One of the most common issues people come to The Novel Tree Medical for is back pain.
Whether its due to a specific injury or just years of wear and tear, back pain can be debilitating. It can make even the simplest tasks seem insurmountable, and strong painkillers are often kept within reach. However, thanks to medical cannabis and CBD, there is a natural alternative for those dealing with back pain.
From recreational use to medical use, my personal Journey
Back pain is actually how I shifted my personal cannabis use from recreationally-focused to medicinally-focused. I have 3 herniated discs in my lower back (L4, L5, S1). For years I tried every exercise and stretch recommended by physical therapists, I was given steroid epidurals, and unfortunately was even prescribed an opioid pain medication to help deal with the pain. None of these things really seemed to provide the relief I was hoping for, and my doctors said that since I was 19 when I was diagnosed, they wouldn’t consider a surgery until I turned 40. That meant the best medical guidance was to ‘just deal with it’ for 20 years. That didn’t sit well with me. With respect to cannabis, I noticed when I would smoke with my friends, I didn’t seem to notice my pain as much. I didn’t yet understand why this was the case, but I was happy to find some relief.
Experiencing back pain? We provide free medical cannabis consultations at The Novel Tree Medical.
When I moved from Florida to Colorado in 2011 to further my journey in the cannabis industry, medical cannabis was still relatively new. There wasn’t the availability or quality that we have today under our regulated system in Washington, but I was able to source some CBD flower and edibles. Where THC seemed to help me avoid thinking about my pain, CBD seemed to alleviate pain more directly at the source. The combination of the two cannabinoids were more effective for me than any of the physical therapy, invasive procedures or pain medications ever were. It’s been almost 10 years since I last took a pain killer, and I no longer use over the counter anti-inflammatories.
Working at The Novel Tree Medical as a medical cannabis consultant for the last few years I’ve had the ability to delve deep into the science behind cannabis, THC, CBD and terpenes. I’ve come to a much better understanding with regards to why cannabis has been so effective for so many, including myself. Our body produces chemicals very similar to THC and CBD, and these chemicals are how our we naturally deal with pain. The chemical we produce that is similar to CBD is responsible for regulating inflammation. On the other hand, the chemical we produce that is most similar to THC is responsible for regulating neurotransmitters, nerve endings, and our body’s way of perceiving and processing pain.
Sometimes we just can’t produce enough of these compounds to be effective at dealing with everything we have going on pain-wise. We can supplement with THC and CBD from medical cannabis, enhancing our body’s natural ability to process pain and inflammation.
Back Pain: Every Individual is Different
Everyone is unique with respect to the type and severity of back pain they are experiencing. A product that works well for one person may not be as effective for another. We always advocate to start low and go slow, you can always take more, and we always have stronger options.
Whether it’s an edible, smokable, or topical product you are using to help alleviate pain, start with a small amount and slowly increase the dosage as needed, if your degree of pain neccesitates it. High CBD with low amounts of THC is a great anti-inflammatory but may not be strong enough for severe pain. Typically, an equal amount of CBD and THC is the most effective for pain relief, but can be a bit relaxing and potentially sedating. Many people will use high CBD throughout the day and increase the amount of THC into the evening where it can help with pain and promote a good night’s sleep.
Our CBD Product Picks for Back Pain
Dragon Balm
This is a deeply penetrating roll-on/salve with a beeswax-like consistency which warms up the area where you apply it. Relief is experienced within minutes of applying, and typically lasts about 2-3 hours before you may need to reapply.
Coconut Magic
This is a great topical alternative for those with sensitive skin, or if being applied to any areas of pain with an open wound or active scar tissue. The pure formulation and lack of essential oils in Coconut Magic make it ideal for those most sensitive areas.
spot Chocolate 1:1 or Levity Blend
For those who suffer back pain at night, the 1:1 chocolates are an alternative worth considering instead of sedative pain killers. This blend has a perfect ratio of CBD to THC formulated to help ease you into bedtime. For those who seek the relief during the day, the Levity blend from spot will provide just enough THC to dull the pain, with minimal intoxication. If edibles are your preferred method of consumption, try starting with half a serving to initially gauge how much you may need.
Harlequin
Whether in flower from Washington Bud Co. or in a vape cartridge or PAX Pod from Heylo, this is one of the most effective strains for pain relief. Typically at a 2:1 ratio which is usually strong enough to provide relief, without being too strong to cause unwanted intoxicating effects. A reliable strain that many use to fight back pain throughout the day.
Skagit Organics RSO
For chronic pain relief, few products pack a punch like an RSO. Eating an oil like an RSO can provide 6-8 hours of relief which is a great way to stay ahead of pain. Coming in a huge assortment of strengths, potencies, and ratios of CBD to THC, there is guaranteed to be a great option that you can ingest as-is, or use to infuse into homemade topicals or edibles.
It's often not just one product that will be the silver bullet, but using different products throughout the day depending on the situation and severity of pain that may yield the best results. Our team of state-certified medical cannabis consultants at The Novel Tree Medical can help you figure out a routine and regimen that will be the most effective at providing the relief you are looking for.