Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that comes from damage or dysfunction of the nerves. It can be a result of an accident, injury to the nerves, diabetes, tumor or infection, multiple sclerosis, or even from chemotherapy. In many cases, it’s not possible to identify the cause of neuropathic pain, which makes it difficult to treat. Neuropathic pain varies from person to person and can be extremely frustrating for people who suffer from it because there are few treatments available that work consistently and well enough to reduce their discomfort such as CBD. Find out how CBD Oil for Nerve Pain is a thing to consider.
How Does CBD Oil Help To Relieve Neuropathic Pain?
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, is a cannabinoid found in cannabis. More than 80% of the cannabinoids found in cannabis are concentrated in the flower’s resin. However, you can also find them in hemp, where more than 30% of the concentration is made up of cannabidiol and even more than 40% of cannabidivarin.
There are several studies that have found CBD to be an effective form of treatment for pain management. People who suffer from neuropathic pain often use CBD products because they help reduce their overall discomfort, especially when used alongside other treatments. For example, a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue can work well in conjunction with opioids or NSAIDs to decrease the amount of medication required to get rid of the pain completely.
It’s important to note that there are currently no products on the market that contain 100% pure cannabidiol extracted only from hemp plants, so hemp-derived products should be considered as medicinal products rather than CBD supplements.
List Of CBD’s Benefits:
CBD has been shown to help with:
- Cancer treatment side effects such as nausea and vomiting– Cancer causes neuropathic pain because of the effects it has on your body, especially in the digestive tract. By using CBD alongside conventional treatment methods, patients are not only able to relieve their symptoms but also improve their quality of life.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) spasticity symptoms such as stiffness or spasms, pain, and frequent urination– Research has shown that CBD oil for nerve pain is an effective treatment for MS symptoms. The studies found that cannabinoids activate CB1 receptors in the endocannabinoid system and reduce the amount of pain and stiffness that MS patients experience.
- Mental disorders like depression and anxiety attacks – CBD has been shown to be very effective against both of these conditions while also helping PTSD patients who constantly feel anxious about their traumatic experiences. It is also useful in preventing panic attacks by decreasing the body’s response to stress stimuli, thus initiating a relaxation effect that can ease nervous tension and feelings of paranoia associated with social anxiety.
- Pain relief – CBD has been shown to be an effective pain reliever by blocking the transmission of signals that are sent along the nerves to the brain. Because it doesn’t interact with opioid receptors, it can stop or lower pain without causing drowsiness, tolerance, addiction, or dependence.
- Arthritis inflammation treatment– CBD-infused creams also show potential in relieving pain of the tendons, arthritis, and rheumatism. Although more studies are necessary, patients seem to prefer treating their pain with CBD because it doesn’t have the side effects that are associated with opioids, which can be extremely dangerous.
- Neuropathic pain management due to its anti-inflammatory properties– which help to relieve chronic discomfort that’s associated with nerve damage and injuries, i.e., sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
What Causes Neuropathic Pain?
There are a number of conditions that can lead to nerve damage and then result in neuropathy or nerve pain:
- Diabetes – damage caused by high blood sugar levels. Autoimmune diseases – such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,
- Lyme disease – if left untreated Other infections such as shingles, Alcoholic neuropathy, Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation poisoning.
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) – narrowing of the peripheral arteries, usually in the legs and feet. Stroke – damage to body functions due to a stroke and can include pain, Car accidents, or injuries that cause head trauma.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – compression of nerves passing through the wrist area resulting in numbness and tingling, often starting on one side of the hand and moving up the arm depending on where exactly you feel it.
What Are The Treatment Options For Neuropathy?
The treatment options for neuropathic pain are all about managing the symptoms while not being able to cure the underlying condition. Most of these therapies have negative side effects, which can be very uncomfortable at times.
Experts have long claimed that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain problems. A study published in Trends in Neuroscience found cannabinoids inhibit neuropathic pain by engaging neural pathways, much like opioids and other analgesics currently utilized for this purpose. The lack of unpleasant side effects associated with medicinal marijuana may make it preferable to such drugs that carry a risk of addiction and fatal overdose.
Among the common methods to treat nerve-related issues include:
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – is a therapeutic approach using electricity applied directly to the skin near the affected area. The therapy provides pain relief by releasing endorphins and serotonin throughout the body.
Hypnosis and biofeedback therapies – using mental processes to control pain perception.
Acupuncture – employs thin needles inserted in various parts of the body, promoting the release of neurotransmitters.
Lidocaine infusions/implants – a numbing medication that can help manage chronic neuropathic pain. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) – an implantable device intended to provide long-term relief.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is – the treatment of pain by changing the way sufferers think about, react to and cope with it. CBT can be an effective approach for chronic pain management especially in combination with other therapies.
Acetaminophen – also known as Tylenol is commonly used to relieve mild to moderate intensity of neuropathic pain. However, because acetaminophen acts at sites different from those where opioids act, the possibility that acetaminophen will cause additive effects or even potentiate opioids is very low. Several studies have found evidence to support its use in neuropathic pain patients who are not opioid-dependent or taking opioids long-term.
NSAIDs – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin.
Antidepressants – a widely used drug class, they have been found to be effective in alleviating neuropathic pain. These include tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and desipramine that work by blocking the reuptake of neurotransmitters or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), which prevent the reabsorbing of two monoamine neurotransmitters affecting neuronal function.
Anticonvulsants – another very common medication for neuropathic pain is gabapentin, a drug administered orally to control seizures and relieve nerve pain associated with shingles. Other antiepileptic drugs may be effective in certain cases.
How To Choose CBD Products For Neuropathy?
If you are looking to buy CBD based products for nerve-related issues, here are some things to keep in mind while choosing which will work best for you:
- The product should contain at least 10 mg CBD per ml or package. It’s worth noting that this means 10 mg, once consumed, will produce noticeable results. So look for stuff with high content. The ideal dosage would be between 20mg-40mg, taken three times daily. It can get expensive if it’s low concentration. The products should be from reputable sources. A lot of products available online have been found to contain little or no CBD whatsoever, so ask around and read reviews before you purchase anything. Be careful about the product labeling – if it doesn’t indicate CBD content, then you are better off staying away from it. If the label says “hemp oil” or something like that, don’t buy! It will be not only ineffective but also harmful for your health (and wallet).
- Be mindful of the ingredients. Avoid products that contain added ingredients like PG, VG, or any other chemicals. Make sure the product is organic/non-GMO and contains no chemicals/additives. Do some research on what kind of hemp strain has been used for CBD extraction. The best strains are generally those with Cannabidiol content above 5%. Also, remember that it was found that full-spectrum CBD extract had over 8x bioavailability than isolated CBD. So look for full-spectrum hemp extracts with at least 5% CBD content.
- Look for trustworthy brands. It’s not like you can get a 100% reliable source for CBD products. Some companies sell fake stuff. However, there are others that provide legit products with high-quality standards and efficacy tested in trial studies. A good example is the brand Royal CBD, which has been providing quality CBD products for years now. They are well-known in the community, have very high standards of production, are transparent with their customers, and offer great customer service.
- Look for customer reviews- what are others saying about the product? If there are no reviews, then that’s a bad sign. When choosing any CBD product, look for reviews from actual customers who have actually bought the product and had enough time to try it out so they can comment on it. The reviews should be from genuine customers who have nothing to gain from writing fake reviews. You can also check out forums and review sites for opinions about different products.
Related article: Wyld CBD: Product Review 2022
List Of CBD Products And Their Benefits
There is a range of CBD products available online that you can find specially formulated for various issues. The following is a list of the most common CBD products and their benefits.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is great for pain relief, cancer, arthritis, heart problems, inflammation, sleep disorders and so much more. It’s available in various flavors too so you can mix it with your preferred drink or food item. Plus CBD Oil is a natural product hence it’s very safe to use.
Pros:
- Available in various flavors
- It’s a natural product
- Subject to fewer/no side effects
- Helps cure different types of ailments
Related article: CBD Oil for Migraines: Top Products Review
CBD Gummies
CBD Gummies are great for pain relief, anxiety, mood disorders, seizures. The best part is that they come in various flavors so you can choose to be creative. Just pick a bottle or two and you will get rid of all your issues.
Pros:
- Easy to carry/take anywhere
- Effective and fast-acting
- Available in various flavors, shapes, and sizes!
- Easy dosing/usage
CBD Vape Oil
CBD Vape oils can be used in many ways (inhalation, ingestion, sublingual spray) which makes them super versatile. If you are looking for an alternative to smoking then CBD vape oil is the way to go.
Pros:
- Available in different flavors
- Highly effective for relaxation purposes
- No side-effects (unless overused)
- Very effective for anxiety, stress, etc.
CBD Tincture
Tinctures are popular among medical patients who need fast relief from anxiety/inflammation with quick onset effectiveness. A tincture is also easy to carry around if needed during the day. A few drops under the tongue provide fast-acting relief which lasts briefly depending on dosage size.
Pros:
- Easy to carry around
- Highly effective for relaxation purposes
- No side-effects (unless overused)
- Can be used as often as needed
CBD Topicals
CBD topicals are good for skin conditions like psoriasis and dermatitis. They provide localized relief from pain and discomfort as well as promote the healing of damaged skin cells. Just pick a tube and apply it to the affected area/s for skin issues.
Pros:
- Fast-acting relief from pain, inflammation, etc.
- No side-effects (unless overused)
- Can be used as often as needed.
- Easy to apply/use
CBD Capsules
Capsules are a great way to consume CBD. They are easily digestible and have virtually zero side effects since they are taken orally. You can simply pick up a pill bottle or an envelope of capsules and enjoy the benefits at your convenience.
Pros:
- Easy to carry around
- Effective for sleep problems, anxiety, etc.
- No side-effects (unless overused)
- Highly effective for insomnia, stress, etc.
Related article: Brand Review: CBD Plus USA
Final Thoughts
When it comes to treating nerve pain, one option you have is using cannabidiol products. Although the effectiveness of such treatments varies from individual to individual, there are several options available that may help. So be sure to do your research if you want the best results. What CBD Oil product have you tried before? Let us know in the comments!