CAN I USE CBD FOR CERVICAL SPINE SYNDROME?
Almost every seventh American has problems with the cervical spine. Although the causes of this can be very different, these problems often lead to a chronic cervical spine syndrome. This is not only painful for those affected, but also often restricts them in their everyday life. Through all this, one might wonder “can I use CBD for cervical spine syndrome” and other backpain issues? In this article, we will show you what is cervical spine syndrome and whether CBD can help with cervical spine syndrome.
What is Cervical Spine Syndrome?
The term cervical spine syndrome (sometimes also referred to as cervical syndrome) is understood to mean all those complaints that occur in the cervical spine or originate from it. These include pain or restrictions on freedom of movement in the arms, neck and shoulders.
Physicians make a further distinction here. There is a suddenly occurring cervical spine syndrome, for example, which you can suffer from after an accident. Generally, we see a sub-chronic cervical spine syndrome in the first three months after the first appearance of the complaints. Patients whose problems persist for more than three months suffer from chronic cervical spine syndrome. The causes are mainly found in degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
Classic symptoms of Cervical Spine Syndrome
Which symptoms you suffer from depends in particular on the area of the cervical spine where the problems are. In medicine, a distinction is made between the upper (1st to 2nd vertebra), middle (3rd to 5th cervical vertebrae) and lower (6th to 7th vertebral body) cervical spine syndrome.
If the upper vertebrae are affected, the pain radiates approximately to the head. This is also called Cervico-cephalgia or a cervicogenic headache. As a result, neck pain can occur in the back of the head, jaw, or face. It is also possible that those affected see, hear and swallow with dizziness or disturbances in the area.
If the problem areas are in the middle or lower area of the cervical spine, this is called cervicobrachialgia or cervicobrachial syndrome. Patients here suffer particularly from pain in the neck, shoulders and arms. You may also experience numbness or tingling in the fingers. The cause of this is also pressure on the nerve root, for example due to a herniated disc.
No matter where the actual cause of the cervical spine syndrome is, the patients suffer from severe tension, pain and restrictions in their everyday life. At least, having a knowledge of CBD for cervical spine syndrome is vital.
Causes of the Cervical Spine Syndrome
Due to the modern lifestyle, the tendency to develop a cervical spine syndrome is steadily increasing. Accordingly, it is not surprising that 15% of all Americans now suffer from pain in the cervical spine.
The same applies to the thoracic spine syndrome. The biggest influencing factor is that we spend more and more time sitting. Since modern people usually work sitting on the computer, they spend a lot of time sitting in the car, relaxing in the evening while sitting in front of the television and generally not moving enough. All of these factors contribute to the area of the cervical spine becoming weaker over time. There is also tension in the muscles due to incorrect postures and overloads.
The 5 most common reasons for Cervical Spine Syndrome:
- Accidents or injuries
- Cervical disc protrusion (also called protrusion)
- Somatoform pain disorder
- Degenerative spinal disorders such as arthrosis or spondylosis
- Blocking of vertebral joints due to permanent stress (also called segmental dysfunction)
In addition, diseases such as rheumatism are also able to cause the symptoms described.
Furthermore, factors such as stress are also conceivable as a trigger of the disease. This is mainly due to the fact that you tense up in stressful situations and often also raise your shoulders unconsciously. This leads to permanent tension, which can result in the symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome.
Diagnosis of cervical spine syndrome
Most people at some point go to the doctor to clarify the origin of their symptoms.
The general practitioner then often refers the patient to an orthopedist or neurologist. Both are the right contacts for the cervical spine syndrome. Especially with neurological symptoms, such as dizziness or visual disturbances, it is important to rule out other diseases.
After a thorough medical history, a physical exam usually follows. In order to confirm the suspicion of the cervical spine syndrome, imaging methods, such as X-rays or an examination in a computer or magnetic resonance tomograph can be used.
Medication
If cervical spine syndrome has been confirmed during the examination, pain medication in particular is used. The reason for this is the protective posture that many patients take due to their pain. As a result, there is often even more pain and tension because the body is constantly in an unnatural position.
In the case of very severe pain and tension, it is possible for doctors to prescribe medication from the group of morphine or for muscle relaxation. In rare cases, injections of local anesthetics are also used. Of course, this is only one component in the overall treatment. Still, the question remains; can CBD treat cervical spine syndrome?
Non-drug Treatment
Manual therapy is often used for conservative treatment without medication, however, using CBD for cervical spine syndrome may help. These include, for example, physiotherapy and massages, which can help to release the tense muscles. Physical applications that are carried out with heat and stimulation current are also frequently used. The doctor can suggest all of these treatment options on prescription.
In addition, deblocking of the vertebral joints can also be used in the course of chiropractic treatment. Through targeted exercises, which patients can also do at home, it is possible to further influence the success of the treatment.
It is also helpful to exercise more physically in order to improve one-sided tension and also to prevent them.
Cannabis and the Cervical Spine Syndrome
Of course, there are other options available to patients today to do something about their cervical spine syndrome. Cannabis offers a special opportunity here because its cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) interact with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that exists in every human body.
Medical Cannabinoids
In the United States, doctors and chiropractors have been prescribing CBD oil for this condition. It has also been scientifically proven that cannabinoids have an analgesic effect and can relax the muscles. You can also get My Insomnia Fix CBD oil without any medical prescription since these products contain no THC.
CBD Oil for Cervical Spine Syndrome
It is now also known that cannabidiol (CBD for short) also has an effect in combating pain. Accordingly, it is also possible with CBD to correct any incorrect posture. Unlike cannabis, CBD products do not contain psychoactive THC. This means that on the one hand they are freely available for sale. On the other hand, they don’t make you “high” and potentially CBD treats cervical spine syndrome.
In addition, CBD products have an anti-inflammatory effect and promote blood circulation. Both are very helpful in the cervical spine syndrome.
Compared to classic drugs, there are hardly any side effects. By interacting with the ECS, the human body can also absorb CBD very well. There is also no time limit on the use of CBD, which is another big difference from conservative pain relievers.
