CBD for CRPS – Does It Works for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

When it comes to alleviating chronic pain, the prescribed medications can be addictive and harmful if used for a prolonged period. Therefore, an increasing number of people are turning to CBD and medical cannabis to treat CRPS. CBD oil is non-addictive; you cannot grow tolerance with its use. Additionally, there are no over-dose risks involved in CBD usage.

Have you ever tried CBD for headaches or any other health condition? Most probably, your arthritis-suffering grandma raves about the potential benefits and therapeutic effects of cannabidiol. Millions of people have incorporated CBD into their wellness regime.

You might be wondering how to administer CBD for chronic regional pain syndrome. Or how CBD can help manage severe chronic pain. In this article, we will discuss what CRPS is and how CBD can reduce it.

Let us begin!

What Is CRPS?

Chronic regional pain is when a person experiences chronic pain in one limb. Gradually this pain spread to other limbs and varied in severity and duration.

In general, chronic pain is that pain that lasts for longer than six months. The most common victims of chronic regional pain syndrome include:

Arms
Legs
Hands
Feet

CRPS most common in women, but it can happen to anyone at any age, but the risk peaks at 40.

How Do You Get CRPS?

As stated earlier, everyone can become a victim of CRPS. However, it is rare in elderly people and children. Chronic pain may result after surgery or an injury that can explain why it happens. Some researchers believe that it occurs due to damage to the peripheral and nervous systems. The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral involves nerve signaling from the spinal cord to the brain.

Approximately 90% of CRPS cases link back to trauma, and scientists are unsure what differentiates the patients whose condition is a result of trauma and those who develop it naturally.

Some common triggers for CRPS include:

Sprain and strain
Soft tissue injuries
Fractures
Lim immobilization
Minor medical procedures
Surgery

What Are the Symptoms of CRPS?

The symptoms of CRPS vary in severity and how long they last. Some cases of CRPS can be mild and eventually cease, while other cases can be debilitating lasts for months. A person diagnosed with CRPS can experience many symptoms. Some symptoms include:

Change in temperature of your skin
Deceased mobility
Stiff joints
A Change in nails & hair growth
Excessive sweating
Allodynia
Swelling in the problematic limb
Pain spreading from the injured area to the connected limbs
Prolonged severe pain
Tremors, jerking, or other abnormal movements
Change in skin color

CRPS Treatment Options:

A doctor can advise you on several different treatments according to the severity of your chronic pain. Here are some common treatment options:

Rehabilitation Therapy:

Generally, the doctor will recommend exercise to help keep your limb moving and improve blood flow. It can help lessen the circulatory symptoms you are experiencing. Moreover, this exercise can help improve the mobility, flexibility, and strength of your limb. Rehabilitation therapy for your limbs also prevents the reverse secondary brain changes caused by chronic pain. Also, you can find a way to perform daily tasks without experiencing too much pain.

Psychotherapy:

Pain can make your brain feel funky. CRPS not only affects the person in pain but also affects the mental health of the whole family. A person with CRPS can develop:

Depression
Anxiety
PTSD

All these mental health conditions can make CRPS more unbearable and make rehabilitation difficult. So, it is essential to treat the secondary conditions to make recovery easier. A visit to a psychiatrist can help you cope with this painful condition.

Medications:

There are various medications available that can speed up the recovery. Before using these drugs, remember that FDA has not approved them. Also, there is no guarantee that it works for every person.

Some common medications for CRPS include:

Corticosteroids – prednisolone and methylprednisolone
Opioids – morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone – this has severe side effects
Bisphosphonates – alendronate or intravenous pamidronate
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – ibuprofen or aspirin
Seizure & depression medication – gabapentin, pregabalin, and duloxetine

One of the biggest issues of trying these medications is the addiction and adverse effects. Well, fret not! Here cannabidiol comes with a wide range of therapeutic benefits and zero side effects.

What Is CBD & How It Alleviates Pain?

Cannabidiol, aka CBD, is one of the primary non-psychoactive cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. It is non-intoxicant means it doesn’t cause hallucination and mind-altering effects. Contrary to this, THC is psychoactive and causes head-high effects.

You might be wondering how CBD can alleviate the pain. Our body possesses a complex cell signaling system – the endocannabinoid system. The cannabinoids of the cannabis plant interact with the endocannabinoid system to impart the effects.

The core components of ECS are:

Endocannabinoids
Cannabinoid receptors – CB1 & CB2
Enzymes

In particular, cannabinoids mimic the natural endocannabinoids to activate the cannabinoid receptors. CBD does not bind with these cannabinoid receptors, it activates them to maintain the functioning of ECS.

CBD for Pain:

Most people take CBD due to its potential to ease the pain. You can utilize the pain relief ability of CBD for CRPS. There are numerous ways CBD can reduce pain; the first one is by elevating the antagonist to the CB2 receptors.

Research studies indicate that the interaction of CBD with CB2 receptors can mask pain. CBD alters the pain sensation to help you get relief.

A few drops of CBD oil or capsules can help alleviate the pain. Moreover, you can try CBD massage creams, lotion, or oil to enhance the flexibility and mobility of the painful limb.

CBD for Inflammation:

Cannabidiol is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD can effectively lessen the pain by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is the root cause of any painful condition as it worsens the pain.

People with CRPS often found with high levels of cytokines that cause inflammation. CBD can help with inflammation by elevating the 2-AG endocannabinoid.

Talk To Your Doctor:

Currently, you are aware of how CBD for CRPS works. If the other medications are not working for you, you can opt for CBD with your health professional recommendations. Though CRPS is an elusive illness and difficult to treat, CBD can help alleviate its symptoms.

Remember to talk with your healthcare provider before adding CBD to your medications. Only a professional can recommend to you how to dose CBD and its possible interactions with drugs.

Have you ever tried CBD for CRPS? We would love to hear your story in the comment section below!

CBD for CRPS – Does It Works for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

ByFiza Arooj