Neuropathy, which is shortened to describe peripheral neuropathy, is a painful condition that arises from damage or injury to the peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves are essentially electrical wires that carry information from the brain to muscles, joints, and organs. In addition, nerves carry information from our body to the brain.
When we want to move our arm, hand, leg or any body part a signal is sent from the brain to that body part, via nerves, to move as we intend to have it move. In addition, when we are exposed to an outside stimulus that may pose a potential threat, such as fire, sharp objects or pressure, this signal is sent to the brain, via peripheral nerve, to want us. These comprise pain signals. The peripheral nerve can become damaged by different mechanisms.
- Diabetes: over time nerve can become damaged due to the persistently elevated blood sugars.
- Alcohol: Damages nerve over time as well, often due to nutritional deficiencies such as Vitamin B.
- Trauma or injury: pressure injuries or damage to nerves in the spine from disc disease.
- Hereditary, and often undefined
The result is often a unique type of pain, often described as electrical, sharp, and shooting pain. Sometimes an unusual sensation of pins and needles or burning. This is due to abnormal signals that are being transmitted to the brain and interpreted as pain signals and thus we feel pain, in the absence of any actual painful stimulus.
Present therapies include:
- Pain medications: Over the counter medications such as anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen and Tylenol, which have toxicity risks to the liver and stomach. Opiates, which have risks for addiction and dependence.
- Antidepressants: Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline and doxepin, which has risks for sedation, dry mouth. The goal is that these medications will block some of the abnormal pain signals.
- Seizure medications: Such as Gabapentin, Topiramate, and Lyrica. These medications also block abnormal nerve signals. That is how they help block seizure activity. The risk with these medications is sedation, weight gain and nausea.
Many people do find relief with these options with the little issue of tolerance, but many do not. CBD can prove to be a valuable option for patients who continue to suffer from nerve pain due to peripheral neuropathy.
Studies have shown patients to achieve relief with cannabis from diabetic neuropathy. It has been well documented that CBD and other cannabinoids interact with similar receptor sites where many present therapies interact. The result is often symptom relief, with fewer side effects.
Other studies have shown relief of neuropathic pain in patients who have suffered nerve pain due to trauma as well as patients with Multiple Sclerosis. Meta-analysis studies [where multiple studies are reviewed] have shown statistical benefit on patients who use cannabinoids to treat nerve pain.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S152659001500601X
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950205/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-018-0814-x
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28806817/
- https://dependencias.pt/images/files/LIVRO.pdf
How does CBD help with nerve pain? As we said previously, nerve pain happens because damaged nerve sends abnormal signals to the brain that are interpreted as pain signals. The goal is to help block these abnormal signals. It has been well documented that CBD interacts at many different receptor sites that ultimately help block these signals. Cannabinoids work to help maintain a normal level of function within the human body, it is essential and auto-regulatory and helps set the thing back to normal. CBD interacts at similar sites as opiates, antidepressants, and seizure medications. You get the benefits of all three in one.
The best options to manage your symptoms can depend on where and how frequent you have pain. For very local pain a CBD topical may be helpful. For more diffuse pain a tincture, capsule or gummy may be better since it can help everywhere and last longer. You may need to consider different cannabinoids for day and night for sleep and energy. Our goal is to make different formulations available to manage different symptoms. Please keep up with our product line here at Maxxam CBD.
