What Patients are Saying About Cannabis and Pain

At NuggMD, we regularly hear from patients about their experiences with medical cannabis. While these patients use cannabis to treat a variety of medical conditions, one of the most common ailments cited is pain. Patients report using cannabis to relieve pain associated with certain chronic or recurring conditions, from pre-menstrual pain to neuropathy.

I react very badly with opiates or anti-anxiety or pain medications in general. I react with vomiting and stomach pain. Medical cannabis helps me function pain-free when smoked and provides me anxiety relief as well. It helps with the horrible cramps I have during my monthly from having PCOS. Medical cannabis has been such a help for everything I pretty much have been diagnosed with.

Research suggests that cannabis may help with symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). In 2022, a review of 16 studies regarding cannabis use for gynecological conditions like PMS found that 61% to 95.5% reported pain relief from cannabis use.

Essentially, I am the example. Anyone who has dealt with pain for an extended period/daily basis knows the toll it takes on you. On good days, it's manageable. On bad, it's miserable. It diminishes your quality of life. I have nothing against taking an aspirin for a headache, but it's hard on your system to take OTC painkillers daily for the rest of your life. Marijuana is an appreciated tool that provides a higher quality of life, without the side effects of what traditional medicine/conventional wisdom recommended. It’s not just about being stoned.

Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) carry significant side effects for some individuals. Ibuprofen, for example, can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and diminished kidney function. Some patients opt to treat pain with cannabis instead of other drugs. Others find they can reduce their use of OTC drugs by using cannabis and ibuprofen together.

I can’t take any type of meds like Aleve, Motrin, etc., due to it being so harsh in my digestive tract. If my intestinal tract is causing pain or discomfort, I have found cannabis a great way to relieve pain. I can return to work the next day after a flare-up. Works great when I get headaches or migraines.

Although more clinical research is needed, anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis may help relieve symptoms of migraine, including pain and nausea. It is believed that cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to mitigate migraine symptoms in numerous ways, including reducing inflammation and modulating neurotransmitters released by the body. 

Additionally, terpenes commonly found in cannabis, including limonene, myrcene, linalool, caryophyllene, humulene, and eucalyptol, may help with pain.

I was using prescription opioids for years. When those were stopped, I used Tylenol, ibuprofen, and tramadol. I use medical marijuana three times during the day, and it numbs the pain.

Research has shown that medical cannabis may help those with opioid dependency or addiction reduce their intake of prescription painkillers such as oxycodone and other opioids.¹ Some patients find that using medical cannabis in conjunction with prescription drugs such as tramadol provides more relief than either therapy by itself. However, using these remedies together can intensify unwanted side effects. Patients should consult with their healthcare provider before changing their treatment regimen.

I am not fond of using prescription medications due to side effects. The muscle relaxers and pain medications were so sedating and made the next day so foggy.

Some patients report that using medical cannabis instead of prescription medications allows them to wake up without the mental fog associated with other drugs. Cannabis topicals, in particular, may provide effective pain relief without intoxication or other psychoactive effects.

I used to take all different things to try and help with my pain, eating issues, sleep, etc., but those barely did justice, and if anything, it made my symptoms worse. Plus, I can’t imagine the stress I was putting on my body. After getting my medical card, I’ve been able to function throughout the day without facing those issues; if anything, I’ve never felt more on track with myself!

Because cannabis can be used to treat issues besides pain, patients with more than one medical condition often find cannabis can help them with multiple issues. For example, it is well known that cannabis can induce hunger. Patients who need to gain weight can use this information to their advantage by choosing strains that stimulate appetite. 

I have chronic pain due to nerve damage, and this has been the only thing that has helped me feel better after two surgeries and all the RX [that] Western medicine had to offer.

Patients report using cannabis to treat certain conditions that cause chronic pain. Both THC and CBD may relieve pain, giving patients several options to use cannabis therapeutically. Patients with neuropathy, a common cause of chronic pain, often report that using inhalable products with a balanced ratio of THC and CBD provides the most relief. In 2024, a NuggMD survey found that medical cannabis may be as effective as opiates for treating pain associated with neuropathy.

I have nerve damage and [was] constantly in pain on and off. I have been prescribed gabapentin up [to] 350mg. I've received [a] shot of toradol at [the] ER, and [it] caused my pain to increase rather than settling down. I don't use any prescription meds because it doesn't help ease my pain in any way. And with cannabis, I'm able to go on through with my day as a mom and health caregiver with much more ease and [less] stress.

Gabapentin is a medication commonly prescribed to treat neuropathic pain, but it isn’t appropriate for all patients. Some patients find other remedies, such as medical cannabis, may provide more relief. Others simply cannot tolerate the significant side effects of the drug.

I used to take Aleve every 8 hours to help with chronic pain. I know I was doing damage to my body by taking it. Once those stopped helping, I was over it. I tried cannabis after a friend told me about it. Now, I use medical marijuana daily to help limit my chronic pain.

Some patients with chronic pain find that cannabis is more effective than OTC medications or even prescription drugs. They also find the side effects of cannabis to be less severe and far more manageable than other options to treat pain. Cannabis, particularly edibles, may also provide long-lasting relief.

I would take Tylenol and ibuprofen daily, alternating to help with inflammation and pain in my back. I don’t care to take man-made chemicals, medications, or other products that I know internally damage my body.

Patients with chronic conditions such as back pain often have inflammation associated with their condition. Although research is limited,  several cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, and CBG, are believed to relieve inflammation.

Find Pain Relief with Medical Cannabis

Some patients with chronic pain conditions find relief with medical cannabis. To learn more about treating pain with cannabis, consult with a NuggMD physician in your state.

References

1. Ganesh SS, Gould EE, Conner BT, Huh J, Ceasar RC, Bluthenthal RN. “Smoking weed it gets you over the hump”: Cannabis co-use as a facilitator of decreased opioid use among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles, California. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports. 2024;12:100257. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2024.100257 ↩︎

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