By a study It was published in the magazine medical cannabis and cannabinoids A study conducted in Hamburg, Germany, found that cannabis inhalation was associated with lasting improvements in pain and sleep in patients with chronic neuropathy.
Neuropathy is a condition caused by damage to peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord that can cause weakness, numbness, and pain, mostly in the hands and feet. However, it can also affect other areas and body functions, such as digestion and urination.
“Neuropathic pain has its origins in lesions or diseases that affect the central or peripheral nervous system,” the researchers explained in their study introduction. “The main cause of peripheral neuropathic pain is nerve injury or response to stimulation.”
Retrospective consideration of cannabis and neuropathic pain
In this retrospective observational study, the researchers used anonymized data provided by Algea Care GmbH, a German telemedicine platform for treating chronic conditions with medical cannabis. Researchers evaluated the use of cannabis flower in a cohort of 99 patients with neuropathic pain and severe symptoms. They were also considered eligible for medical cannabis treatment.
Patients were instructed to heat cannabis flowers and inhale the cannabinoids through a vaporizer, and one patient took a THC extract orally. Some patients inhaled at set times, while others inhaled when an attack of pain occurred.
The researchers evaluated patient data from July 2021 through September 2021 and rated pain and sleep disturbance on a scale of 0 to 10. Investigators compared baseline scores to scores at first follow-up. Patients with a pain score greater than 6 were classified as having ‘severe pain’.
Great improvement across the board
At baseline, the majority of patients had severe pain (96% of patients had a score of 6 or higher), with a median pain score of 7.5. At the first follow-up visit within 6 weeks of starting treatment, pain was “significantly” reduced with a median pain score of 3.75. During subsequent modified follow-up visits, his pain score continued to decrease slightly to 3.5, then to 3 until stable.
Patients with severe pain decreased from 96% at baseline to 15% at the first follow-up visit and persisted until the end of the 6-month observation period.
The majority of patients also suffered from severe sleep disturbances, with a median score of 8. At the first follow-up visit, the researchers observed a “significant” improvement in sleep, from eight to two.
Regarding performance status, 90% of patients reported improvement. Over the 6-month follow-up period, 97 patients reported improvement in performance status. No serious side effects were reported, but minor side effects such as dryness of mucosal tissue (5.4%), fatigue (4.8%), and increased appetite (2.7%) were rarely reported. He also had one report of rare side effects such as dizziness, inebriation, restlessness and nausea.
Promising results for cannabis, neuropathy and chronic pain
“The results of this study demonstrate that chronic neuropathic pain can be treated effectively, sustainably, and safely with medical cannabis,” the authors concluded. “Maximal pain relief was achieved within 6 weeks. Improvements of 40% or more are also successful, as other analgesics used in this cohort had limited or no effect in this cohort.”
Citing frequent follow-up in the study, the researchers noted that durability and stability of effect were “key questions” in pain treatment.
The researchers also said the significant improvement in sleep disturbances was likely due to an improvement in pain symptoms, but also noted that medical cannabis may have a direct effect on sleep.
They also noted that there were no serious side effects, and that the most commonly reported mild side effects were already well-known known side effects of cannabis.
Recent research Similarly confirmed neuropathic pain decreases when cannabis is started.and another January 2023 survey was announced in JAMA network open Nearly one in three chronic pain patients was found to use cannabis as a pain reliever. Many of them used cannabis instead of opioids.
