Over two-thirds of patients seeking a medical marijuana card report chronic pain as their primary qualifying condition. But what is chronic pain exactly?
In the Ohio Medical Marijuana program, chronic pain is defined as “pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable.” Unlike other medical conditions that are more clearly defined like cancer, glaucoma or sickle cell disease for example, pain may be a primary symptom associated with many medical diagnoses.
What Constitutes as Chronic Pain?
Everyone experiences pain. However, qualifying for a recommendation for medical marijuana treatment is not as simple as a patient having a mild headache one day and receiving a card the next.
Pain falls into one of two general categories: acute or chronic. Chronic pain is characterized as pain lasting for more than 12 weeks (3 months) often without a definable endpoint. Chronic pain can be further classified as chronic primary pain (such the pain experienced with fibromyalgia), chronic cancer pain, chronic postsurgical and posttraumatic pain, chronic neuropathic pain, chronic headache or orofacial pain (migraines), chronic visceral pain (inflammatory bowel disease), and chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Patients must demonstrate to their medical marijuana doctor, through medical records and documentation, that their pain has been an ongoing issue.
Many patients with chronic pain turn to medical marijuana as treatment as they have exhausted other methods of treatment. Medical cannabis is a promising alternative for treating chronic pain. Research has shown that THC is an effective pain reliever for cancer patients and they also found that it lacked the toxic side effects found in many traditional medicines. Patients have reported relief from a wide variety of types of pain.
What is the Best Method to Treat My Chronic Pain with Cannabis?
When you schedule your medical marijuana evaluation, your doctor will be able to suggest a variety of treatment options, based upon your pain and condition. For some patients, topicals may work best, while others may prefer to inhale or consume medical marijuana. It is always best to speak with your doctor as well as the professionals at dispensaries for the right products and doses for your needs.
If you suffer from chronic pain and are interested in medical marijuana treatment, give us a call today at 866-457-5559 to learn more or schedule an appointment online.
If you are a qualifying patient who is suffering from one of the qualifying conditions and is seeking medical marijuana treatment, schedule a telemedicine evaluation, and gain access to Ohio dispensaries. You can schedule your appointment by calling us at 866-457-5559 or book your appointment online.
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