The Ohio Medical Board has approved fibromyalgia as a qualifying condition for treatment with medical marijuana. Patients who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia can get an Ohio marijuana card, which gives them access to legal medical cannabis available at licensed dispensaries across the state.
If you are interested in using medical marijuana to treat fibromyalgia symptoms, give Ohio Marijuana Card's patient support team a call to get all your questions answered or simply schedule an online appointment to see one of our certified medical marijuana doctors today!
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is often called an "invisible disease" because many of those living with the condition do so in silence with no obvious symptoms. However, according to researchers at the Ohio State Medical Center, roughly two percent of the adult US population is living with fibro. That translates to nearly 200,000 Ohio residents.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Women develop fibromyalgia twice as often as men, and it appears to run in families. Researchers are not sure what causes the condition, but it may be associated with traumatic events, accidents, premature birth, abuse, PTSD, viral infections and other illnesses, mood disorders, and even poor sleep or lack of exercise.
What are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The main hallmark symptoms of fibromyalgia include widespread or diffuse muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and poor sleep. Other symptoms can vary significantly, but often include anxiety and depression, digestive problems, face and jaw pain, migraines, memory problems, and numbness or tingling in the hands and/or feet.
The lack of visible symptoms, along with the social and occupational consequences of constantly being exhausted and in pain, make fibromyalgia an especially lonely, frustrating and difficult condition to treat. Treatment is further complicated by the fact that up to 20 percent of people with fibromyalgia also have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or sarcoidosis.
How Does Medical Marijuana Help Fibromyalgia Symptoms?
Fortunately, Ohio patients are eligible to treat fibromyalgia with medical marijuana! A growing body of research indicates that cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms. In addition to alleviated symptoms, patients who use cannabis for fibromyalgia report an improved overall quality of life, a greater sense of wellness and wellbeing, and very low rates of adverse side effects.
Medical Marijuana Reduces Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia
Studies show that medical marijuana works with the body's endocannabinoid system to help relieve most forms of chronic pain and increase tolerance to pain. Since patients with fibromyalgia experience several kinds of pain including spasticity and nerve pain, cannabis is an effective option and may even help patients reduce or eliminate use of opioids.
Cannabis Can Help Reduce Anxiety and Depression Related to Fibro
The difficulty in treating anxiety and depression in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia is two-fold. The disease may cause symptoms of a mood disorder, and symptoms like chronic pain and insomnia can cause anxiety and depression. Add the experience of social isolation that comes with having an invisible disease, and it becomes clear how difficult mood disorders related to fibromyalgia can be to treat.
Medical marijuana may help alleviate the anxiety and depression related to fibromyalgia, therefore improving quality of life as well as making other symptoms easier to manage.
Digestive Problems May Improve With Medical Marijuana Use
The difficulty in treating anxiety and depression in those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia is two-fold. The disease may cause symptoms of a mood disorder, and symptoms like chronic pain and insomnia can cause anxiety and depression. Add the experience of social isolation that comes with having an invisible disease, and it becomes clear how difficult mood disorders related to fibromyalgia can be to treat.
Medical marijuana may help alleviate the anxiety and depression related to fibromyalgia, therefore improving quality of life as well as making other symptoms easier to manage.
3 Easy Steps
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with one of our friendly marijuana doctors at any location throughout the State!
Step 2
Visit our office for your
in-person evaluation with a state-certified medical marijuana doctor.
Step 3
With the doctor's approval, you'll receive your card via email from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
What are Some Other Treatments for Fibromyalgia?
Although patients can treat symptoms of fibromyalgia with cannabis, it's a good idea to couple that treatment with other forms of therapeutic activities for a balanced, holistic approach. Patients who use medical marijuana along with additional treatments generally have the best outcomes.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists can teach you exercises to aid in improving strength, stamina and flexibility. Water-based exercises are ideal because they are low-impact.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help you make changes to the way you move or perform certain daily tasks in order to alleviate stress on the body and preserve energy.
Counseling
Speaking with a counselor can help you cope with the mental stress that fibromyalgia brings, and give you the confidence you need to help get through each day without letting the condition get the best of you.
Support Groups
One of the most important things you can remember as a fibromyalgia patient is that you are not alone! Fibromyalgia support groups can be an incredible resource for information about treating your condition, and they can offer you social support from a group of people who truly understand what you are going through!
Get Approved to Treat Fibromyalgia With Medical Marijuana Through Telemedicine Today!
You can now get approved to treat fibromyalgia with cannabis right in the comfort and safety of your own home! Ohio Marijuana Card offers appointments through telemedicine as well as in our office! Call us at 866-457-5559 to get your questions answered, or book your appointment with an Ohio certified medical marijuana doctor online now!