Can cannabis help with sciatica?

Sciatica is a medical condition affecting millions of people, causing debilitating pain in the back. Finding a solution for this pain is essential for living a normal life, because, at its worst, sciatica can render patients unable to move. Learn more about how medicinal cannabis works for pain treatment and the role of medicinal cannabis in treating sciatica below.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a condition that affects the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to the feet. If this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it can cause severe pain throughout the back and hip. Unfortunately, a permanent cure for sciatica doesn’t exist, which means that managing the pain caused by sciatica is important for living a comfortable life with the condition.

What does cannabis do?

Using medicinal cannabis for back pain is becoming increasingly common. While it’s usually THC that helps to reduce the connections between the parts of the brain that process sensory and emotive signals, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can help reduce the inflammation associated with sciatica by targeting the transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors of the body. Patients using CBD for sciatica may see benefits such as decreased pain, sleep improvements, improvements in mood and psychological distress, and decreased fatigue.

How is medicinal cannabis different?

Medicinal cannabis differs from usual cannabis in a few ways. The first of these is the lack of THC. THC is the psychoactive ingredient within cannabis, which is what provides the ‘high’ feeling. Whilst this can make you feel good, there are some side effects, such as hallucinations or experiencing paranoia, meaning you struggle to function as normal. The lack of THC in medicinal cannabis means that this isn’t a worry. Medicinal cannabis is also regulated, so you can be safe in the knowledge that the cannabis is farmed and processed in a totally safe way that has only the desired effects when you use it.

Try the London Cannabis Clinic

If you’re considering medicinal cannabis for back pain, get in touch with the London Cannabis Clinic today. Our friendly team can answer all of your questions and get you quickly on the path to better treatment for your sciatica.