Chronic Pain

Medicus Cannabus

James O Hill II, DO


Living with chronic pain can be frustrating, exhausting, and by definition lasts for months on end. Chronic pain can be caused by damage to the musculoskeletal system or neuropathic pathways, and many of the traditional treatments are ineffective or even dangerous. Whatever the cause of your chronic pain or how you have tried to treat it in the past, medical cannabis can offer relief from chronic pain without the serious side effects of other medication. At Medicus Cannabus in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, James O. Hill II, DO, prescribes medical cannabis to help you deal with chronic pain, and can help you design a treatment that works for you. Call the office today or make an appointment online.

Chronic Pain Q & A

How do I know if I am having chronic pain?

The first question you should ask yourself is how long you have been hurting. Typically, doctors describe any pain that has lasted 3-6 months or more as chronic pain. This pain can be either musculoskeletal or neuropathic.

Musculoskeletal pain is caused by an actual injury to the bones, joints, or muscles. This could be from a newly sustained injury, like a slipped disk from a recent fall, or from an injury you sustained long ago that has continued to degenerate over time, like an old sports injury that has begun to ache.

Chronic pain can also be neuropathic, which is when damage to the nerves that sense pain are themselves the source of discomfort. This can be especially frustrating and even more difficult to treat since there isn’t an underlying musculoskeletal injury.

Whether your pain is musculoskeletal or neuropathic and wherever it occurs, when it becomes a frequent and regular obstacle to your quality of life over a period of months it can be described as chronic pain.

What are the risks of living with chronic pain?

In most cases, chronic pain is not a sign of a dangerous underlying health problem but it’s always a good idea to confirm with your doctor that you are not at risk of something else. But even when pain is not caused by something else, it can be risky to your health.

Chronic pain changes your entire mindset and can reduce your appetite, your sex drive, and your overall quality of life. Many people become irritable, experience increased anxiety, and can become depressed as the pain persists for months on end. Many find the pain so intolerable that they self-medicate with alcohol or illicit drugs, and some people even begin to have suicidal thoughts or actions.

How can medical cannabis help my chronic pain?

Traditionally, chronic pain is treated with painkillers, ranging in strength from ibuprofen (Advil) to the most potent opioids on the market. These are effective for some people, but not for everyone, and opioid painkillers especially come with extremely dangerous side effects. Luckily, medical cannabis can help manage chronic pain with few if any of the major side effects of traditional medication.

Both of the main active compounds in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), are effective at treating most chronic pain. CBD is especially effective at treating neuropathic pain, which is often most resistant to traditional forms of pain relief medication.

Because of its gentler effect on your body, and the increased effectiveness against certain types of recurring pain, more and more people are turning to medical cannabis to relieve their chronic pain.

If you are interested in using medical cannabis to treat your chronic pain or if you have any questions about if medical cannabis is right for you, call the office today or set up an appointment online.