patients find that combining medical cannabis with other treatments, under proper medical supervision, not only improves pain control but also allows them to reduce the dosage of conventional medications.
Getting Medical Cannabis Treatment at Elios Clinics
At Elios Clinics, patients seeking cannabis-based medicines for chronic pain can access treatment through a structured process led by licensed specialists. The clinic ensures that all patients meet strict eligibility criteria, providing a clear and professional pathway to care.
Who Can Get Medical Cannabis
In the UK, obtaining medical cannabis treatment involves meeting specific eligibility requirements. A specialist will thoroughly assess your medical history and previous treatments to determine if medical cannabis is a suitable option. This process evaluates the severity of your chronic pain and whether conventional treatments have failed to provide adequate relief. Conditions commonly considered include neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, chronic inflammatory pain, and pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
During the assessment, specialists review your current medications, past therapies, and overall health to ensure that medical cannabis is both safe and appropriate for your needs.
Your Treatment Journey at Elios Clinics
The process begins with a free online eligibility assessment. This initial step helps determine whether you meet the basic criteria for treatment before moving forward to a formal consultation.
Once you pass the eligibility screening, you can schedule a video consultation with a GMC-approved specialist. During this in-depth session, the specialist will review your medical history, discuss your pain management goals, and evaluate whether medical cannabis fits into your overall treatment plan.
"Our team supports you throughout your journey, ensuring you understand how medical cannabis meets your needs."
– Elios Clinics
Following the consultation, the specialist creates a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific condition. This plan includes recommendations for cannabis-based medicine, a dosing schedule, and monitoring requirements. Once approved, your prescription is delivered with next-day service. Regular follow-up appointments ensure the treatment remains effective, with adjustments made as needed. Additionally, patients have access to a dedicated dashboard to track prescriptions, book appointments, and access ongoing support.
Treatment Costs and Payment Options
Elios Clinics offers flexible payment options to suit a variety of patient needs, complementing their personalised approach to treatment.
For those seeking predictable costs, subscription plans provide a 12-month care package for £240 per year. You can choose to pay monthly or quarterly. These plans include an initial consultation, four follow-up appointments, monthly repeat prescriptions, access to the patient dashboard, and one document request.
Alternatively, a pay-as-you-go option is available. This charges £50 for each initial and follow-up consultation, with repeat prescriptions included. Additional changes to prescriptions cost £30, while travel letters are available for £10.
Medication costs are separate from consultation fees and typically range between £150 and £250 per month, depending on the prescribed treatment. Prices generally fall between £7.50 and £15 per 100mg.
For patients requiring ongoing care, subscription plans often offer better value by including regular monitoring and prescription management. Your specialist will discuss the most suitable payment option during your initial consultation, ensuring it aligns with both your treatment goals and financial circumstances.
Conclusion
Medical cannabis presents a promising option for managing persistent pain through five key mechanisms. By reducing inflammation, cannabinoids target the root causes of pain, making them particularly helpful for conditions such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, their ability to modulate pain signals via the endocannabinoid system offers relief for neuropathic pain and other conditions that often resist conventional treatments.
Another benefit is improved sleep, which enhances the body’s natural ability to manage pain. Importantly, medical cannabis can also reduce reliance on opioids and other traditional painkillers, helping patients avoid the risks of addiction and the severe side effects that can accompany long-term pharmaceutical use. Together, these effects can lead to a noticeable improvement in daily life, enabling individuals to regain functionality and participate more actively in their routines.
Research continues to back these benefits, with studies showing measurable reductions in pain and improved outcomes for patients with chronic conditions. The growing body of evidence highlights the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis as a viable treatment option.
For those living with chronic pain, accessing medical cannabis is now simpler than ever. With flexible payment plans starting at £20 per month and comprehensive care packages – including consultations with specialists, prescription management, and ongoing support – patients can explore this treatment under professional supervision. This makes it easier to take control of your health and daily life.
If traditional treatments haven’t worked for you, consider medical cannabis as part of your care plan. The free eligibility assessment is a simple first step to discovering if this option could be right for you.
FAQs
How does medical cannabis help manage chronic pain through the endocannabinoid system?
Medical cannabis works with the endocannabinoid system by targeting cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 and CB2, which are located in the nervous system and immune cells. Through this interaction, it helps manage pain signals, ease inflammation, and reduce nerve sensitivity, providing relief for chronic pain conditions like neuropathic pain.
By influencing these receptors, medical cannabis can soothe overactive pain pathways, bringing a sense of relief and improved comfort. Its anti-inflammatory properties also make it beneficial for addressing pain associated with inflammation, offering an alternative or complementary approach for those managing long-term pain.
What are the requirements to access medical cannabis treatment at Elios Clinics?
To receive medical cannabis treatment at Elios Clinics, patients need to meet specific criteria. This includes having a qualifying condition such as chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, or anxiety. Patients are also required to have attempted at least two conventional treatments beforehand without achieving satisfactory results.
Although there are no rigid age restrictions, extra care is taken for those under 25 to ensure the treatment aligns with their individual needs.
What are the possible side effects of using medical cannabis for chronic pain relief?
Medical cannabis can sometimes result in side effects, which depend on the individual and the amount used. Commonly reported issues include dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, and mood changes. For some, it may also bring about a temporary sensation of being ‘high’.
In some instances, its use might cause a rise in blood pressure, and extended use – especially with high levels of THC – could pose potential risks to mental health. It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if medical cannabis is a safe and appropriate choice for your needs.
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