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Medical Marijuana: How it's Providing Pain Relief for Arthritis Sufferers

Coastal Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Blog Medical Marijuana: How it's Providing Pain Relief for Arthritis Sufferers
Medical Marijuana: How it's Providing Pain Relief for Arthritis Sufferers

If you’re one of the 53 million Americans who deal with arthritis, you already know that living with arthritis is more than just joint pain. Arthritis means that you experience stiffness when you wake up, discomfort that lingers through the day, and limitations that start to affect how you move and live.

Since May is National Arthritis Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to talk about alternative treatments for arthritis. 

At Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Peter Candelora works with arthritis sufferers in Florida and Louisiana to determine whether medical marijuana is an appropriate option for managing their chronic joint pain. 

In the meantime, learn more about medical marijuana and how it can help with arthritis pain.

What is medical marijuana?

Medical marijuana, also known as medical cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and used to help manage certain medical conditions, including chronic pain.

In Florida and Louisiana, medical marijuana is only available for therapeutic use, which means you must be evaluated and approved by a qualified physician like Dr. Candelora before accessing it.

Medical marijuana is available in several non-smokable, non-raw forms, including:

The right option for you depends on your symptoms, preferences, and medical history. Dr. Candelora will review these options with you and recommend the right method for you.

How medical marijuana may help with arthritis pain

Now that we’ve covered what medical marijuana is, let’s take a closer look at how it works.

How it works in your body

Medical marijuana interacts with your body's endocannabinoid system. Your endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors involved in pain regulation, inflammation, and immune responses.

Specifically, cannabinoids interact with receptors known as CB1 and CB2, which are found in your brain, nervous system, and immune cells. CB2 receptor activation, in particular, has been shown in research to reduce the production of inflammatory compounds in the body. 

Together, these effects may help reduce your perception of pain and support a more comfortable daily experience.

In reality, this means that you may experience: 

It's important to note that while research into medical marijuana for arthritis is ongoing, it isn’t a cure for arthritis. (There isn’t currently any known cure.) That said, it works best as part of a broader treatment plan, and results vary from person to person.

How it supports other treatments

When your pain is better controlled, you’re more likely to stay active and follow through with treatment recommendations.

For example, reducing pain may make it easier to participate in physical therapy, maintain an exercise routine, and stay consistent with the lifestyle changes that support joint health.

3 signs it’s time to consider medical marijuana 

Medical marijuana isn’t typically the first line of treatment for arthritis. That said, you might consider when:

1. Other treatments don’t provide enough relief

There’s no shortage of arthritis treatments. Medication, physical therapy, injections, and even surgery are all potential options, but not every option is right for you.

You might consider medical marijuana when pain remains persistent despite other approaches, and you don’t want (or can’t have) surgery.

2. You want a full, comprehensive approach to arthritis management

Dr. Candelora may incorporate medical marijuana into a broader plan that includes physical therapy, medications, or post-injury or post-surgical recovery strategies.

3. You meet the criteria for medical marijuana 

In order to receive medical marijuana in Florida, you must also meet these criteria:

If you live in Louisiana, the process is slightly different. Dr. Candelora can walk you through the steps based on your state of residence.

Is it right for you?

Arthritis treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all, and so what works for one person may not work for another. Plus, managing arthritis pain often requires a combination of strategies.  

If you’re dealing with ongoing joint pain and looking for additional options, medical marijuana may be worth discussing as part of your care plan.

To learn more, schedule a consultation with Dr. Candelora at Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine today. Call our office at (727) 848-1417 or click here to get started.