Alternative pain remedies have been in use for thousands of years and are still in use now. The usage of herbs and plants for therapeutic reasons, as well as the ancient technique of acupuncture, had been around long before modern medicine was developed. However, experts have been investigating cannabidiol (CBD) since the 1970s and have seen a dramatic increase in the popularity of CBD oils and products in recent years.
Effects of CBD on Ehlers Danlos syndrome
EDS is a genetic disorder that affects around 1 in every 5,000 persons globally. The syndrome is connected with a range of genetic diseases that have an effect on the tissues. The use of CBD and other cannabinoids may be beneficial in managing chronic pain associated with this illness. Continue reading to learn more about the effect of CDB on EDS patients.
An Introduction to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has a detrimental influence on the skin, the blood vessels, the joints, and the connective tissues of the person who has the condition. Our connective tissues are responsible for providing flexibility and strength to the underlying components of our bodies. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is characterized by elastic and fragile skin, as well as a wide range of movement in the joints of those who develop it.
When joints become loose due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, they become unstable and are more prone to dislocations and fractures. Early-onset arthritis, as well as persistent pain, might result as a result of this. Bruises are readily caused by the disorder’s stretchy, delicate skin, making gashes and wounds more likely to open. This results in scars that become more visible over time. Skin that has been damaged will not heal properly, and sutures will often fall out. Another typical symptom of the condition is the presence of additional folds in the skin.
The vascular system can be affected by specific kinds of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and ruptured blood vessels, internal bleeding, and other potentially life-threatening disorders can result as a result. In rare cases, a kyphoscoliosis type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can induce curvature of the spine, interfering with the natural process of breathing.
What is cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol, often known as CBD, is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis (marijuana) and hemp plants. It is thought to have medicinal properties. “CBD has no signs of abuse or dependency potential,” according to the World Health Organization, which means that CBD is neither addictive nor habit-forming like other pain medicines, such as opioids, which are routinely recommended for chronic pain.
As opposed to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not produce a “high,” which means you might possibly reduce pain without experiencing any changes in your mood or thinking.
Severe Pain
Patients suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome typically feel significant discomfort, making it difficult to accomplish required daily chores. Psychiatric and psychological issues have been linked to some of the symptoms of this illness, which include severe stomach pain, muscular discomfort, headaches, tiredness, and neuropathic pain. In addition, the discomfort caused by Ehlers-Danlos syndrome’s loose joints can exacerbate psychosocial issues, with headache and exhaustion being typical symptoms of the syndrome, as well as other physical symptoms.
Generic mutations are thought to be responsible for this disease, which is often passed through heredity. Most of the time, the defective genes that cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are responsible for producing the proteins that make collagen. Adults who suffer from the most prevalent forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have a 50-60 percent risk of passing the EDS on to their offspring. On the other hand, new gene mutations can cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome to manifest in people with no family history of EDS.
Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at this time in science. However, there is a medication available to help control the symptoms of this condition. Pain medicines are frequently used in this therapy, and they can be hazardous and addictive if taken for an extended length of time. Blood pressure medicines are necessary in the treatment of vascular Ehlers-Danlos in order to try to minimize all of the stress that the disease places on the blood vessels. Physical treatment may be required to strengthen the muscles around the joints that have been weakened as a result of the arthritis.
Cannabinoids and their Effects on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
According to scientific evidence, cannabis can assist individuals with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in managing the chronic pain associated with their disease. Incredibly large numbers of studies have been conducted to support the effectiveness of cannabis as a pain reliever. Cannabis and high-quality CBD have been shown to significantly reduce pain levels, in some cases even proving to be more effective and accurate than opiate-based pain relievers and other pharmaceuticals in some instances.
Opioids were the most popular medication among patients, even when cannabis was excluded. The difficulty is that opiates are associated with various side effects, including constipation, appetite loss, nausea, drowsiness, and respiratory depression, among others.
Other research has indicated that cannabis, when compared to opioids, is more effective at alleviating pain at lower dosages and has fewer adverse effects than the latter.
It is proved that individuals who had suffered from chronic pain were shown to be at no greater risk of ill effects than those who did not use cannabis at all.
Effects of CBD oil on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
CBD oil has proven efficacy in treating various medical disorders, including epilepsy, and it may be extremely helpful/useful in treating chronic pain. Furthermore, one does not require a higher dose of CBD over time to achieve the desired results.
EDS patients’ neuropathic pain, which had previously proved resistant to conventional therapies, has been demonstrated to improve after consuming CBD oil.
CBD oil for the treatment of chronic pain
You might be thinking of using CBD in your EDS pain management treatment plan. It is a good idea because of the low likelihood of side effects and dangers. But what exactly is the mechanism through which CBD relieves pain?
It works by inhibiting inflammatory chemicals, which can help to decrease the tingling, prickling, and burning sensations associated with some forms of chronic pain. As a result, CBD oil is frequently found to be a useful supplement for treating neuropathic pain and other forms of pain induced by inflammation.
Recent research has also indicated that CBD oil may be beneficial in treating headache and migraine pain, as well as arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, which causes joint pain and stiffness, according to the researchers. The National Cancer Institute also adds that cannabidiol (CBD) may have the ability to lessen the adverse effects of chemotherapy treatments, such as discomfort, decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting, according to their findings.
The bottom line on cannabidiol for pain relief
Based on what we now know about CBD oil and the scientific trials that have been conducted, you shouldn’t be concerned about unpleasant side effects or a long-term, addicted tendency to CBD oil, for the most part. As part of a complete pain treatment strategy, CBD oil may be able to help you minimize your reliance on other drugs, which can cause adverse effects and the development of a drug habit.
However, like with any treatment, it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting something completely new. Dr. Renk can inform you of any potential drug interactions that CBD may have with any prescription or over-the-counter pain medicines that you are taking at the time.
Cannabidiol (CBD) dangers and adverse effects
Most EDS doctors recommend that you check with him before using CBD oil to manage your pain, even though there is no complete evidence to support its addictive nature. For example, if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, if your immune system is impaired in any way, or if you’re presently on prescription medications, CBD oil may not be the best therapeutic option for you.
Aside from that, the great majority of CBD research studies have concluded that CBD is both safe and beneficial for assisting you in managing a wide range of health conditions.
When large dosages of CBD oil were administered to individuals in clinical studies, the most common adverse effects reported were fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, and a loss in appetite, among other things. Alterations in liver enzymes were again a cause for worry, but this time only after receiving extremely high doses of CBD in clinical studies. Individuals were also using prescription drugs that were known to cause liver damage at the time.
The fact that CBD may interfere with your existing drugs should not be overlooked; thus, you should always speak with your doctor before including CBD oil into your pain management regimen.
Countries that have approved the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
At this time, no states in the United States have legalized medicinal cannabis to treat Ehlers-Danlos syndrome specifically. However, The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom published an article on Lucy Stafford, a nineteen-year-old from Cambridge who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Luca is one of the fortunate individuals in the United Kingdom who has been given a private prescription for cannabis for medicinal purposes. Her doctor has stated that this revelatory medication has assisted her in making significant changes in her life. Lucy has been suffering from severe pain since she was ten years old, and she has spent most of her adolescent years abusing powerful opioids, the most recent of which was fentanyl, which is 50-60 times more potent than heroin.
As a result of her Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she has undergone several procedures and therapies for lower back pain. She appears to have been on an unending course of powerful prescription medications. She became physically reliant on Tramadol at one point, a powerful painkiller that comes with a slew of negative side effects to boot.
Several states in the United States will consider permitting medicinal cannabis to be used to treat Ehlers-Danlos syndrome if a physician recommends it in the near future. California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington are among the states that will allow CBD treatments for EDS patients.
