For years, the medical benefits of marijuana have been explored as an alternative treatment for patients suffering from chronic pain, sleeping problems, and neurologic disorders.
However, as a highly regulated drug that is prone to abuse, many states have enumerated qualifying conditions that will make the use of medical marijuana legal and justifiable. In Florida, Parkinson’s Disease is one of these conditions.
In this blog post, our medical marijuana doctor in Gainesville shares how medical cannabis can help manage symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s Disease.
What is Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurological disorder caused by the death or impairment of brain cells that control movement. This leads to a decrease in dopamine production, which serves as a messenger between nerve cells. A deficiency in this chemical leads to uncoordinated or delayed movements, which can be seen in patients with Parkinson’s Disease.
Data from the Parkinson’s Foundation Prevalence Project estimates that around 930,000 Americans have Parkinson’s Disease in 2020. A decade from now, this number is expected to increase to 1.2 million. Currently, the cause of the death of neurons is still unknown. Parkinson’s disease has no cure, but some treatments can help patients deal with the symptoms.
What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?
- Trembling of the extremities, head, and jaw
- Body stiffness
- Slow movement
- Poor balance
- Poor body coordination
Why is Parkinson’s Disease painful?
The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, particularly muscle stiffness, rigidity, and involuntary muscle contraction, can lead to muscle pain and joint pain in different areas of the body.
Central pain is a constant, aching pain caused by an abnormality or damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for pain and sensation. This type of pain varies from patient to patient. Some experience widespread pain, while others may feel it in one area of the body only.
How can Medical Marijuana help relieve Parkinson’s pain?
The musculoskeletal pain experienced by patients with Parkinson’s Disease is associated with motor symptoms such as muscle stiffness, involuntary muscle contraction, and tremors.
In a study published by Wolters Kluwer Health, medical cannabis, when used in combination with other therapies for Parkinson’s Disease, can relieve the motor and non-motor symptoms in patients. It is safe to conclude that if the involuntary muscle contractions are decreased, patients may also experience lesser episodes of musculoskeletal pain.
Another study, which explored the Pros and Cons of Marijuana Treatment for patients with Parkinson’s Disease, has concluded that marijuana improved symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, depression, and pain in patients.
Before taking medical marijuana, patients with Parkinson’s Disease should be evaluated by our expert in medical marijuana and pain management in Gainesville, Fl. Because drug dependence is a possible side effect of long-term use of this drug, it is very important to use it in doses that can produce the desired result without the harmful side effects.
Learn more about our pain management services
Advanced Pain Medical Center offers various forms of pain management in Gainesville. These include a rapidly advancing medical specialty that uses a multi-disciplinary strategy to treat all types of pain and improve a patient’s quality of life.
At Advanced Pain Medical Center, we offer high-quality services such as innovative medical marijuana solutions, pain management, regenerative medicine, ketamine infusion therapy and IV therapy in Gainesville, Fl.
If you have any other questions, please Contact Us with your queries.
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 providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
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