The spine is the part of the body that provides mobility and strength to the body. Any injury of the spine can disrupt even slight body movement. When you fall backward, there is a high chance of getting a back injury that causes severe back pain. Immediate treatment is required for avoiding further complications in the future.
Back pain can lead to disability and prevent people from working and performing daily activities. Back pain can be treated using painkillers if it is not severe. This article will help you to understand more about back pain and how CBD helps in effectively managing back pain.
Back Pain After Falling
According to the National Institute of Health, back injuries due to falling are the most common fall-related injuries. Back injuries due to falling outnumber ankle, hip, or wrist injuries. The severity of the fall determines the back injury that sustains from the fall. If you have fallen really badly, it could cause some severe back injuries that involve muscle strains that may lead to chronic pain.
Back pain from falling usually occurs when you fall backward from a slippery surface. You should try to analyze the level of pain that you feel after falling. If the pain goes beyond the general achiness, it could be a serious injury that needs immediate treatment. Sometimes the pain may not be that much severe, but it can prevent you from performing your daily activities.
Back pain or pain in the back can get complicated if you do not get the proper treatment. It will affect people of all ages, gender, and race. The severity of the pain ranges from a mild constant ache to a sudden, sharp sensation on the lower and upper back. Apart from falling, you can get back pain from an accident, lifting a heavy object, or even due to inactivity.
Back pain usually occurs in the lower region that includes the five vertebrae in the lumbar region. This is the part of the vertebrae that supports most of the upper body weight. The intervertebral discs in the gaps between the vertebrae act as shock absorbers that cushion the bones when you move. There are also ligaments and tendons that help in body movement and also nerves that send signals to the brain. Back pain can disrupt their functions.
Upper back pain is usually caused due to spine inflammation, chest tumors, or aorta disorders.
Some Other Causes Of Back Pain
Spondylosis is a condition that involves the degeneration of the spine which leads to severe back pain. When you tear or stretch a ligament on the back it causes a back sprain. One of the other reasons for lower back pain is the herniated disc injury. It occurs when your intervertebral discs bulge outward or become compressed.
The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that runs through the buttocks and down to the back of the leg. When this nerve becomes compressed, you will feel a burning pain on the lower back down one leg and buttocks. Another cause of back pain is spinal stenosis. This occurs when the spinal column becomes narrow due to excess pressure.
Treatment For Back Pain
The best way of treating back pain is by avoiding physical activity for a few days. It will calm the symptoms and reduce the inflammation that causes pain. Applying ice on the affected area can reduce pain for some extend.
Medications are also available for treating back pain. OTC painkillers are extensively used for alleviating pain. But these drugs are not always effective and cause some side effects. Doctors also recommend topical pain relievers like ointments, creams, or salves to apply on the affected area. Antidepressants like amitriptyline can also reduce certain types of back pain.
Recent studies have shown that CBD back pain might be more effective than traditional drugs for managing pain. It is completely safe than the other pain medications and does not cause any severe side effects.
What Is Cannabidiol?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a chemical compound in the cannabis Sativa plant. It is one of the 113 cannabinoid compounds identified in the cannabis plant. CBD is usually derived from the hemp and does not have any side effects like THC, the psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that means if you use it, you won’t get a sensation of high.
CBD and its products are very popular all around the world because of its therapeutic properties. After its discovery in early 1930, many studies have undergone in the past decades to find out how it helps to treat the various health issues that affect the human body. After numerous studies, scientists understood that CBD is a potential remedy for health disorders like stress, anxiety, depression, arthritis, nausea, migraine, insomnia, seizures, skin problems, etc.
Recent clinical studies have shown that CBD can effectively treat many autoimmune diseases and get relief from many digestive disorders. CBD is also proven to be effective in alleviating the side effects of cancer treatment like nausea, vomiting, pain, and loss of appetite. Recent clinical studies are showing that the use of CBD can control the growth of cancer cells in breast cancer patients.
Use CBD For Back Pain
CBD oil derived from marijuana or hemp is very effective in reducing back pain. Inflammation and swelling are significant factors in back pain caused by falling. The anti-inflammatory property of CBD helps in reducing the inflammation and thereby gets a better relief from back pain. CBD also aids in combating anxiety, promote sleep, and gives an overall feeling of relaxation.
The interaction of cannabidiol with the endocannabinoid system affects how we perceive pain. CBD gives a full-body treatment. For getting targeted pain relief, you can rub CBD cream to the specific region of the body that feels pain. CBD is a safe treatment option for back pain after falling because it is very safe. However, CBD can cause side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, low blood pressure, etc.
Many scientific studies are going on around the world to find out the exact effects of CBD on the treatment of back pain. A study in 2008 looked at the effects of cannabinoids, including CBD, in patients with hard-to-treat back pain. The study concluded that cannabinoids have great potential in treating pain and they only cause minimal side effects when compared to traditional pain medications.
In June 2012, a study looked at the effects of cannabinoids on inflammation in the human body. The results of the study were encouraging. It was found that cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, targeted the alpha-3 glycine receptors and suppressed inflammation and neuropathic pain.
In 2018, a study looked at seven patients who suffered back pain after a kidney transplant. The patients received 50mg and 150mg of CBD twice a day for 21 days. Two of the patients reported total improvement from pain and the rest of the patients had a partial response within 15 days of the study.
The main factor that restricts the FDA from approving CBD as a treatment for back pain is that there are only limited clinical trials into CBD and pain. Most of the clinical studies involve rodents. But there are many anecdotal records that prove that CBD reduces the pain in humans.
How To Consume CBD For Back Pain?
There are a number of ways in which you can use CBD for treating back pain after falling. People usually use CBD tinctures for alleviating the pain because it is very easy to use and also gives a full-body relief. You can use the dropper to take a few drops of CBD under your tongue. Hold the CBD under the tongue for about 60 seconds before swallowing it. This method is called sublingual consumption and it ensures faster absorption of CBD into the bloodstream.
Another effective method of taking CBD is by CBD edibles. CBD gummies, capsules, and pills are the most popular edible CBD products. It is also an easy way of consuming CBD because they usually taste better. CBD edibles have a lower absorption rate and it takes longer to reach the bloodstream because CBD is absorbed during the digestive process.
The excellent and most effective option for treating back pain is CBD topicals. You can use topical CBD products like CBD cream, CBD lotion, or CBD balm to get targeted pain relief. You can simply take a portion of the CBD topical and rub it to the region of the body that hurts. Rubbing the CBD cream well on the affected region will help you to get a targeted localized relief. CBD topicals have a lower bioavailability when compared to CBD tinctures and CBD vapes.
Final Thoughts
The research on the effects of CBD on back pain is still ongoing. Currently, we have very little clinical evidence that says CBD is very effective for treating pain, and most of those studies are conducted on animal subjects. There are also some encouraging anecdotal records that show the ability of CBD for treating back pain.
More clinical studies are required to conclusively suggest CBD as a potential remedy for back pain and all other sorts of pain that affects the human body. Without any conclusive evidence, the FDA won’t approve CBD products for pain treatment. If you are going to use CBD for back pain anyway, we suggest consulting a doctor first. A doctor can help you to figure out the safe CBD dosage for consumption. One important thing to remember is that CBD could interact with other drugs that might cause some side effects. Therefore, do thorough research before using it.