60% people surveyed with rheumatic conditions are switching to medical cannabis

Created November 2024

Cannabis Often Used as a Substitute for Traditional Medications MdEdge

Overall, 62.5% reported substituting medical cannabis for certain medications, including

  • NSAIDs (54.7%),

  • opioids (48.6%),

  • sleep aids (29.6%),

  • muscle relaxants (25.2%),

  • benzodiazepines (15.5%), and

  • gabapentinoids (10.5%).

The most common reasons given for substituting medical cannabis were

  • fewer side effects (39%),

  • better symptom control (27%), and

  • fewer adverse effects (12%).

Participants who substituted medical cannabis reported significant improvements in symptoms such as pain, sleep, joint stiffness, muscle spasms, and inflammation, and in overall health, compared with those who did not substitute it for medications.

The substitution group was more likely to use inhalation methods (smoking and vaporizing) than the nonsubstitution group; they also used medical cannabis more frequently and preferred products containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

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Reference

Substituting Medical Cannabis for Medications Among Patients with Rheumatic Conditions in the United States and Canada September 2024

đź“„ Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life

% of states where Cannabis is legal: 96% medical, 48% recreational (Nov 2024)

  • Doctors cannot technically "prescribe" cannabis because it remains a Schedule I drug under federal law1. Instead, they provide a "recommendation," "certification," or "statement" that grants patients legal access to cannabis dispensaries

A portion of Cannabis, CBD, relieves pain without getting high

CBD - many studies

97,900 instances of (Cannabidiol OR CBD) and Pain in Google Scholar (Nov 2024)

  • Patient-Reported Outcomes of Pain, Stiffness, and Fatigue Reduction in Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis With Cannabinoid Use - Oct 2024 10.7759/cureus.72366 FREE PDF

  • Substituting Medical Cannabis for Medications Among Patients with Rheumatic Conditions in the United States and Canada - Sept 2024 FREE PDF

  • An open-label feasibility trial of transdermal cannabidiol for hand osteoarthritis - May 2024 FREE PDF

Vitamin D, a great pain reliever, and is available over-the-counter in all 50 states and virtually all countries

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What is the definition of a rheumatic condition? - Asked Perplexity AI Nov 2024

A rheumatic condition is a complex group of disorders that primarily affects the musculoskeletal system.

Here's a comprehensive definition:

    Rheumatic conditions are disorders that cause chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues

These conditions encompass more than 200 different diseases and can be inflammatory, autoimmune, or degenerative in nature

Key Characteristics

  • They typically affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles

  • Can cause inflammation, tissue degeneration, and autoimmune dysfunction

  • May also impact internal organs and other body systems

  • Often involve systemic inflammation and immune system dysregulation

    Common Features

The primary symptoms of rheumatic conditions include:

  • Joint pain, soreness, and tenderness

  • Inflammation, swelling, and warmth in affected areas

  • Morning stiffness and limited joint motion

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Symptoms that fluctuate with weather conditions

    Scope

In the United States alone, rheumatic conditions affect approximately:

  • 54 million adults

  • 300,000 children

The term "rheumatism" itself comes from the Late Latin "rheumatismus" and Greek roots meaning "to suffer from a flux," historically referring to the belief that these conditions were caused by the flow of bodily fluids into joints

Most Rheumatic Conditions are treated by Vitamin D

Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Inflammatory Arthritis

Vascular Rheumatic Diseases

Degenerative Conditions

Other Rheumatic Conditions

Tags: Chronic Pain Lupus Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Rheumatoid Arthritis