Although CBD is not a cure for neuropathic pain, it is a natural alternative for relieving it. In fact, CBD’s effectiveness in pain management is well established.
What is neuropathic pain?
According to some studies, neuropathic pain affects about 5 to 7 percent of the population and is generally chronic. It primarily affects people aged 50 to 64 and is caused by problems related to:
- central nervous system, consisting of the brain and spinal cord;
- peripheral nervous system and nerves.
It can result from an accident or an illness, but it can also be caused by medication. There are also cases where neuropathy is unexplained and therefore still has no known cause, leaving a gap in medical understanding and sometimes making treatment uncertain.
As a result, patients with multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, or post-amputation phantom limb pain may experience neuropathic pain characterized by a burning or tingling sensation, increased sensitivity to heat or cold, or uncontrolled muscle contractions.
Neuropathic pain differs from conventional pain in that a dysfunction or injury to the nervous system causes pain of varying intensity that occurs unpredictably, manifesting as temporary episodes or becoming chronic.
Neuropathy manifests as various sensory disturbances, such as:
- spasms,
- cramps,
- tingling,
- muscle twitching,
- a burning sensation,
- sharp pains,
- sensations of electric shocks,
- a high sensitivity to heat or cold.
In cases of advanced neuropathy, pain, diminished reflexes, and progressive paralysis may occur.
What are the common treatments for neuropathic pain?
Even today, medicine still struggles to relieve neuropathic pain without resorting to treatments that can be drastic and cause numerous side effects. The most common side effects include severe drowsiness, which can make it impossible to drive, or difficulty concentrating due to the use of strong sedatives.
Treatments involving antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antiepileptic drugs are also used in the pharmacopoeia for neuropathic pain. Their dosages are tailored specifically to treat these neuropathies and require regular monitoring, particularly of liver enzyme levels for certain antiepileptic drugs.
These medications often lead to dependence, and their effectiveness may diminish over time. Consequently, despite regular follow-up visits at hospital pain clinics, people with neuropathy often find themselves left to cope with this pain on their own.
Why is CBD associated with neuropathic pain?
The use of cannabis or THC is illegal in France, but CBD has been permitted for many years and may be effective in relieving most types of pain. It can be consumed as an oil, an herbal tea, or even in the form of flowers.
CBD is not addictive and has no psychoactive effects
The advantage of CBD for physical pain is that it is not addictive and does not cause psychoactive effects like THC. By acting on multiple receptors throughout our body and brain, CBD directly targets serotonin, a hormone naturally present in the body. Its combined effects on certain neural receptors may thus relieve chronic pain, stress, and anxiety by deactivating them.
Until now, cannabinoids such as CBD were often used as a last resort when patients realized that their conventional treatments were less effective. This alternative solution can then be chosen and tried. It is particularly recommended to consume cannabidiol in the form of herbal tea or an infusion. It is even gentler, and the dosage can be perfectly adjusted by adding more or less cannabis and herbs to the cup of hot water.
CBD is believed to affect the sensors and receptors in our bodies
Our endocannabinoid system is sensitive to the presence of CBD, which interacts with existing receptors in our central and peripheral nervous systems. This system is involved in regulating pain and inflammation, as well as mood and sleep—all of which are often compromised by chronic pain.
CBD is thought to act as a modulator of neuropathic pain thanks to its potential antioxidant and sedative properties, and although it is not considered a medication, it can be consumed freely to experience fairly rapid benefits.
Why should you always seek medical advice before using CBD?
As a first-line treatment, traditional pain relievers often provide relief from neuropathic pain. Because of potential interactions between cannabidiol and current medications, it is important to talk to your doctor before you start taking CBD.
In fact, high doses of CBD are incompatible with estrogen-based medications (which may reduce their contraceptive effectiveness). The use of CBD is therefore not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children.
In addition, CBD is not a medication and cannot replace medical treatment.
Medical Cannabis and Neuropathy: Promising Results
Self-reported results from a study involving hundreds of patients suggest that medical cannabis is generally beneficial for patients with neurological conditions, but potency and dosage are important.
A recent survey conducted by the medical cannabis platform NuggMD included 603 patients who used cannabis to treat neuropathic pain. 248 patients used cannabis as their primary treatment, and 355 patients reported using cannabis as an adjunct treatment.
On a 10-point scale, 520 respondents (86.2%) reported pain levels above 6 before using medical cannabis. The average pain level before using medical cannabis was 7.64, while the average pain level after using medical cannabis was 3.44—a significant decrease. Among patients who reported pain levels of 6 or higher before using cannabis, 269 patients reported pain levels of 3 or lower after using cannabis.
As for the patients who did not receive it:
- 69 patients remained at level 6 or higher after using medical cannabis,
- 8 patients reported that they had not experienced any relief
- and 7 patients reported an increase in pain levels.
As for side effects, only 18 patients reported adverse effects.
Commenting on the average pain reduction of 4.2 points, the company noted that this was similar to the pain reduction experienced by people using opioids, as reported in a 2017 study.
Although patients' consumption varied considerably, the most consistent pattern observed was the use of very potent cannabis with a THC content of 20% or more.
According to NuggMD, existing research on the use of cannabis to treat neuropathy tends to involve “low-quality cannabis” grown by the government with low THC content, to focus on CBD, or to involve isolated compounds rather than full-spectrum products.
“This finding is significant because most studies on the analgesic effects of cannabis have generally focused on cannabis products with THC levels below 20%,” the study states. “These studies often claim that THC is ineffective for pain relief.”
Similarly, a study conducted a few years ago by the University of New Mexico showed that full-spectrum cannabis oil, although low in THC, significantly reduced pain sensitivity for several hours in mice suffering from chronic postoperative neuropathic pain.
As with previous studies of this type, NuggMD notes that further research is needed. “Although the results we report suggest that cannabis, when used at the correct strength and dose, shows promise for treating chronic pain such as neuropathy, further research is needed to determine its safety and efficacy,” the authors state.
What can we conclude?
In summary, the treatment of neuropathic pain is complex and not always effective. The balance between benefits and side effects is not a perfect equation, and many people suffer constantly.
However, some research suggests that cannabinoids (CBD and THC) play a role in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Research on the effects of CBD shows that it may have beneficial pain-relieving effects, particularly for episodic pain such as spasms or cramps (like those caused by multiple sclerosis). Whether it’s general pain treatment or pain management, there is currently a great deal of momentum in this area. CBD is one of the new therapeutic approaches for pain relief, whether taken alone or in combination with other products. In fact, many doctors (in Europe and the United States) use CBD as an adjunct in multimodal analgesia to more effectively manage their patients’ pain.
If you are interested in using CBD to relieve symptoms related to neuropathic pain, we encourage you to consult your doctor first and be aware of any potential drug interactions while you are undergoing medical treatment. It is also important to make sure you do not have any allergies or adverse reactions to CBD.
