Updated: Treating Painful Fibromyalgia Symptoms With Cannabis

[Purple Power]

Treating Painful Fibromyalgia Symptoms With Cannabis <a class="" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/treating-painful-fibromyalgia-symptoms-with-cannabis/#respond">0</a> By <span><a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/author/bgoldstein/" title="Posts by Bonni Goldstein, M.D.">Bonni Goldstein, M.D.</a> </span> on <span> </span>

<span>July 13th, 2017</span>



Fibromyalgia is a chronic debilitating condition that includes symptoms of chronic diffuse pain, sleep disturbance, migraine headaches, fatigue, joint pain and irritable bowel-type symptoms. Patients may have all or just some of these symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is considered a subtype of fibromyalgia. It appears that all patients with these conditions suffer a heightened perception of pain thought to be due to abnormal processing of pain signals in the central nervous system. The mainstay of treatment is medication, primarily pain relievers such as NSAIDs and opiates, pregabalin (antiepileptic), duloextine (antidepressant), muscle relaxants and sleep aids.



An endocannabinoid deficiency or dysregulation has been hypothesized to be a possible cause of fibromyalgia symptoms. Studies have not completely elucidated this theory, but there is some evidence of abnormal endocannabinoid levels in patients with fibromyalgia.Recent studies show that fibromyalgia patients have increased levels of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter that can cause inflammation and damage when it accumulates.Fibromyalgia patients have been found to have higher blood levels of pro-inflammatory compounds, which indicates abnormal inflammation may play a role......













<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/treating-painful-fibromyalgia-symptoms-with-cannabis/">https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/treating-painful-fibromyalgia-symptoms-with-cannabis/</a>

[Purple Power]

Patients Find Freedom From Fibromyalgia Pain With Cannabis

<a class="" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/patients-find-freedom-from-fibromyalgia-pain-with-cannabis/#respond">0</a> By <span><a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/author/bgoldstein/" title="Posts by Bonni Goldstein, M.D.">Bonni Goldstein, M.D.</a> </span> on <span> </span>

<span>July 18th, 2017</span>



When I first met Vicki, I connected with her right away. Comfortable in her own skin, I knew that if it werent for our professional relationship, we might have been friends. She was struggling when I met her, taking several medications and strapped financially as she had no decent health insurance to cover her pre-existing conditions after being laid off. Despite her serious medical conditions, she was very positive with a great attitude.



As a business development consultant and one of the few women in an industry dominated by men, Vicki had sought medical help 20 years earlier for intense pain in her right shoulder and neck as well as constant flu and cold symptoms. She was put on pain medication and eventually diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. She tried a number of different medications but never felt well as the medications had many unwanted side effects. She couldnt drive on the pain medication, was out of it during the day and couldnt sleep at night. She struggled with the decision to continue taking the medications and suffer the side effects or not take the medications and suffer with symptoms of her conditions. She worried that she wouldnt be able to go on....







<a data-ipb="nomediaparse" href="https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/patients-find-freedom-from-fibromyalgia-pain-with-cannabis/">https://www.marijuana.com/news/2017/07/patients-find-freedom-from-fibromyalgia-pain-with-cannabis/</a>