Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Sadly, chronic pain comes with aging, making seniors most susceptible to it.
Chronic pain affects around 50 million adults in the U.S. alone. Because of this, experts are investigating better and safer pain treatment methods. Along the way, they found that marijuana can manage various conditions. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how medical marijuana can help ease chronic pain in older adults.
Studies show that Medical Marijuana Helped Manage Chronic Pain and Reduce the Use of Painkillers
The use of medical cannabis is already legal in many states, including Florida. Recently, there has been an increasing interest as to how it can help manage long-term health conditions common among older adults. A study looking into the trends in cannabis use among seniors showed that marajuana usage in recent years increased from 2.4% in 2015 to 4.2% in 2018. The results of the study were consistent with reports from medical marijuana doctors.
Many elderly patients who seek pain management have conditions that cause chronic pain and prevent them from taking typical pain medications. For instance, some have compromised kidneys and can no longer take pain relievers. Some patients simply want to get a good night’s sleep without being bothered by pain. Fortunately, medical marijuana offers promising results.
A survey that sought to understand the increasing popularity of medical marijuana among seniors found that nine out of ten patients experienced great results, enough for them to recommend it to others. One of the respondents stopped taking Percocet after switching to medical marijuana. Another patient reported that medical marijuana allowed them to normally function at work and life again. In all, the study revealed that medical marijuana had a positive impact on seniors. It also helped reduce the need to take opioid and non-opioid pain medications.
What’s Driving This Trend?
There could be various factors behind the increase in medical marijuana use among seniors, but one important reason is the easing stigma associated with the use of cannabis. More Americans now support the legalization of marijuana for medical use. Additionally, 34 out of 50 states already allow its use for medical purposes, with regulations varying from state to state.
Furthermore, the AARP also recently expressed support for medical marijuana. This encouraged older adults to find out more and try cannabis for managing chronic pain.
Medical Marijuana for Seniors: Things to Keep in Mind
Although medical marijuana shows promise in helping manage chronic pain, there are still a number of things to keep in mind. The goal is to find the right dose that will provide patients with therapeutic benefits. Too little a dose will not relieve pain while going overboard can cause more pain (and cause cognitive changes). Furthermore, the right dose is different for everyone. Working with a medical marijuana doctor is the best way to reap the benefits of this natural medicine.
Learn More About Cannabis for Seniors From Our Medical Marijuana Doctor in Gainesville
You deserve to enjoy your golden years with “less pain and more function”. Advanced Pain Medical Center offers a wide range of pain management options in Gainesville. These include a rapidly advancing medical specialty that uses a multi-disciplinary strategy for treating all types of pain and improving a patient’s quality of life. We provide individualized pain management plans based on each patient’s unique condition. We are also licensed to order medical marijuana treatment.
Contact us to learn more about our services or schedule a consultation.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
