What exactly if trigeminal neuralgia? Well, to begin with, it is essential that we get a clear definition of what it is. Neuralgia happens to be a term used to refer to a nerve pain that could basically occur in any part of the human body. On the other hand, neuralgia is the fifth cranial trigeminal nerve which happens to be the largest of them all. It plays a very essential role in showing sensations on the face. Besides, it is a nerve that functions effectively for chewing and biting to happen. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that involves the damage of the trigeminal nerve. More often than not, people suffering from HIV/AIDS, diabetes as well as multiple sclerosis are at a higher risk of being affected by this condition. This is because the myelin sheath that surrounds the Trigeminal nerve has ceased to function as it is damaged. Also, old age can be one of the factors that could cause this condition to occur.
Trigeminal neuralgia tends to result to extreme levels of pain that at times cause people suffering from it to have suicidal thoughts and the disease hence gets the name “suicidal disease” as about 25% of those affected end up taking their lives. Some people claim that the pain of Trigeminal neuralgia surpasses that experienced at child birth, being bitten by a bullet ant as well as suffering an actual gunshot. More often than not, the pain is said to be similar to getting burnt or rather consistent stabbing pain. While suffering from such pain, one tends to be unable to work or rather carry out the normal day to day activities. They end up isolating themselves thus causing them to be depressed and hopeless. Therefore, this situation has to be handled by first visiting a medical marijuana doctor for diagnosis as well as prescriptions.
Medical products that are Opiate-based are totally not a recommendation for easing the pain of Trigeminal neuralgia. This is because opioid has failed in treating nerve pains. Therefore, the option that could actually work for many in treatment of this nerve pain is serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. In addition, anticonvulsants that include gabapentin are a recommended type of medication though it could be hard for one to find the right one. Other physicians tend to prescribe antiepileptic and antipsychotic drugs to people suffering from the nerve pain. Alternatives have been sought and medical marijuana happens to be a major one when it comes to regulating the pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia. All that one requires to do is to book an appointment with a licensed medical marijuana doctor and they will grant you directions on how to go about the entire medical marijuana process.
ADVANTAGES OF USING MEDICAL CANNABIS TO RELIEVE TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
Cannabis contains strains that include cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabidiol that are abbreviated as CBD and THC. THC is responsible for increased psycho-activity to a user whereas CBD tends to counteract that particular psycho-activity thus making cannabis to be an important substance to use to relieve pain, seizures, spasms as well as inflammation without leaving the feeling of lethargy behind.
It is evident that cannabinoids are efficient in improving appetite sleep as well as mood of those that consume it more so those experiencing trigeminal neuralgia. Marijuana used to relieve nerve pain tend to have minimal side effects as compared to medicines from other products. Also, considering the antinociceptive characteristic that medical cannabis comes with, the medication is able to serve as an ample therapeutic approach for medically handling trigeminal neuralgia. This is because cannabinoids help to regulate pain by restricting neuronal transmission in pain pathways. It surely does magic, right? In addition, enable the slowing down the wearing out of the myelin sheath which is brought about by other neurodegenerative disease as well as multiple sclerosis. Therefore, it is rightful to say that cannabis acts as a very effective neuro-protectant.
Are you a patient and considering to use medical marijuana to alleviate trigeminal neuralgia? Well, it all begins by booking an appointment with a licensed medical marijuana doctor. They get to assess whether or not one has the conditions required for one to be permitted to be a legal user of cannabis as well as application of a medical marijuana doctor. Once the card has been acquired, the treatment and diagnosis follows suit. The next step is seeking a reputable dispensary so that you may obtain drugs of not only high quality but also safe products while remaining at the safe side of law. At the dispensary, one is required to show their card that indicates that they are legal users. The type of medical marijuana that one desires are administered by the help of the budtender. Therefore, ensure that the budtender you get to interact with is as qualified and that there are no chances left.
Medical cannabis comes in different forms that include those that are smoked, edibles, oils, topical (sprays, dermal patches, bath salts as well as creams), teas, oils as well as inhaling vaping. Topical tend to have no psychoactive effects but when used, they last longer but it is not effective when it comes to relieving severe pain. Edibles on the other hand take about two hours to be absorbed in the body to relieve but its effects last for longer periods.
WHAT DOES RESEARCH SAY?
Researchers have carried out studies that entail comparison of what cannabis does to people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Several observations were recorded. Medication that was based on low quality cannabis tended to raise chances of about half of the people getting pain relief when compared to what placebo would actually do. Notably, placebos refer to medications conventionally utilized for neuropathic pain and not sugar pills. The number of people whose pain declined increased a little bit when very low quality of cannabis was used. However, some people withdrew from the study due to adverse effects conferred by cannabis and not many that used medication based on placebo were affected to the point of retaliation. There is less recorded evidence to indicate that those that used marijuana-based drugs experienced an increase in the frequency of adverse events when compared to placebo.
Basically, medicines that were cannabis-based showed a clear rise in number of people that benefitted from pain relief. It was observed that such medicines increased events of the nervous system in a greater way than the medicines that were placebo-based did. However, there was an increase in psychiatric disorder cases to people using cannabis based medication.
SIDE EFECTS OF USING MEDICAL CANNABIS
It is effective to note that misuse of medical cannabis by say, using very high amounts of cannabis may result to one suffering from exacerbate pain as well as increased anxiety. A rise in anxiety may in result bring about increased pain despite the fact that one was initially using it to alleviate the pain. As no one desires to suffer an attack from using excessive amounts of medical marijuana, it is best to stick to consuming the prescribed amount in the rightful portions as per the medical marijuana doctors’ instructions.
Nausea, confusion, sedation, euphoria, disorientation, dizziness as well as dry mouth are among the common side effects associated with using marijuana. In addition, there are some side effects that are considered severe and they include;
- Duodenal ulcer
- Convulsions
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gastroenteritis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Dyspnea
- Lower respiratory tract infection
- Pleural effusion
The mode of consumption of medical marijuana tend to dictate what types of side effects that a user may suffer. For instance, smoking regularly may be associated with troubles in breathing as well as the entire respiration organs including the lungs being tampered with. Oral consumption on the other hand may bring about adverse gastrointestinal effects as opposed to when smoked. Notably, it has been noted over the recent past that different medications utilized to relieve chronic pain have the same adverse effects. Similarly, placebos and medical cannabis tend to have almost the same side effects and therefore it is rightful to say that both do not differ in terms of safety. However, medical marijuana is said to be well tolerated to patients and tolerance to their beneficial effects happens not to develop. A long term consumption of marijuana may result to bone mineral density which would increase the risk of one suffering born fractures with much ease.
IS IT NECESSARY THAT MORE RESEARCH OUGHT TO BE CARRIED OUT?
From the discussion above, it is clear that medical marijuana tends to be a reliable treatment for eliminating chronic. However, it is essential that more research that is based on evidence and peer-reviewing should be carried to investigate credibility of medical marijuana. This will enable licensed medical marijuana doctors to be at a stable position of feeling empowered to not only recommend but also prescribe medical marijuana to patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. More research will also enable marijuana doctors to confidently prove that cannabis can replace pharmaceuticals to serve the purpose of relieving pain. In addition, testimonials from patients that have used medical cannabis to control the pain should be more vocal so that they may show that cannabis truly works!